Towards Embodied Performance Directing and the Art of Composition

"In this compelling new book, the prolific director Rachel Dickstein illuminates the process of transforming text, ideas, and fixed narratives into powerful and fluid stage moments that combine the various languages of the theatre into a unified whole. She provides an alternative to the pervasive hierarchical methods of director training, and she does so in a way that sparks the reader's imagination."

Anne Bogart

"An original and indispensable guide to the language of the stage for anyone interested in theatrical composition and collaboration. Through a wide range of modes including memoir, textual analysis, theoretical and activity-based prompts, Towards Embodied Performance offers an immersive and kaleidoscopic approach to theatre making. Smart, inspiring, and full of practical advice, Dickstein's book illuminates a path for all artists towards greater creative engagement and freedom."

Charles Mee, Playwright and Professor of Playwriting, Columbia University School of the Arts

"Rachel Dickstein's award-winning work has captivated me, and audiences worldwide, throughout her career. How wonderful, at last, to have a source of inspiration and understanding of her artistry like this one...one that captures her theory, practice, and imagination into usable frameworks for generations to come. Towards Embodied Performance: Directing and the Art of Composition is more than just a guide to the visual, sonic, physical and textual world of directors; it is a magnificent blueprint for transformative performance, and what the world requires of its most visionary artists today."

Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Artistic Director, The Drama League

"Towards Embodied Performance, by the award-winning director Rachel Dickstein, is an utterly original work. It is both generous and generative; by offering us a window into her creative methodologies, Dickstein also gives us a roadmap for creating our own. This text will prove invaluable for both practitioners (of all levels) and scholars (across artistic disciplines)."

Dr. Patty Gallagher, Performer and Professor of Performance, Play, and Design, UC Santa Cruz