Film and Television Literature Index.
Albany: Film and Television Documentation Center, SUNY Albany, 1975–. The most complete index to international, trade, popular,
and scholarly publications about film and television. Very thorough in its coverage of reviews, interviews, criticism, and
production information. A retrospective version of this database, covering only publications from 1975 through 2001, is available
online for free at http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/fli/index.jsp.
MLA International Bibliography.
New York: Modern Language Association, 1921–. Useful for scholarly criticism of dramatic works, this database lists citations
to books, book chapters, articles, and dissertations. It offers in-depth coverage of literary analysis of plays, but performance
reviews and information about stagecraft and acting technique are not typically included.
Artslynx International Arts Resources
http://www.artslynx.org. An index of links to performing arts, including theater, dance, music, and film, as well as sources for arts management
and the arts in personal and community enrichment. The editor is Richard Finkelstein of James Madison University.
The Internet Movie Database
http://imdb.com. The oldest and most comprehensive Internet film Web site. The database includes information on hundreds of thousands of
movies from early silent films to the latest releases, offering information on the release, script, cast, reviews, and additional
information. Users can search by movie title, cast or crew member, year, genre, country, production company, or combinations
thereof. Industry news and information about upcoming releases are available through articles and message boards. Now affiliated
with Amazon.com, this site retains the flavor of its fan-based origins. Some features designed specifically for industry professionals are
available only by subscription.
Theatre History on the Web
http://www.videoccasions-nw.com/history/jack.html. Includes links of interest to the student, the researcher, and the dramaturge, organized by period and topic. The site
is maintained by Jack Wolcott, a retired professor of drama at the University of Washington.
American Playwrights, 1880–1945: A Research and Production Sourcebook.
Ed. William W. Demastes. Westport: Greenwood, 1995. Covers the lives, works, critical reception, and impact of 40 American
playwrights, some prominent and others lesser known, including many women and minority writers who have not received much
critical attention. Each entry is followed by a detailed bibliography of the playwright’s works, criticism, and reviews. Greenwood
publishes similar sourcebooks for contemporary British and American dramatists as well as volumes devoted to specific playwrights.
Drama Criticism.
Detroit: Gale, 1991–. 36 vols. to date. Provides biocritical information about playwrights and plays. Much of this series
is available through the Literature Resource Center database (see Databases and Indexes in Literature, p. 40).
Cambridge Guide to Theatre.
Ed. Martin Banham. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995. Offers international coverage of major playwrights,
actors, directors, works, traditions, theories, companies, venues, and events as well as information on theater history, design,
and architecture.
Encyclopedia of Documentary Film
Ed. Ian Aitken. 3 vols. New York: Routledge, 2006. Covers the documentary genre with more than 700 entries from international
scholars on films, filmmakers, themes, and techniques.
Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre.
By Kurt Ganzl. 2nd ed. 3 vols. New York: Schirmer, 2001. Surveys musical theater, providing detailed background on musicals
and profiles of those involved with them.
Film Encyclopedia.
By Ephraim Katz and Ronald Dean Nolen. 6th ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2008. Offers brief entries on terms, topics, styles,
genres, industry jargon, and individuals related to the history of film. Though it fits into a single volume, this work contains
a wealth of handy information.
International Encyclopedia of Dance.
6 vols. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. The most exhaustive reference work on dance, covering the historical evolution
of dance throughout the world, analysis of dance techniques, theories of aesthetics, influential individuals, important companies,
and significant works.
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama.
2nd ed. 5 vols. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1984. Contains articles on playwrights, periods of theater history, and notable figures
in theater. Brief critical comments on plays are given under author entries. Though dated, this work is particularly useful
for its coverage of past productions and includes many illustrations.
World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre.
Ed. Don Rubin. 6 vols. London: Routledge, 2000. An authoritative, up-to-date guide to current theater with a global perspective
and thorough coverage organized by country.
