This book provides students and teachers of scenic design and drama classes with a foundation for planning the style of a theater production. Each chapter in the book discusses the art and culture of a major period in the history of the theater, the developments in theater and in dramatic method that took place, and at least one play representative of the period. The theater periods discussed are classical, medieval, Renaissance, baroque, eighteenth century, romantic, realistic, symbolist, relativist, and new (contemporary). A bibliography and an index conclude the volume. (JM)