An Ideal Theater: Founding Visions for a New American Art

I knew nothing about theater and this gives me some well needed insights into what has been and could be a theater in the United States.

This is an enthralling read. It is also an essential resource for any theater student, teacher, artist or administrator. The founding essays and manifestos compiled here are beautiful, inspiring and fascinating. And the editor's introduction do a brilliant job of putting each piece in context. Taken all together, this is the most thorough, insightful, and original history of the American theater movement I have ever encountered -- and it's all the more valuable because it's in the words of the field's leaders and pioneers.I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has forged, is forging, or hopes to forge a life in the American theater. You will return to it over and over, as I plan to do.Also, I found the paperback to be of very high quality. I read the book cover-to-cover and had no issues with it falling apart.

This is a good book content-wise, but I opened mine to read it and the spine broke! I get paper books instead of electronic ones in order to build a library I can share with anyone who comes to my office. I could not read a single sentence before the book started falling apart, even though it's brand new. Very disappointing. I recommend an electronic version.