THEA: Theatrical Design

• Theaters--Stage-setting and scenery  See also  Stage props,  Stage management, and  Set designers (more about set design than particular designers).

​Design
Design--History
Design--History--20th century
Design--Psychological aspects
Color in design--Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Color in art
Drawing
Drawing--Technique
Perspective--Technique
Mechanical drawing
Architectural drawing
Architectural drawing--Technique
Architectural rendering--Technique
Architectural design
Architecture--Designs and plans

Architecture
Space (Architecture)
Architecture--Psychological aspects
Architecture--History
Architecture, Ancient
Architecture, Greek
Architecture, Roman
Architecture, Medieval
Architecture, Renaissance
Architecture, Gothic
Architecture, Romanesque
Architecture, Baroque
Architecture, Rococo
Architecture, Colonial
Architecture, Victorian
Art deco (Architecture)
Architecture, Modern
Architecture, Modern--19th century
Architecture, Modern--19th century--United States
Architecture, Modern--20th century
Architecture, Modern--20th century--United States
Architecture, Postmodern

Architecture--England
Architecture--England--History
Architecture--Great Britain
Architecture--Europe
Architecture--France
Architecture--Germany
Architecture--Greece
Architecture--Italy
Architecture--Japan
Architecture--Spain
Architecture--United States

Architecture, Domestic
Architecture, Domestic--Designs and plans
Architecture, Domestic--England--History
Architecture, Domestic--Italy
Architecture, Domestic--Japan
Architecture, Domestic--New England
Architecture, Domestic--United States
Architecture, Domestic--United States--History
Dwellings
Bungalows
Row houses
Suburban homes
Farmhouses
Room layout (Dwellings)

Architecture--Details
Doorways
Stairs

Interior decoration
Interior decoration--History
Color in interior decoration
Textile fabrics in interior decoration
Interior decoration--England
Interior decoration--France
Interior decoration--Japan
Interior decoration--Spain
Interior decoration--United States.
House furnishings--United States--History
Furniture
Furniture--History
Furniture--Styles
Furniture, Classical
Furniture--England
Furniture--England--History
Furniture--France
Furniture, French--History
Furniture--Italy
Furniture--Spain
Furniture, Early American
Furniture, Colonial--United States
Furniture--United States
Chairs--Pictorial works
Chairs--History.
Beds
Rugs
Rugs, Oriental
Glassware--History

Decoration and ornament
Decoration and ornament--History
Decoration and ornament, Renaissance
Decoration and ornament--Art nouveau
Decoration and ornament--England
Decoration and ornament--England--Georgian style
Decoration and ornament--Victorian style
Decoration and ornament--France--History
Decoration and ornament--Louis XVI style
Decoration and ornament, Rococo
Decoration and ornament, Architectural
Arts and crafts movement.
Moldings
Mural painting and decoration
Stencil work
Repetitive patterns (Decorative arts)
Textile design
Flower arrangement

Material culture
Material culture--History
Material culture--Europe
Material culture--Europe--History
Material culture--Great Britain--History
Material culture--United States

 

• Two Subject subeadings that may also prove useful in researching the material curture of a particular time and place are --Civilization and --Social life and Customs, either of which may follow a country name and both of which may be further subdivided by time period. For example:

Great Britain--Civilization--17th century
France--Civilization--1830-1900
Italy--Civilization--1268-1559
Spain--Civilization--1516-1700
United States--Civilization--1783-1865

Italy--Social life and customs
France--Social life and customs--18th century
Great Britain--Social life and customs--18th century
Japan--Social life and customs--1600-1868
United States--Social life and customs--1783-1865
 

• Resources relevant to theatrical costume design may be found under several Subject Headings which in practice are difficult--and unrewarding--to distinguish one from another:

Costume
Costume--History
Costume--History--16th century
Costume--History--17th century
Costume--History--18th century
Costume--History--19th century
Costume--History--20th century
Costume--England--History
Costume--Great Britain
Costume--France--History--18th century
Costume--United States
Costume--United States--History
Costume--United States--History--19th century
Costume--Symbolic aspects
Costume design
Costume design--History
Costume design--France
Costume design--France
Costume design--Italy​

Clothing and dress
Clothing and dress--History
Clothing and dress--Psychological aspects
Clothing and dress--Social aspects
Clothing and dress--Symbolic aspects
Clothing and dress--France--History--18th century
Clothing and dress--Great Britain--History--19th century
Clothing and dress--United States--History--18th century
Clothing and dress--United States--History--20th century
Dress accessories--History
Men's clothing
Men's clothing--History
Collars
Neckties--History

Fashion
Fashion--History
Fashion photography
Fashion--Psychological aspects
Fashion--Social aspects
Fashion design
Fashion design--History
Dressmaking
Dressmaking--History
Tailoring--History
Dressmaking--Pattern design
Tailoring--Pattern design
Fashion drawing--Pictorial works
Clothing and dress measurements
Sewing
Embroidery

Jewelry--Europe
Jewelry--History
Jewelry making

Theatrical makeup

• Sometimes the designers of sets, lighting, costumes, and makeup look to art for inspiration. Be aware of a formulaic Subject Heading that goes ________ in art, where the blank may be filled in with any appropriate noun: Love in art, Women in art, War in art, Families in art, Marriage in art, Clothing and dress in art, Romanticism in art, Realism in art, etc.

Art, Ancient
Art, African
Art, Classical
Art, Greek
Art, Roman
Art, Medieval
Art, Renaissance
Art, Baroque
Art, Rococo
Art, Modern--17th-18th centuries
Art, Modern--19th century
Arts and crafts movement
Impressionism (Art)
Art, Modern--20th century
Post-impressionism (Art)
Art deco
Cubism
Art, Abstract
Pop art​

Art, Italian
Art, British
Art, French
Art, Spanish
Art, Russian
Art, Asian
Art, Indic
Art, Chinese
Art, Japanese

Art and society--Europe
Art and society--France
Art and society--Great Britain
Art and society--Greece
Art and society--Italy
Art and society--Spain
Art and society--United States

Stage lighting
Lighting
Lighting--History
Lighting--Great Britain--History--19th century
Lighting--Special effects
Lighting, Architectural and decorative
Light in architecture
Light in art

Theaters--Electronic sound control
Auditoriums--Electronic sound control
Theaters--Sound effects
Music in Theaters
Architectural acoustics
Music--Acoustics and physics
Acoustics--Encyclopedias
Acoustical engineering
Sounds
Computer sound processing
Sound--Recording and reproducing
Sound--Recording and reproducing--Digital techniques
Sound--Recording and reproducing--Equipment and supplies

• Brief Guide to Internet Resources in Theatre and Performance Studies: Well chosen gateway to Theatre sites. Scroll down to "Contents."
• Digital Librarian: Performing Arts: Good gateway
• Open Directory Project: Stagecraft: Use the categories at the top to navigate this gateway.
• Theatre History on the Web: Some of these resources could be helpful for period design.
• Theatre Image Collections Online: Some of these links might be useful for Theatrical Design.
• Technical Theatre Terms: One of the few sections of the the old (now archived) Theatre Design Website that still works.

​

• Costume: History & Research: A gateway site.
• Couturiene Parisienne: Costume from medieval to modern.
• History of Costume: Published in the late 19th century, this consists of over 500 color plates.
• Fashion Era: Victorian to modern.
• Costumer's Manifesto: Pretty bare bones and many of the links no longer work, but there are plenty of online resources here for the patient.
• Costume gallery: Much of the extensive resources here are accessible only with a "Library card" which costs $18 for three months. Still, worth a look for the freebies--or a subscription for the well-heeled.

• Theatre & Dance
• Theatre History
• Athens and the Ancient World
• Shakespeare
• Oscar Wilde 
• Eugene O'Neill: Ah, Wilderness
• You Can't Take It With You
• English Literature & Language
• Theatre Oranization & Management
• Fund Raising for the Performing Arts
• Innovations in the Arts 
• Modernisms
• Writing

• Searching

     Your best bet is simply to run a Subject or Keyword search on what you want pictures of--canals or country houses, cars or carpets, casinos or cathedrals--and then browse these materials for pictures.
   

• Browsing

     There are sections of the library collection where it might be most efficient simply to browse for illustrations. Below are some likely call number ranges and the corresponding Subject categories:

GT 500-2370: Costume, Dress, Fashion
GV: Dancing [dance works tend to be lavishly illustrated]
NA: Architecture, including public buildings and domestic architecture
ND: Painting
NK: Decorative Arts
1700-2195: Interior Decoration
2200-2750: Furniture
4700-4890: Costume
TR: Photography
624-835 Applied Photography [books of photographs]
TT: Arts and Crafts, including furniture making, upholstering, dressmaking, hairdressing, and high fashion

     For styles from the past 150 years, try browsing some of the Library's bound periodicals (4th floor, Towers side):
Century Magazine (1881-1924): AP2 .C4
Harpers (1850-1916): AP2 .H3
Life (1937-2000): AP2 .L548
New Yorker (1948-2000): AP2 .N6763
Vanity Fair (1913-1936): AP2 .V32+
     These are all heavily illustrated with prints, photographs, and/or advertising.

ARTstor
Our premier image database, ARTstor can be a valuable resource for Theater Arts research--especially the "Advanced Search." When the "Basic Search" opens click on "Advanced Search" in the upper bar. In addition to the standard Keyword search, "Advanced" allows category searches of the image collection. Among the "Object Classification" options are Architecture, Decorative Arts and Interior Design, Fashion, Costume and Jewelry, and Garden and Landscape. These classifications can be combined with both Date Range and Geography. This allows you, for example, to run a search of all images of Decorative Arts and Interior Design between 1700 and 1800 in France--or between 1800 and 1900 in the United States. Or look at Costume and Jewelry from 1500 to 1600 in England.
Note: ARTstor requires Java and Flash Player, and you must have your browser set to allow cookies and your pop-up blocker disabled.

Theatre in Video
Streaming video of stage productions and movie adaptations. "Productions" represent all eras, from The Agamemnon and Oedipus Rex to Twelfth Night and The Alchemist to She Stoops to Conquer and Tartuffe to Krapp's Last Tape and To be Young, Gifted and Black. Also browse the "Documentaries" which include videos on the Renaissance Stage, Restoration Theater, and Kabuki or interviews with Arthur Miller, Lee Strasberg, Tennessee Williams, and John Gielgud.
Note: Theater in Video requires Flash Player v.8 or higher and a minimum of 400kbps of bandwidth. Also note: a limit of 5 simultaneous users.

Oxford Art Online  (part of Oxford Art Online)
Search "Images."

ProQuest Research Library  and others
Many of the IC Library databases will retrieve articles from the past 30-40 years either in pdf form with pictures intact or in HTML "with graphics." If you want to target photographs, in ProQuest set "Document type" to Image/Photograph. In Academic Search Premier  set "Image Quick View Types" to Black & White Photograph and/or Color Photograph and/or Illustration.

Google Images, Bing Images,  Ask.com Images, and others
Chances are your favorite Web search engine has an image search. Google, Bing, and Ask.com do an excellent job. Just remember that no one has added any standardized vocabulary or subject categories here, so you are trying to match your search terms to people's image captions. In other words, be flexible.

NYPLDigitalGallery
Over 275,000 images from the New York Public Library. There are broad categories such as "Cities & Buildings" and "Culture & Society" which lead you to more specific collections. For example, under "Culture & Society" there is a "Dress and Fashion" collection, an "Empire and Regency" decorative arts collection, and a "Theatre Productions and Players" collection.

Wikimedia
Wikimedia Commons is a database of over ten million media files.

See the Fine Arts Librarian Jennifer Strictland's subject guide for Photography, which can point you to many good Web resources, as well as her guide for Public Domain Material: Images, Audio, Scores & Books.

International Bibliography of Theatre and Dance with Full Text : 

• Try Subject searching as an alternative to Keywords. To test what Subject Headings will work in this database click on "Indexes" above the search slots, choose "Headings,"and test a Subject term. In finding the right Subject Term you will also see the number of articles assigned that Heading, as well as availabale subheadings. Among the Subject headings available here are Set design, Set designers, Stage lighting, Stage lighting designers, Sound design, Theaters--sound effects, Sound--equipment & supllies, Sound systems, Theaters--special effects, and Costume design.
• Play titles may be searched as Subject Headings here--if you use the "Reviews & Products" field. In many databases a play title must be searched as a Keyword phrase--and this retrieves articles in which the play is only briefly mentioned. Searching a play title in "Reviews & Products" guarantees that the articles retrieved will be substantially about the the play. For example, here in the International Bibliography of Theatre & Dance a Keyword search on Hamlet retrieves about 2200 articles, whereas a Reviews & Products search retrieves about 700. The Reviews & Products search eliminates 1500 articles that are not primarily about Hamlet.
• Names are best searched, last name first, as "People." If a People search doesn't generate enough hits, try searching the name as a keyword phrase--the name in its natural order, enclosed in quotation marks. 
• If both Subject and Keyword searches don't score many retrievals, try searching your term in the "All Text" field. But only use this as a last resort, since it will retrieve articles in which your search term is merely mentioned in passing. 
• For an interview with a contemporary figure from the performing arts, try setting the "Document Type" limit at the bottom of the main search screen to "Interview."

General OneFile :
     A comprehensive database with a default Subject search. Whatever Subject Heading you search, you will be offered links to "Subdivisions" and "Related Subjects." Take a look at the dozens of "Related Subjects" offered for an initial search on "Theater" or "Dance." These include Theater set design, Theater set designers, Theater Production, Costume, Costume designers, Fashion design, Stage lighting, Theater sound equipment, and Special effects (Performing arts).
     Once you've discovered the Subject that best matches your interest, look at the "Subdivisions" for it. The standard "subdivisions" for General OneFile Include "Economic Aspects," "Employment," "Forecasts and Trends," "History," "Management," "Social Aspects," and "Statistics." If the retrievals for these categories are still too broad, use the the "Search within these Results" slot at the upper left to enter some Keywords.
     If you want to focus on a particular play or show, use the "Advanced search," enter the title, and select "Named Work" from the drop-down menu of search fields. If you type in War Horse, for instance, the autofill will offer you War Horse (Play), War Horse (Motion picture) or War Horse (Novel). This makes it easy to isolate just the play related articles.
Note: Whenever you open your first page of retrievals in General OneFile, you are viewing ONLY the articles from magazines. If you wish to see your retrievals from more scholarly sources you must click on the "Academic Journals" tab at the top.

MLA International Bibliography :
    MLAIB provides the most complete and fully indexed coverage of articles and books on modern literatures, linguistics, folklore, rhetoric, and composition from 1925 to the present. There is ample full text provided by ProQuest, as well as links to full-text articles in JSTOR and Project Muse. Full text from other IC databases is also readily available via the "GetIt" links below article citations.
     Because books, book chapters/essays, and dissertations will usually not be available full text, you may wish to limit your search to "Journal article" under "Source type."
     "Author's Work" and "Author as Subject" will be especially helpful search fields at finding literary criticism. Author's Work field allows you to run a Subject search on any play, guaranteeing topical focus, not just mention of the play. And for additional search field options either click on "Show more fields," or, for the complete list, open the drop-down menus to the right of the "Anywhere" default for the top three rows of search slots. This list includes both "Literary Influence"--who influenced a particular author you have entered--and "Literary Source"--who was influenced by that particular author.

Academic Search Premier  
    Comprehensive subject coverage with considerable full text.  Note that there is a “Subject Terms” link just above the search boxes, allowing you to search the index of Subject Headings--often a good first stop for more efficient Subject searching whereby you are guaranteed that your topic is indeed a main subject of the articles retrieved.