More has been written about Shakespeare than about any other author, and so much new scholarship continues to be generated that even experts are daunted. While bibliographies of Shakespeare scholarship exist, these tend to cover works that are primarily of academic interest. At the same time, there are many scholarly works of inestimable value to theatre professionals. These works can help actors and directors gain a better understanding of Shakespeare's plays, his world, and the ways in which theatre companies have interpreted his works. But because of the sheer bulk of Shakespeare scholarship, it is difficult for theatre professionals to distinguish such materials from more arcane studies.

This reference is a convenient guide to the many scholarly works on Shakespeare that are of special interest to members of the dramatic community. The volume begins with a consideration of how the needs of theatre professionals differ from those of scholars. It then offers advice on how to use the resources of academic libraries. Topics such as the merits of particular editions and commentaries, available reference resources, graphic works and studies of the Elizabethan world, and the ways in which Shakespeare's plays have been staged are also discussed.

Shakespeare was a master of language, his sayings have become part of everyday speech, and his plays endure, in part, because of the beauty of his verse. Shakespeare's language, however, poses special difficulties for modern actors because many of his words seem unusual or difficult to pronounce, he employs rhetorical devices throughout his works, and he carefully uses rhythm to convey sense.

The relation of the modern actor to the Shakespearean text, the importance of understanding the nuances of his language, and the fundamentals of grammar are all thoroughly examined in this volume. Its heart is a detailed consideration of the iambic code, the metrical system that Shakespeare used to give so much power to his verse. O'Dell also examines the importance of formal rhetoric in Elizabethan England and Shakespeare's artful use of rhetorical devices in his plays. As a practical reference guide, this volume keeps in mind the particular needs of theater professionals.

Shakespeare's plays were written some four hundred years ago, and while his characters are enduring, they are also alien. In grappling with the text of his plays, the modern actor must bring Shakespeare's Renaissance characters to life for a modern audience. And while it is difficult enough for twentieth-century spectators to make sense of the plays, it is also hard for modern actors to understand the Elizabethan world that created the personalities so vividly sketched in Shakespeare's texts. This reference is a convenient and practical guide for actors faced with the task of playing Shakespeare's characters.

The volume begins with an overview of Elizabethan theatrical conventions, including the training of actors. It then looks at the dramatic tradition of personification, which Shakespeare's world inherited from the medieval stage. Later chapters give special attention to how language reveals character and to the social and cultural contexts of the Renaissance. Throughout, the emphasis is on how to translate Shakespeare's text into action on the stage. While the volume contains much useful information, that information is presented to meet the special needs of theater professionals.