English

Second-grader Ronald Morgan inadvertently turns a failing class play into a success.

A thumbnail history of the English theater, from its ancient and medieval predecessors to its suppression by the Puritans. Using the familiar one-topic-per-spread format, this tracks theater's checkered history as it slowly developed from a religious teaching tool to secular entertainment. Morley (Entertainment, not reviewed, etc.) mixes fictional and historical characters to portray a player's often hand-to-mouth life.

Who was Shakespeare, and why has his work remained so compelling to us for so many centuries? With conversational text, informative sidebars, and full-color photographs, The Young Person’s Guide to Shakespeare makes Shakespeare’s life and work accessible to young readers.

Despite the reshifting of values that has affected every aspect of life in the 21st century, William Shakespeare still stands as the greatest writer the English language has ever produced. Even so, many people have never read him. If you have never read “the Bard”–or if you’ve tried and given up in frustration–you need Shakespeare For Beginners.

Discusses theater in sixteenth-century England, describing playwrights, plays, the audience, and Queen Elizabeth's sponsorship.

Armed with a one-way ticket to New York City, small-town theater geek Nate is off to start rehearsals for E.T.: The Musical. It's everything he ever practiced his autograph for! But as thrilling as Broadway is, rehearsals—full of intimidating child stars, cutthroat understudies, and a director who can't even remember Nate's name—are nothing like Nate expects.

Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life Nate has wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he'd settle for seeing a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he's stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune?