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What is a Reference Tool?    
General Theatre Reference Tools
Biographical Sources
Musical Theatre Reference Tools
Technical Theatre Reference Tools       

What is a reference tool? 

• A reference tool is a resource that is used to uncover a specific fact or piece of information.  Reference tools are generally not intended to be read sequentially or cover-to-cover.
• Reference tools contain specific facts, definitions, overviews, background information and citations to other relevant resources.
• Reference tools are helpful in narrowing a topic.
• Reference tools provide definitions of concepts.
• Reference tools include encylopedias, dictionaries, biographies, bibliographies, handbooks, atlases, maps, and thesauri.
• Reference tools are a great place to start research!
• Reference books in Blackwell Library are located on the main floor and have call numbers that start with the letters REF.
   

Reference books are located on the main floor of Blackwell Library.  You can't check them out, but you can use them in the building or make photocopies.  Here is a list of recommended reference books for Theatre:

General Theatre

• An Annotated Dictionary of Technical, Historical, and Stylistic Terms Relating to Theatre and Drama    REF PN2035 .W48 1995

• The Cambridge Guide to World Theatre
  REF PN2035 .C27 1988

• Drama Criticism
  REF PN1601 .D59

• The Encyclopedia of the American Theatre, 1900-1975
  REF PN2266 .B68

• International Dictionary of Theatre
  REF PN2035 .I49   (v. 1 - Plays, v.2 - Playwrights)

• The Language of Theatre
  REF PN2035 .H297 1998

• Masterplots II: Drama Series
  REF PN6112.5 .M37 1990

• McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama
  REF PN1625 .M3

• Modern World Drama
  REF PN1851 .M36

• On Stage
  REF PN2277 .N5 B4

• The Oxford Companion to American Theatre
  REF PN2220 .B6 1984

• Play Index
  REF Z5781 .P6

Biographical Sources

• Biographical Encyclopedia & Who's Who of the American Theatre
  REF PN2285 .R5

• Contemporary Black American Playwrights and their Plays : a Biographical Directory and Dramatic Index   REF PS153.N5 P43 1988

• The Great Stage Directors : 100 Distinguished Careers of the Theater
  REF PN2205 .L44 1994 

Musical Theatre

• Broadway Musicals, 1943-2004
  REF ML102.M88 S74 2006

• The Book of World-famous Libretti : the Musical Theater from 1598 to Today
  REF ML128.O4 F8 1994

• Rodgers and Hammerstein Fact Book : a Record of Their Works Together and With Other Collaborators   REF ML410.R6315 R63

• American Musical Theatre : a Chronicle
  ML1711 .B67

Technical Theatre

• Backstage Handbook : an Illustrated Almanac of Technical Information
  REF PN2091.S8 C32 1988

• Theatre Backstage from A to Z
  REF PN2091.M3 L68 1989

The librarian liaison to Theatre is Krista Knapp,
kmknapp@salisbury.edu | 410-677-0118