4th Edition is Published!

WELCOME to the Fourth Edition of Stagecraft Fundamentals! I am particularly excited by my collaborators for this edition. Check out the thank you list in the Acknowledgements for a mini who’s-who list of technical theatre. These people all gave of their time and talents, without reserve, just for the sake of education.

There is one new chapter, Costume Crafts, written by Denise Wallace-Spriggs. Denise does an amazing job of defining and illustrating the complex world of costume accessories in all their manifestations. She begins the chapter with Millinery (making hats) and goes into depth about materials, tools, and techniques. She then approaches Shoes, Dyeing, Mask Making, Stage Armour, Body Modification Padding, Accessories/Jewelry, and Leatherwork. She approaches each additional topic with the same dedication to detail as she did with Millinery. Tons of photos make it easy to visualize how the techniques pull it all together into a beautiful finished costume.

There are new additions to most of the existing chapters. The chapter on Props has been completely redone with lots of new photos and techniques thanks to Lawrence Heyman. The Rigging chapter has been completed updated thanks to Bill Sapsis. Justin Walsh was instrumental in the additional of a Foley section in the Sound Chapter. Kristi Ross-Clausen was willing to look at two separate chapters for me — Stage Management and Touring — and update them to current standards. This is just a sampling of the people of helped me to get this edition into the shape you now see it in front of you.

I want this Blog to be an interactive forum so please jump in and comment. Comment on the current discussion with your thoughts. Let me know what you’d like to hear about in the future. I plan to Blog monthly and also to offer periodic raffles.