Through the use of four model plays-Macbeth, Our Town, A Raisin in the Sun, and Rent-this textbook informs the student about theatre arts, stimulates interest in the art form, leads to critical thinking about theatre, and prepares the student to be a more informed and critical theatregoer. Structured into seven chapters, each looking at a major area or artist-and concluding with the audience and the students themselves-this textbook looks at both the theoretical and practical aspects of theatre arts, from the nature of theatre and drama to how it reflects society to explaining the processes that playwrights, actors, designers, directors, producers, and critics go through.