Backstage Handbook (3rd Edition)

First published in 1988, Backstage Handbook is one of the most widely used stagecraft textbooks in the United States, with about 10,000 copies sold every year.

This handy reference book brings together under one cover an incredible variety of information useful to designers, technicians and students who work behind the scenes in theatre, film and television. Its sturdy leatherette binding will stand up to years of constant use. Backstage Handbook is truly an almanac of technical information.

3rd Edition: The third edition updates this popular reference book with new terminology and materials, and adds dozens of new illustrations of grip hardware, film lighting equipment and painting tools. Backstage Handbook includes chapters on Tools, Hardware, Materials, Electrics, Shop Math, Architecture and Theatre. There are hundreds of illustrations, tables and charts which cover everything from the stock sizes and specs of wood screws, to safe working loads for several kinds of rope, to illustrations of twenty-two types of standard lamp bases (with names and standard abbreviations, of course.)

Paul Carter (1956-1990) was a theatre planning consultant with Artec Consultants Inc. of New York City. He worked on such projects as the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Palm Beach, Florida, the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, England and the Harbourfront Arts Center, Toronto, Canada. Before joining Artec, Mr. Carter served as Production Manager for the Cleveland Ballet, and as Assistant Technical Director for the New York City Opera and the Denver Center Theatre Company. In addition, he spent several years working backstage at the Metropolitan Opera House and the State Theatre at Lincoln Center.

Mr. Carter held an M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama and had one of the largest stage screw collections in the world.

George Chiang began his career as an illustrator and designer in his native city, San Francisco, where he received his degree in the fine arts. He now lives in New York City with his wife, Sheri, and their daughters.