Historical Literature:
Below you will find books and e-resources that cover in their entirety or in part the Commedia Dell'arte theatre movement.
(2000). 500 years of theatre history . Lyme, NH: Smith and Kraus.
[792.09 F586] Deck 5 WAWL
"This volume features a collection of lectures from various contributing scholars about the history of the past 500 years of theater. The Actors Theatre of Louisville Brown-Forman Classics in Context Festival brings together this history, providing a lasting record of the most important aspects of theatre in the past 500 years. Collected here for the first time, the lectures offer valuable information for scholars and students of theatre history, popular culture, communications and the social sciences. But because these lectures were commissioned for a popular audience, they also provide entertaining reading for anyone interested in learning more about the evolution of theatre." (Amazon, 2012)
Craig, H., Smith, S., Walton, C., & James, J. (1964). Shakespeare and the renaissance. (1 ed., Vol. XIII). Emporia, KS: Emporia State Research Studies. Retrieved from http://www.whitelib.emporia.edu/articles/1582374.3284/1.PDF
[Available as an E-resource through the Kellogg Catalog]
This Volume is a graduate work which contains a section on Commedia Dell' arte. This particular writing discusses the era as it relates to Shakespeare's The Tempest. This will provide more insight into the elements of the tempest that are of the Commedia Dell' arte era.
Ducharte, P. (1966). The Italian comedy; the improvisation, scenarios, lives, attributes, portraits, and masks of the illustrious characters of the Commedia Dell'arte. with a new pictorial supplement reproduced from the "recueil fossard" and "compositions de rhétorique." authorized translation from the French by Randolph T. Weaver. New York: Dover Publications.
[792.2 D85i] Deck 5 WAWL
"Illustrated history of the beginnings, growth and influence of the Commedia Dell’ arte. Describes improvisations, staging, marks, scenarios, acting troupes, and origins." (Amazon, 2012)
Gordon, M. (1983). Lazzi : the comic routines of the Commedia Dell'arte. New York: Performing Arts Journal Publications.
[852 G657L] Deck 6 WAWL
"This best-selling PAJ volume presents over 250 comedy routines used by Commedia performers in Europe from 1550 to 1750. Includes an introduction, two complete Commedia scenarios, and a glossary of Commedia
characters." (Amazon, 2012)
Lea, K. (1962). Italian popular comedy; a study in the Commedia Dell'arte, 1560-1620, with special reference to the English stage. New York: Russell & Russell.
[852.409 L46i Vol.1 and Vol.2] Deck 6 WAWL
This two volume set offers an overview of Commedia Dell'arte offering special insight into the translation to the English stage.
Nicoll, A. (1963). Masks, mimes and miracles; studies in the popular theatre. New York: Cooper Square Publishers.
[792.09 N54m] Deck 5 WAWL
This volume is a general theatre history volume which offers an emphasis on Commedia Dell'arte
Nicoll, A. (1963). The world of harlequin : a critical study of the Commedia Dell'arte. Cambridge, England: University Press.
[792.2 N545w] Deck 5 WAWL
"The commedia dell'arte was an improvised drama performed by masked players. How did the actors react to these demands and limitations? What force kept this form of theatre alive for more than two centuries and made Harlequin such a potent image? In this study of the Commedia Dell'arte, originally published in 1987, Professor Nicoll's concern is not to provide an historical survey of its origins or to trace the ascent and descent of Harlequin or any or any other character or 'mask', but rather to explore critically the answers to these and related questions. His arguments are based on the evidence of the play scenarios and contemporary
documents as far as possible, and are illuminated by many illustrations that are either little-known or had not previously been reproduced." (Amazon, 2012)
Scala, F. (1967). Scenarios of the Commedia Dell'arte: Flaminio Scala's il teatro delle favole rappresentative. translated by Henry F. Salerno. with a foreword by Kenneth Mckee. New York: University Press.
[852.5 Sca42t] Deck 6 WAWL
"The first English translation of the only truly comprehensive collection of plot summaries used by one of the most celebrated Commedia dell'Arte troupes that toured Europe during the High Renaissance. This authentic document is an invaluable source book for students of theater history, enabling them to examine actual working plots and compare them with the works of the great dramatists they influenced (i.e. Shakespeare, Moliere). (Amazon, 2012)
(2000). 500 years of theatre history . Lyme, NH: Smith and Kraus.
[792.09 F586] Deck 5 WAWL
"This volume features a collection of lectures from various contributing scholars about the history of the past 500 years of theater. The Actors Theatre of Louisville Brown-Forman Classics in Context Festival brings together this history, providing a lasting record of the most important aspects of theatre in the past 500 years. Collected here for the first time, the lectures offer valuable information for scholars and students of theatre history, popular culture, communications and the social sciences. But because these lectures were commissioned for a popular audience, they also provide entertaining reading for anyone interested in learning more about the evolution of theatre." (Amazon, 2012)
Craig, H., Smith, S., Walton, C., & James, J. (1964). Shakespeare and the renaissance. (1 ed., Vol. XIII). Emporia, KS: Emporia State Research Studies. Retrieved from http://www.whitelib.emporia.edu/articles/1582374.3284/1.PDF
[Available as an E-resource through the Kellogg Catalog]
This Volume is a graduate work which contains a section on Commedia Dell' arte. This particular writing discusses the era as it relates to Shakespeare's The Tempest. This will provide more insight into the elements of the tempest that are of the Commedia Dell' arte era.
Ducharte, P. (1966). The Italian comedy; the improvisation, scenarios, lives, attributes, portraits, and masks of the illustrious characters of the Commedia Dell'arte. with a new pictorial supplement reproduced from the "recueil fossard" and "compositions de rhétorique." authorized translation from the French by Randolph T. Weaver. New York: Dover Publications.
[792.2 D85i] Deck 5 WAWL
"Illustrated history of the beginnings, growth and influence of the Commedia Dell’ arte. Describes improvisations, staging, marks, scenarios, acting troupes, and origins." (Amazon, 2012)
Gordon, M. (1983). Lazzi : the comic routines of the Commedia Dell'arte. New York: Performing Arts Journal Publications.
[852 G657L] Deck 6 WAWL
"This best-selling PAJ volume presents over 250 comedy routines used by Commedia performers in Europe from 1550 to 1750. Includes an introduction, two complete Commedia scenarios, and a glossary of Commedia
characters." (Amazon, 2012)
Lea, K. (1962). Italian popular comedy; a study in the Commedia Dell'arte, 1560-1620, with special reference to the English stage. New York: Russell & Russell.
[852.409 L46i Vol.1 and Vol.2] Deck 6 WAWL
This two volume set offers an overview of Commedia Dell'arte offering special insight into the translation to the English stage.
Nicoll, A. (1963). Masks, mimes and miracles; studies in the popular theatre. New York: Cooper Square Publishers.
[792.09 N54m] Deck 5 WAWL
This volume is a general theatre history volume which offers an emphasis on Commedia Dell'arte
Nicoll, A. (1963). The world of harlequin : a critical study of the Commedia Dell'arte. Cambridge, England: University Press.
[792.2 N545w] Deck 5 WAWL
"The commedia dell'arte was an improvised drama performed by masked players. How did the actors react to these demands and limitations? What force kept this form of theatre alive for more than two centuries and made Harlequin such a potent image? In this study of the Commedia Dell'arte, originally published in 1987, Professor Nicoll's concern is not to provide an historical survey of its origins or to trace the ascent and descent of Harlequin or any or any other character or 'mask', but rather to explore critically the answers to these and related questions. His arguments are based on the evidence of the play scenarios and contemporary
documents as far as possible, and are illuminated by many illustrations that are either little-known or had not previously been reproduced." (Amazon, 2012)
Scala, F. (1967). Scenarios of the Commedia Dell'arte: Flaminio Scala's il teatro delle favole rappresentative. translated by Henry F. Salerno. with a foreword by Kenneth Mckee. New York: University Press.
[852.5 Sca42t] Deck 6 WAWL
"The first English translation of the only truly comprehensive collection of plot summaries used by one of the most celebrated Commedia dell'Arte troupes that toured Europe during the High Renaissance. This authentic document is an invaluable source book for students of theater history, enabling them to examine actual working plots and compare them with the works of the great dramatists they influenced (i.e. Shakespeare, Moliere). (Amazon, 2012)