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Essential Writings
- Aristotle's Poetics (c. 335 BCE)The earliest surviving work of Greek dramatic theory.
- Elinor Fuchs' "Visit to a Small Planet: Some Questions to Ask a Play" (c. 1990)The seminal, open article about dramatic structure.
- Nietzsche's Birth of Tragedy (c. 1870)(Begins on page 21.) The German philosopher writes about two opposite and important forces in Greek theatre.
If you want to read theory/plays beyond what is on your syllabus, look up other college's theater reading lists, such as Kalamazoo College's comprehensive list, UCLA's English department reading list, or NYU's Performance Studies Resource Guide.
Journals and Databases
Journals & Databases
- American TheatreAmerican Theatre magazine is the nation’s only general-circulation magazine devoted to theatre. Founded in 1984 by the pioneering arts service organization Theatre Communications Group, the magazine featured cowboy-hatted playwright Sam Shepard on its first cover in April of that year. Since the fall of 2023, it is published quarterly.
- Asian Theatre JournalOfficial journal of the Association for Asian Performance within the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. Peer reviewed articles covering the performing arts of Asia, focusing on both traditional and modern theatrical forms.
- Early TheatreProvides information on research in medieval or early modern drama and theatre history, rooted in the records and documents of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
- Journal of Theatre AnthropologyThe Journal collects and presents the studies and contributions produced in time on theatre anthropology, conceived as a comprehensive knowledge sharing project on actor's techniques, the Journal is published under the auspices of the International School of Theatre Anthropology (ISTA), with the support of the Fondazione Barba Varley, in collaboration with Odin Teatret Archives and the Centre for Theatre Laboratory Studies of the Dramaturgy Department of Aarhus University (Denmark).
- Nineteenth Century Theatre and FilmPublishes essays, documents, bibliographies and filmographies, review essays, and an annotated list of books received. Includes various arts of performance which emerged over the long period from the Age of Revolution to the advent of sound motion pictures.
- Theatre History StudiesPresents critical, analytical, and descriptive articles on all aspects of theatre history since 1981.
- Theatre JournalFor over five decades, Theatre Journal's broad array of scholarly articles and reviews has earned it an international reputation as one of the most authoritative and useful publications of theatre studies available today. Drawing contributions from noted practitioners and scholars, Theatre Journal features social and historical studies, production reviews, and theoretical inquiries that analyze dramatic texts and production. Recent special issues include "Re-Thinking the Real," "Ancient Theatre," "Dance," and "Theatre and Activism." Theatre Journal is published in cooperation with the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE).
Access Provided by Dominican University
There are no theatre-specific databases available through the library. However, much theatrical content (primary and secondary sources) can be found by using different search features within the databases below.
- CARLI Digital Collections This link opens in a new window
CARLI Digital Collections is a growing image and special collections research resource. By combining digital collections from a number of CARLI member institutions into a seamless environment, researchers are guaranteed richer search results on a variety of topics. - JSTOR This link opens in a new window
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JSTOR (Journal Storage) is a online collection of over 500 major academic research journals covering topics in the arts, humanities, business, and social sciences. JSTOR is always scholarly. Dominican University has access to the following collections:
Arts and Sciences I, II, III, and IV. - ProQuest One Academic This link opens in a new windowProQuest One Academic is the world’s largest curated collection of journals, ebooks, dissertations, news, video and primary sources, all in one place. The database includes four core multi-disciplinary products: ProQuest Central, Academic Complete, Academic Video Online (AVON) and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
Free Access, Other Institution Collections
These databases are created by other universities, colleges, and professional institutions. Access to these is free. Please be sure to use the extra, descriptive information when citing your sources.
- Chicago Theater Digital CollectionTheater collections at Chicago Public Library document a vibrant local theater community. Become a playgoer at Chicago’s early theaters by examining more than 2,000 playbills and programs dating from 1848 to 1922.
- Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute (TRI)"The Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute serves as an archive for performers, playwrights, choreographers, designers, producing organizations, and theatre and dance companies, among others, and advances the study and inspiration of the performing arts." Includes Charles H. McCaghy Collection of Exotic Dance from Burlesque to Clubs; Joel E. Rubin Collection; Scrapbook Collection; Sheet Music Collections
- Library of Congress Digital CollectionsIncludes the following collections: Variety Stage Sound Recordings and Motion Pictures; Yiddish Language Play Scripts from the Lawrence Marwick Collection; Inventing Entertainment: The Early Motion Pictures and Sound Recordings of the Edison Companies; Performing Arts Posters
- Newberry Library's Performing Arts Research GuideWith the guidance of Chicago dance documenter, collector, and journalist Ann Barzel, the Newberry has become a significant center for the study of dance history in Chicago and the Midwestern region. Barzel’s own massive dance collection forms the nucleus of the library’s Midwest Dance Collection. Performing arts may be studied within the context of the library’s broad and deep special collections, focused on the history and culture of Europe and the Americas (including indigenous peoples) from the era of discovery.
- University of Illinois' Motley Collection of Theatre & Costume DesignImages of costumes and scenery for Shakespeare and modern classics, opera, ballet, and motion pictures by the Motley Group (Margaret Harris, her sister Sophia Harris, and Elizabeth Montgomery), 1932 to 1976. Includes productions in the West End of London, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the English National Opera, Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera. Browse by production or by theater.
- University of Washington's 19th-Century Theater and Actor Photographs Collection"Over 600 photographs of entertainers, actors, and actresses who performed on the American stage in the mid- to late 1800s. Many of these actors and actresses were little known outside of the major theater centers of New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston."
