his book is a cultural resource for all -- from infrequent play-goers to theatre buffs, from aspiring actors to experienced professionals. Providing the most comprehensive chronological survey of the theatre's history as a sociocultural institution, this book is written by two of the most widely respected historians in the field. In this eighth edition of the bestseller, the authors retain all of the traditional features of the book while sharpening, updating and reinterpreting information. They address new revisionist scholarship and add new methodologies, plays and playwrights. Theatre novices or professionals, teachers of theatre, theatre history, history, or the arts, and others interested in the topic. FROM THE CRITICS Booknews Provides a chronological survey of the theater's history as a sociocultural institution, mixing historical accounts with interpretation.

Covers periods such as ancient Greece, the European Middle Ages, Renaissance drama, Northern and Eastern Europe in the 18th century, and Europe and the US in the 20th century. This seventh edition include new chapters on African, Asia, and non-Western theater. Includes b&w photos.