Susan Letzler Cole is Professor of English and Director of the Drama Concentration at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven. She is the author of Directors in Rehearsal: AHidden World (Routledge) and The Absent One: MourningRitual, Tragedy, and the Performance of Ambivalence.

• Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Introduction 1 Sam Shepard in Rehearsal: Curse of the Starving Class 2 David Rabe in Rehearsal: A Question of Mercy 3 Elizabeth Egloff in Rehearsal: The Devils 4 Suzan-Lori Parks in Rehearsal: In The Blood and Topdog/Underdog 5 Tony Kushner in Rehearsal: It's an Undoing World and Terminating. 6 Arthur Miller in Rehearsal: The American Clock, The Last Yankee, and I Can't Remember Anything 7 Maria Irene Fornes in Rehearsal: The Summer in Gossensass 8 Jean-Claude van Itallie in Rehearsal: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Notes Index

"...fresh approach... ...both engaging and invigorating, has something to say to anyone interested in the process of how modern drama is made." -- Manchesteronstage.co.uk"...this is a rare chance to experience some of the creative energy that goes into her work, which is so rarely performed outside the States." -- Manchesteronstage.co.uk"The book's appeal to playwrights, directors, actors, and designers is abundantly clear as it provides insight on the collaborative process. However this book also serves as a wonderful resource for those producing the same or other works by the authors in Cole's study. She delves into the creative worlds of these playwrights, exploring such issues as Shepard's fascination with the culture of the American West and Kushner's passion for the relationship between theory and action. For this reason, the book is particularly useful for production dramaturgs or those studying these playwrights."." -- M. Shane Grant, Florida State University, Theatre Topics"The book's appeal to playwrights, directors, actors, and designers is abundantly clear as it provides insight on the collaborative process. However this book also serves as a wonderful resource for those producing the same or other works by the authors in Cole's study. She delves into the creative worlds of these playwrights, exploring such issues as Shepard's fascination with the culture of the American West and Kushner's passion for the relationship between theory and action. For this reason, the book is particularly useful for production dramaturgs or those studying these playwrights."." -- M. Shane Grant, Florida State University, Theatre Topics