How Does the Show Go On ? An Introduction to the Theater

• Foreword
• Overture / What Should You Know First ?
• What's Theater ?
• Kinds of Shows
• Styles of Theaters
• Act One / Front of House : From the Street to the Stage Apron
• Let the Show Begin !
• In the House
• Who's Who
• On With the Show
• The Play's the Thing
• Center Stage
• Act Two / Back of House : From the Stage Apron to the Stage Door
• What's It Like to Be Up Onstage ?
• How Can You Get Onstage - And Then What Happens ?
• Performers
• A Day in the Life of a Child Performer
• Backstage
• "It's Curtains for You, Mister !"
• The Rooms Backstage
• The Lord of the Flies
• The Light Stuff
• Props
• Special Effects
• Putting It All Together
• Encore / Stuff That Will Be Useful After You Finish Reading This Book
• Putting on a Play
• Don't Forget Your Theater-Speak !
• For More Information
• Afterword
• Photo Credits
• Acknowledgments
• About the Authors

World-renowned Broadway producer Thomas Schumacher gives you a backstage pass to the theater with How Does the Show Go On ? Meet the talented cast of characters who work onstage and behind the scenes to deliver unforgettable performances, and explore the inner workings of the theater building itself. Filled with artifacts you can pull out and hold in your hand, How Does the Show Go On ? is an exciting, interactive guide to what goes on behind the curtain !

Find Inside :

• An authentic Playbill program
• A mock ticket to The Lion King on Broadway
• A costume designer's sketchbook
• And much more !

THOMAS SCHUMACHER is a celebrated Broadway theater producer and the president of Disney Theatrical Productions. In addition to producing the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The Lion King, his Broadway highlights include Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, Mary Poppins with legendary producer Cameron Mackintosh, Tarzan with songs by Phil Collins, and the upcoming stage version of The Little Mermaid. At Disney Feature Animation, he oversaw the development of over twenty films, including The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch, Tarzan, Mulan, The Emperor's New Groove, and Pocahontas.

JEFF KURTTI is an author, writer, and consultant in the motion picture, theater, and themed-entertainment industries, and is currently creative director of the Walt Disney Family Museum. He has written more than a dozen books and dozen of magazine articles and is considered one of the leading authorities on The Walt Disney Company and its history.

Filled with detailed explanations, captivating illustrations, and entertaining trivia, this clearly written, lively, and uniquely-designed book is a first-of-its-kind introduction to the world of the Theatre, from the box office to backstage, and beyond. From one side of the book, the reader enters via the front door, where the people and activities of the “front of house” can be examined. From the book’s other side, the reader enters the “Stage Door,” where the behind-the-scenes world of the “Back of house” is revealed.

In exploring this visually-inviting “theatre of the mind,” readers encounter the people, places, occupations, and equipment of the theatre world, and have the opportunity to investigate them all. From the box office and the Usher Staff to the Dressing Rooms and the Backstage doorman, the reader may wander at will within this one-of-a-kind world, discovering the wonders of theatre all along the way.

Une nouvelle édition mise à jour et incluant les productions théâtrales de The Little Mermaid et High School Musical a été publiée le 15 octobre 2008.