'Theater legend Malina has written one of the most interesting studies of the avant-garde theatrical movement published in the last several years.' – CHOICEJudith Malina and The Living Theatre have been icons of political theatre for over six decades. What few realise is that she originally studied under one of the giants of twentieth century culture, Erwin Piscator, in his Dramatic Workshop at The New School in New York. Piscator founded the Workshop after emigrating to New York, having collaborated with Brecht to create "epic theatre" in Germany.The Piscator Notebook documents Malina’s intensive and idiosyncratic training at Piscator’s school. Part diary, part theatrical treatise, this unique and inspiring volume combines: complete transcriptions of Malina’s diaries from her time as a student at the Dramatic Workshop, as well as reproductions of various of Piscator’s syllabi and teaching materials; notes on Malina’s teachers, fellow students – including Marlon Brando and Tennessee Williams – and New School productions; studies of Piscator’s process and influence, along with a new essay on the relationship between his teaching, Malina’s work with the Living Theatre and "The Ongoing Epic"; an introduction by performance pioneer, Richard Schechner.The Piscator Notebook is a compelling record of the genealogy of political theatre practice in the early 20th Century, from Europe to the US. But it is also a stunningly personal reflection on the pleasures and challenges of learning about theatre, charged with essential insights for the student and teacher, actor and director.'Piscator is the greatest theatre man of our time.' – Bertolt Brecht
Foreword: by Richard SchechnerPart 1: Weimar to The Dramatic WorkshopPersonal History Erwin Piscator: Germany to New York CityThe Founding of The Dramatic Workshop, 1940The Studio TheatreThe Teachers of Piscator’s SchoolMargrit WylerReiken Ben-AriChouteau DyerLeo KerzPaul ZuckerGloria MontemuroAlexander InceHans SondheimerHenry WendrinerThe StudentsGeorge BartenieffAnna BergerSylvia MilesMarlon BrandoBea ArthurHoward FriedmanPiscator’s StudentsMy Personal Struggle to Enter The Dramatic WorkshopValeska GertLunar Bowels: an Audition PiecePart 2: The NotebookPart 3: The Ongoing EpicEnd of the Notebook and First Workshop Plays Julian BeckBy Any Other Name and Maurice Schwartz’s Yiddish Art TheatrePiscator’s Basic Question: The Role of the AudienceBecoming a Director: A ConfessionThe Inspiration of Joseph Urban’s ArchitectureEleanor FitzgeraldThe ClassesThe March of DramaTheatre ResearchTheatre Research CritiqueThe PlaysThe Sheepwell (Fuente Ovejuna)Franklin Roosevelt’s DeathLysistrataThe Spook SonataHannele’s Way to HeavenThe AristocratsAgamemnonThe Circle of ChalkThe Flies Tonight We Improvise – Pirandello: Breaking into the AudienceKandinsky’s Great InsightPiscator and the AudienceObjective ActingBetween Two WorldsPiscator: Success and FailurePiscator’s Return to Germany – and to BerlinEric BentleyPiscator’s InfluencePiscator’s Influence: The Work of The Living TheatreAfterword: Political Theatre, Theatrical Politics: Epic Theatre in the 21st Century
'Theater legend Malina has written one of the most interesting studies of the avant-garde theatrical movement published in the last several years. Highly recommended.' M.D. Whitlatch, CHOICE magazine
