The Stage directions guide to musical theater

Pt. I. What and How of Musical Theater: Understanding the Basics

1. "I Got a Song": The Forms of Musical Theater

2. "Putting It Together": What Makes a Musical Work

Pt. II. Producing the Musical: How to Choose the Right Show the Right Way

3. Thirteen Questions to Help You Focus

4. "Let's Go on with the Show": Fifty-Six Strong Candidates to Consider

5. "It's Today": Finding Contemporary Tie-ins to Older Musicals / Lisa Viall

6. "Where Am I Going, and What Will I Find": Locating and Using Sources for Musicals

7. "I'd Rather Be Right": Playing by the Rules

8. "Some Enchanted Evening"

9. "Reviewing the Situation"

10. "I Could Write a Book": Ten Steps for Creating Your Own Musical / Diane Seymour

11. Since You Asked

Pt. III. Directing the Musical: How to Provide the Guiding Vision

12. "Putting It Together": The Musical as Collaborative Art

13. "It's Not Where You Start (It's Where You Finish)": The Power of Transformation

14. "Have You Heard?": Let Them Know What You Want

15. "A Simple Little System": The Eight Basics of Directing the Musical / Stephen Peithman

16. "Keep A-Hoppin": In Musicals, Pacing Is Key

17. "So Many People": Large Casts, Small Groups

18. "It's the Little Things You Do Together": Big Show, Small Cast / Scott Miller

19. "Side by Side by Side": Using Directorial Shorthand

20. "Finishing the Hat": How to Design an Effective Curtain Call / Stephen Peithman

Pt. IV. Musical Direction and Choreography: How to Keep Your Production Moving

21. "I Feel a Song Coming On": Comparing Notes with Two Musical Directors / Hope S. Breslauer

22. "The Sound of Music": Resources Are There for the Finding

23. "The Music That Makes Me Dance": Putting the Orchestra on Stage / Stephen Peithman

24. "Take a Little One-Step, Two-Step": Choreography for Non-Dancers

25. "Something to Dance About": How One Non-Choreographer Coped / Stephen Peithman

26. "Since You Asked": Choreographing, Collaborating, Creating

Pt. V. Performing the Musical: Tips for On Stage and Off

27. "I Hope I Get It": How to Make a Good Impression / Nancianne Pfister

28. "I'm the Greatest Star": Secrets to a Great Performance

29. "If They Could See Me Now": How's Your "Lighting Sense"?

30. "That Certain Feeling": Going on Sick (and Staying Well)

Pt. VI. Sets, Lighting, and Sound: Dealing with Technical Challenges

31. "One": The Advantages of the Unit Set / Stephen Peithman

32. "Soft Lights and Sweet Music": Keeping the Conductor in View / Mike Bromberg

33. "The Music of Sound": Where to Put the Speakers / Malcolm Bowes

34. Microphone Clinic

35. Since You Asked: Body Mics and Book Voices

Pt. VII. Resources: Books and Video

36. "How Long Has This Been Going On?": Help on the Printed Page, from A to Z

37. "I Can See It": Video Instruction for the Director and Actor.