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New Books
 Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes
Kamal Al-Solayee
Part memoir of an Arab family caught for six decades in the turmoil of Middle Eastern politics, part personal coming-out narrative and part cultural analysis, this is a story of the modern Middle East, in all its irrconcilable differences, seen through a unique lens. Hardcover, 204 pp. $27.99.
 Saul Bass: A Life in Film and Design
Jennifer Bass
This is the first book to be published on one of the greatest American designers and filmmakers of the twentieth century. Saul Bass created some of the most compelling images of American postwar visual culture. Having extended the remit of graphic design to inclide film titles, he went on to transform the genre. Edited, compiled and designed by Saul's daughter Jennifer, this book includes a wealth of illustrations, many never published before. Hardcover, 425 pp. $84.00.
 World Scenography: 1975 -1990
McKinnon & Fielding
This is the first volume in a new series of books looking at significant stage design throughout the world since 1975. The object is to present designs that made a difference, designs that mattered, designs of influence. The current editors plan to do two more volumes documenting 1990-2005 and 2005-2015. they then hope that others will pick up the torch and prepare subsequent volumes each decade thereafter. Hardcover, 430 pp. $86.00.
 The Opening Act: Canadian Theatre History 1945 - 1953
Susan McNicholl
The conventional opinion is that professional Canadian theatre began in 1953 with the foundin of the Stratford Festival. But how could this be, when the marjority of those taking the stage at Stratford were professional Canadian actors. This book succeeds in recreating this earlier period of dynamic new beginnings in Canada's professional theatre. Softcover, 327 pp. $24.95.
 Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women as I Knew Them
Frank Langella
Captured forever in a unique memoir, Frank Lengella's myriad encounters with some of the past century's most famous human beings are profoundly affecting, funny, wicked, sometimes shocking, and utterly irresistible. With sharp wit and a perceptive eye, Mr. Langella takes us with him into the private worlds and privileged lives of movie stars, presidents, royalty, literary lions, the social elite, and the greats of the Broadway stage. Hardcover, 356 pp. $28.99.
 Trans(per)Forming Nina Arsenault: An Unreasonable Body of Work
Judith Rudakoff
Nina Arsenault: transgendered playwright-performer, columnist, and sex worker. Arsenault has undergone more than sixty surgeries at a cost $200 000 to feminize and beautify her originally male body. Rudakoff brings together texts by artists, scholars, and Arsenault herself that vary widely in perspective, experience and form. Softcover, 232 pp. $29.95.
 The Horse's Mouth
Mervyn Millar
Millar's book follows the production of War Horse from early concept workshops, through the design and development of the magnificent life-size horse puppets, research of the play's languages and wartime setting, the explanatory process of making the adaptation. Softcover, 96 pp. $32.95.
 Singer and Actor: Acting Techniques for Opera
Alan E. Hicks
Deftly combining theory and practice, Singer and Actor gives singers of all levels of experience the means to prepare dramatically for the operatic stage. Softcover, 196 pp. $22.99.
 Broadway Musicals Show by Show 7th Edition
Stanley Green & Cary Ginell
This updated edition of one of the best-selling and comprehensive Broadway reference books, first published in 1985, has been expanded to include many of the most important and memorable productions of the American musical theatre, including revivals. Chronologically arranged, beginning with The Black Crook in 1866, the seventh edition adds new entries on numerous musicals from recent years. Softcover, 481 pp. $22.99.
 The Story of Film
Mark Cousins
Weaving personalities, technology, and production with engaging descriptions of groundbreaking scenes, Mark Cousins uses his experience as film historian, producer, and director to capture the shifting trends of movie history withot recourse to jargon. Softcover, 512 pp. $30.95.
 Oxford Dictionary of Opera Characters
Joyce Bourne
Revised and fully updated text, incorporating synopses of over 200 operas and operettas from around the world. Softcover, 354 pp. $19.95.
 John Huston: Courage and Art
Jeffrey Meyers
From the acclaimed biographer of Ernest Hemingway, Humphrey Bogart, and Errol Flynn comes the first complete biography of the legendary John Huston, the extrodinary director, writer, actor and bon vivant who made such legendary films as The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Asphalt Jungle and The African Queen -- and lived one of the most vibrant, eventful lives in Hollywood history. Hardcover, 475 pp. $34.00.
 Movies of the 2000s
Jurgen Muller
Taschen's groundbreaking movies-by-decade series continues with this new volume dedicated to the most interesting and important films made in the last ten years since the turn of the millenium. This comprehensive volume covers an inspiring broad range of titles made during a unique period in history, including Avatar, The Lord of the Rings, Kill Bill, The Dark Knight and The King's Speech. Softcover, 865 pp. $49.99.
 The Stage Parent Survival Guide
Robyne Baruchel
Learn the skills you need to sniff out a good agent, protect your child on set, meet the folks at ACTRA and survive with a kid in the biz. Softcover, 79 pp. $15.00.
 Look, I Made a Hat
Stephen Sondheim
The eagerly anticipated to Sondheim's best-selling, critically acclaimed Finishing The Hat. This volume covers the work done by this essentail artist between 1981 and 2011. In his own words, it is the "collected lyrics with attendant comments, amplifications, dogmas, harangues, digressions, anecdotes, and miscellany". The perfect gift for any musical theatre fan, lover of letters, or for anyone who appreciates genius and wit. Hardcover, 453 pp. $50.00.
 The Pursuit of Perfection
Carol Bishop-Gwyn
A tremendously penetrating biography of Celia Franca, founder of the National Ballet of Canada. A beautifully illustrated volume which is an essential addition to the canon of Canadian dance literature. Written with depth, insight, and a journalist's insatiable curiosity, this book is perfect for anyone interested in dance, the arts, or Canadian institutions. Hardcover, 420 pp. $36.00.
 Verdi's Shakespeare
Garry Wills
A dazzling study of the writing and staging of Verdi's three operas adapted from Shakespeare. Comparing the lives, works, and styles of these two giants of the theatre, this book is a fascinating portrait of two different theatrical worlds. Hardcover, 220 pp. $30.00.
 The Comedy Bible
Brian McKim & Traci Skene
From improv to standup, and from satire to slapstick, this essential guide will show you how to get yourself a cult following or achieve mainstream success in comedy. Ha! Hardcover, coil-bound. 250 pp. $27.50.
 Spencer Tracy: A Biography
James Curtis
From his boyhood in Milwaukee, to his Broadway succes, to his distinguished film career and his famous relationships and habits, Spencer Tracy comes to life in this thrilling and exhaustively researched biography. Hardcover, 980 pp. $46.00.
 Life Itself
Roger Ebert
In this brilliant and touchingly personal autobiography, Roger Ebert shares his life stories, all told with candour and charm. The opening line, "I was born inside the movie of my life." is fulfilled on every page until the very end. A life as big and cinematic as any of the big screen epics while at the same time as detailed and finely rendered as a sketch drawn by a master painter. He really is the consummate story teller who takes the reader through time and to the many locations where he has experienced the best and worst in life. This is a must read. Signed copies available. Hardcover. $29.99.
 Pauline Kael: A Life in the Dark
Brian Kellow
In her nearly quarter century as film critic for The New Yorker, Pauline Kael became the most widely read, the most influential, the most powerful, and, often enough, the most provocative critic in America. Much lauded biographer Brian Kellow examines her success as well as her battles, her fights with fellow critics, and other aspects of her life and career. Hardcover, 410 pp. $32.50.
 Drama: An Actor's Education
John Lithgow
In this witty and intelligent memoir, John Lithgow shares the story of his life with honesty and humour. From his childhood travelling across the States, performing in his father's Shakespeare company, his education in England, and his breakthrough success on Broadway, to his final days with his beloved father.This memoir is not to be missed. Hardcover, 320 pp. $28.99.
 The Age of Movies: Selected Writings of Pauline Kael
Pauline Kael & Sanford Schwartz
Pauline Kael, in her years as film critic for the New Yorker, emerged as one of the most important film critics of the century. Here is a collection of some of her best writing, and endlessly revealing and entertaining dialogue with Kael at her witty, exhilarating, and opinionated best. Hardcover, 828 pp. $46.00.
 Monsters in the Movies
John Landis
A lushly illustrated guide to all the best mummies, vampires, werewolves, zombies, mad scientists, ghosts and more from throughout the world history of film. An unparalleled guide to all things nasty in the cinema. Hardcover, 340 pp. $45.00.
 The Acting Bible
Michael Powell
For drama students and aspiring actors, The Acting Bible is the essential brush-up guide to acting technique. Covering a range of skills, from physical expressiveness to voice projection, and demonstrating how to analyze and understand scripts, this comprehensive reference is designed for actors in all media -- theatre, television, and film. Softcover, 256 pp. $27.50.
 The Shaw Festival: The First Fifty Years
L.W. Conolly
Drawing extensively on the Shaw Festival archives housed at the University of Guelph, author Leonard Conolly recounts in this beautifully illustrated book the remarkable story of the genesis, founding, and development of one of Canad's greatest cultural success stories. Hardcover, 320 pp. $50.00.
 A Fiery Soul: The Life and Theatrical Times of John Hirsch
Fraidie Martz & Andrew Wilson
Legendary giant of Canadian theatre.
John Hirsch arrived in Winnipeg in 1947, a 17-year-old Hungarian orphan of the Holocaust, knowing no English. Ten years later, he co-founded the Manitoba Theatre Centre, establishing a model for regional theatres across North America. He went on to direct award-winning productions in Los Angeles, New York, Stratford and Toronto - everything from Guys and Dolls to The Tempest - and to work with actors like Len Cariou, Martha Henry, Anthony Hopkins, and Maggie Smith. Notorious for his fiery temper, budget - blowing sets, and artistic risk-taking, he had a stormy four years as CBC's head of TV drama in the 1970s (high and low points include King of Kensington and Peter Lougheeds lawsuit over The Tar Sands), and an even stormier tenure as Artistic Director at the Stratford Festival from 1981 to 1985. He died in 1989 of AIDS.
Praise for John Hirsch:
"In life and on stage, John Hirsch knew how to corrupt his audience with pleasure. Swift of mind and of gesture, Hirsch was a dazzling director - playful, witty, and daring; as a friend and collaborator, he was some kind of rabbinical Hungarian mensch. Unforgettable." - John Lahr, Senior Drama Critic, The New Yorker. Softcover $22.00.
 Fashion Designers at the Opera
Helena Matheopoulos
A collection of profiles and interviews with leading fashioon designers, including Christian Lacroix, Karl Lagerfeld, Emanuel Ungaro, and more, about their work designing for the opera. Hundreds of colour illustrations include original designers' sketches, photographs of the finished costumes, and images of the actual productions. Hardcover, 192 pp. $69.00.
 An Improvised Life: A Memoir
Alan Arkin
This is a revealing look into the creative mind of one of the craft's best practioners on stage or screen. Arrkin reveals not only insights about himself, but also truths for the rest of us abour work, relationships, and sens of self. Softcover, 201 pp. $19.50.
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