Brandel Library

THEA 1040: Dramaturgy/Text Analysis

This guide provides resources to aid in your analysis and interpretation of a play.

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Brandel Library Resources

Background Info

Gale Virtual Reference Library
This database has hundreds of encyclopedias. Try searching for your play and for aspects of the play's theme, setting, and characters.

Literary Analysis

MLA International Bibliography
Look here for scholarly analysis and interpretation of your play.

Newspapers

Nexis Uni (formerly Lexis-Nexis Academic)
This database has the archives of thousands of newspapers. Use it to find reviews of productions of your play (even in small markets).

Multimedia

Films on Demand
Search for documentaries touching on aspects of your play.
World History in Video
Critically acclaimed documentaries covering human history from the earliest civilizations to the late twentieth century.

Chicago Public Library Resources

International Index to the Performing Arts
Look here for reviews of play productions and analysis of play texts. You must get a free Chicago Public Library e-card to use this database.
Chicago Theater Archives from CPL
Chicago Film Archive of Performance

Handy stuff on the internet

McCoy's Guide to Internet Resources in Theatre and Performance Studies
The Playbill Vault
Search for your play to find photos from past productions.
The Costume Page
The History of Costume Design (Braun and Schneider, c.1861-1880)
Joseph Urban Set Design
Internet Broadway Database
Internet Off-Broadway Database
Show Guides from Stage Agent
Scene4
Scroll to the bottom to search the archives.
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Digital Public Library of America