Product Description

Julie Taymor is one of the most imaginative and provocative directors and designers working in the performing arts. Her productions range from musicals and Shakespeare plays to classical operas and films. In this unique volume, award-winning writer Eileen Blumenthal traces Taymor's theatrical apprenticeship and presents many of Taymor's major projects in theatre, opera and film. The numerous pictures include production photos, Taymor's sketches for characters and costumes, and shots of her in rehearsal and constructing puppets and masks. Following the essay, more than twenty productions are lavishly illustrated. Also featured are Taymor's own notes on each production. A new section, introduced by film critic Antonio Monda, includes Taymor's most recent film, "Frida", as well as her forthcoming opera "Grendel" and movie musical "Across the Universe". Altogether this sumptuous book offers a fascinating look at the creative sprit of one of today's leading directors, writers and designers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #278819 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

About the Author
Eileen Blumenthal is a Professor of Theatre Arts at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, and a writer on contemporary Asian and Western theatre. Julie Taymor has received two Tony Awards, a MacArthur Fellowship and many other honours. She has designed or directed 20 productions since the mid-1970s and lives in New York City. Screenwriter and director Antonio Monda has made documentaries, commercials and an award-winning feature film. He is the film critic for the New York Review of Books and cultural correspondent for La Republica. He has curated shows for museums including the Guggenheim and he currently teaches film at New York University.

Customer Reviews

Great book on an amazing womans work
This book chronicles the work of Julie Taymor, one of the most innovative and inspiring directors/designers around. If you haven't seen any of her work get this book and get to know another side to theatre. I can't recommend this enough.

Inspiring and beautiful
Julie Taymor's work is beautifully illustrated in this large format book. The photography is excellent - capturing the unique atmosphere and emotionally charged mood of her work very well.

This book covers her work before the Lion King showing the long apprenticeship and expansive legacy she drew upon for that world-famous show.

When we were starting up our own puppet theatre group, we all found this book to be very inspirational and up-lifting. Julie manages to create amazingly compelling vignettes with absolute minimalism and elegance.