Subject Guide: Theater
This guide lists basic English language reference sources for Theater in both print and electronic formats available in North Carolina Central University libraries. The titles and links that are listed in this guide do not represent all of the resources available to users in the James E. Shepard Memorial Library. Most electronic resources are accessible both in the library and from outside the library via the Shepard Library’s home page. Books or journal articles not available in the library may be obtained through Interlibrary Loan. Please do not hesitate to ask a Reference Librarian for help with your library research.
Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it. –Samuel Johnson from Boswell, Life of Johnson, April18, 1775.
Before you start your research, ask yourself:
- What is my topic?
- What is the purpose of this research?
- What do I already know?
- What questions do I want to answer in my research?
Write down your answers; then, move on to the next step.
- Determine the type of information needed.
- List the keywords/terms which describe your subject.
- Select appropriate books/articles.
- Evaluate the information.
NCCU SirsiDynix Online Catalog
Use the NCCU Online Catalog to locate books on your subject using a keyword search, title
search, or author search. Consult the Library of Congress Subject Headings (located at the
Reference Desk) to find exact terms for a subject search.
The correct Library of Congress Subject Heading for FILM is Motion Pictures.
Research about a person can be found by using a subject search (last name first name).
Studies and information about specific plays can be found by using a title search to find the text
of the play and an Advanced Keyword search limited to subject to find information about a
play.
Use a keyword search to locate genres and other topics. There are three key subject headings
to use: Theater, Theaters, and Drama. Use theater to describe works as acted on the stage,
theaters to find information about facilities used to stage drama, and drama for plays as a
literary form. Other subject headings of interest include Acting, Performance Art, and Stage.
Note: When you search Library of Congress Subject Headings, use the spelling THEATER, not
THEATRE.
The James E. Shepard Memorial Library has a large circulating collection of books serving courses offered by the NCCU Theater Department.
available in the James E. Shepard Memorial Library, Reference Department, Second Floor
(Searching for Dictionaries and Encyclopedias in SirsiDynix)
Drama—Dictionaries
Theater—Dictionaries
Title Call Number
| The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 3 rd ed |
Ref. PN2220.B6 2004 |
| Cyclopedia of Literary Characters, 1998. 5 vols |
Ref. PN44.M3 1998 |
| The Encyclopedia of World Theater, 1977 |
Ref. PN2035.E52 1977 |
| A Dictionary of Theatre Anthropology, 1991 |
Ref. PN2041.A57 A5313 1991 |
| Dictionary of the Black Theatre |
Ref. PN2270.A35 W64 1993 |
Magazine and journal articles can be found by searching in periodical indexes such as:
Title Call Number
| Guide to the Performing Arts. 9 vols. |
Ref. ML118.G8 |
| Dramatic Bibliography |
Ref. RO16.792 B167d |
| Contemporary Black Biography. 39 vols. |
Ref. E185.96 |
Additional periodical indexes can be located in SirsiDynix by using the following Library of Congress Subject Headings:
theater—periodicals—indexes
theater—bibliography—periodicals
NOTE: When you search Library of Congress Subject Headings, use the spelling THEATER, NOT THEATRE.
available in the James E. Shepard Memorial Library, Serials Department, Second Floor
A Journal of Performance and Art
American Theatre
Sight & Sound (The International Film Magazine)
Theatre Journal
Theatre Record
Theory for Performance Studies
To find a specific journal, please use Journal Finder.
Journal Finder is an integrated search interface that allows you to determine if the library provides electronic access, to determine if the library owns a print copy, to determine other libraries that may have print copies, and to order copies of articles that may be sent directly to you.
E-Journals (Theater) via Journal Finder
American Drama
American Theatre
Back Stage
Billboard
Black Masks
Daily variety
Entertainment Design
Modern Drama
 Accessible Archives
Coverage: It makes available vast quantities of archived historical information, previously furnished only on microfilm. Its primary source material has been selected to reflect a broad view of the times, and has been assembled into databases with a strict attention to detail allowing access to specific information with pinpoint accuracy. Its full text search capability and digital imaging permits the user to search and manipulate information in ways never before possible.
 Academic Search Premier via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Provides abstracts and indexing for over 3,200 scholarly journals covering a wide variety of subject areas from 1984 to present. Includes many complete articles from over 1,000 journals including 380 journals dating back to 1990.
America History and Life via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Contains over 400,000 bibliographic citations and abstracts from over 2000 journals. Citations include journals of state and local historical societies, the social sciences and humanities, and leading historical journals in related fields. Contains historical coverage of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present.
America's News Magazines via NewsBank
Coverage: It is a collection of 26 full-text magazines, covering general news, business, entertainment, lifestyle, and sports.
Arts & Humanities Citation Index via ISI Web of Knowledge
Coverage: This index is a multidisciplinary database covering the journal literature of the arts and humanities. It indexes 1,144 of the world's leading arts and humanities journals, as well as covering individually selected, relevant items from over 6,800 major science and social science journals. Provides access to current information and retrospective data from 1975 forward.
Biography and Genealogy Master Index via the Gale Group.
Coverage: Provides a comprehensive compilation of bibliographical citations indexing over four million contemporary and historical figures from around the world.
Communication & Mass Media Complete via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Communication & Mass Media Complete provides the most robust, quality research solution in areas related to communication and mass media. CMMC incorporates the content of CommSearch (formerly produced by the National Communication Association) and Mass Media Articles Index (formerly produced by Penn State) along with numerous other journals in communication, mass media, and other closely-related fields of study to create a research and reference resource of unprecedented scope and depth encompassing the breadth of the communication discipline. CMMC offers cover-to-cover ("core") indexing and abstracts for more than 420 journals, and selected ("priority") coverage of nearly 200 more, for a combined coverage of more than 600 titles. Furthermore, this database includes full text for 301 journals. Many major journals have indexing, abstracts, PDFs and searchable cited references from their first issues to the present (dating as far back as 1915). CMMC contains a sophisticated Communication Thesaurus and comprehensive reference browsing (i.e. searchable cited references for peer-reviewed journals covered as "core"). In addition, CMMC features over 3,000 Author Profiles, providing biographical data and bibliographic information, and covering the most prolific, most cited, and most frequently searched for authors in the database.
CQ Electronic Library via CQ Press
Coverage: CQ Electronic Library provides access to over 3,000 journals, magazines and newspapers articles on current and controversial issues.
CQ Researcher Online via CQ Press
Coverage: The CQ Researcher provides original, comprehensive reporting and analysis on issues shaping our world. Each 12,000-word report is a unique work, investigated and written by a seasoned journalist. Published 44 times a year, CQ Researcher reports offer in-depth, non-biased coverage of political and social issues, with regular reports on topics in health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the U.S. economy.
Current Contents Connect via ISI Web of Knowledge
Coverage: 1998 to the present. It covers agriculture, behavioral sciences, clinical medicine, life sciences, computer, technology, electronics, engineering and art & humanities.
Derwent Innovations Index via Web of Knowledge
Coverage:1966 to present. Derwent Innovations Index opens the power of patent and citation searching. It combines value-added patent records from Derwent World Patents Index with patent citation information from Patents Citation Index
Education Full Text via H.W. Wilson Co.
Coverage: Education Full Text brings you comprehensive coverage of an international range of English-language periodicals, monographs and yearbooks. Full text of articles, with indexing cover to cover, from hundreds of journals, make this a one-stop source for research. Coverage includes about 79 journals (37 with full text) not covered by ERIC’s CIJE. Included are up-to-date subject headings keeping pace with today’s changing issues and terminology. Graphical content also adds a key dimension to research—PDF page images accompany full text articles, offering both words and images.
Education Research Complete via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Education Research Complete is the definitive online resource for education research. This massive file offers the world's largest and most complete collection of full text education journals. It is a bibliographic and full text database covering scholarly research and information relating to all areas of education. Topics covered include all levels of education from early childhood to higher education, and all educational specialties, such as multilingual education, health education, and testing. Education Research Complete also covers areas of curriculum instruction as well as administration, policy, funding, and related social issues. The database provides indexing and abstracts for more than 1,780 journals, as well as full text for more than 870 journals. This database also includes full text for 71 books and monographs, and full text for numerous education-related conference papers.
Encyclopedia Britannica Online
Coverage: Online version of the popular reference tool, Encyclopedia Britannica. There are excellent features within Britannica Online Academic Edition: Encyclopaedia Britannica, World Data Analyst , Gateway to the Classics, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary & Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Quotations, Full-text Journal and Magazine articles from EBSCO and Proquest Journals, BBC & New York Times daily headlines, The Web’s Best, World Atlas, Advanced search capabilities, Extensive video collecton, NEW eBook / Primary Sources, and Britannica’s newest "Compare Countries" feature.
ERIC via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Indexes over 750 journals in the field of education from 1966 to present. Includes full text of ERIC Digests from 1967 to present.
 ERIC via the US Department of Education
Coverage: Educational journals and documents, including conference papers, policy papers, and documents from a variety of sources.
Ethnic NewsWatch (ENW) via Proquest Information and Learning
Coverage: A gateway to full-text ethnic news articles across the United States.
Expanded Academic ASAP via Gale
Coverage: From arts and the humanities to social sciences, science and technology, this database meets research needs across all academic disciplines. Access scholarly journals, news magazines, and newspapers - many with full text and images. 1980 - Current.
Funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Updated annually, this database includes over 25,000 full text records, covering an array of subject areas. Full text of over 25,000 subject entries in the encyclopedia.
Gale Virtual Reference Library via Gale
Coverage: Gale Virtual Reference Library is a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. These reference materials once were accessible only in the library, but now you can access them online from the library or remotely 24/7. Because each library creates its own eBook collection, the content you see may vary if you use the database at different libraries.
Global NewsBank via NewsBank
Coverage: News articles covering politics, economics, culture, business, science, technology, and the environment from Africa, Asia, Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Pacific Rim, Central and South America, and the Middle East. All articles are in English and are from over 1000 translated broadcasts, news agency transmissions, wire services, newspapers, magazines and government documents. Coverage is from 1996 to present.
Humanities International Complete via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Humanities International Complete is a comprehensive database of humanities content, providing full text of hundreds of journals, books and other published sources from around the world. Humanities International Complete provides cover-to-cover indexing and abstracts for more than 1,700 journals and contains more than 1.5 million records. Major subject areas include literature, philosophy, the arts, history, culture and multi-disciplinary humanities titles, with a special emphasis on literature and the literary arts. Title coverage goes back as far as 1929.
Journal Citation Reports via ISI Web of Knowledge
Coverage: Journal Citation Reports is a comprehensive and unique resource that allows you to evaluate and compare journals using citation data drawn from over 7,500 scholarly and technical journals from more than 3,300 publishers in over 60 countries. It is the only source of citation data on journals, and includes virtually all areas of science, technology, and social sciences.
JSTOR
Coverage: Archive of over 100 full text scholarly journals in the arts and sciences. Does not include issues from recent volumes usually the last 2-5 years.
LegalTrac via Gale
Coverage: This database finds articles in all major law reviews, law journals, specialty law and bar association journals. Legal newspapers on Federal and State Cases, Laws and Government Regulations, Legal Practice, and legal subjects such as Taxation and International Law. British Commonwealth and European Union cases and law are also included.
1980 - Current.
LexisNexis Academic via LexisNexis
Coverage: Provides full-text documents from over 5,900 news, business, legal, medical, and reference publications. These sources include U.S. Federal and State case law, codes, regulations, Shepard's Citations for all U.S. Supreme Court cases back to 1789, company financial information, and industry and market news.
Library Literature & Information Science via H. W. Wilson Co.
Coverage: Reflecting the latest trends in a rapidly evolving field, this database indexes English and foreign-language periodicals, selected state journals, conference proceedings, pamphlets, books, and library school theses, plus over 300 books per year. This invaluable resource delivers full text articles cover to cover from over a hundred select publications. PDF page images of the full text articles bring researchers charts, graphs, photos, and other valuable graphical information. Providing enhanced access to your periodical collection, this database also steers users to valuable information on the Web with hotlinks to sites mentioned in articles
MarciveWeb Docs via US Government Publications
Coverage: MarciveWeb Docs is a general index to federal government documents published from 1976 to the present and is updated monthly. It indexes many types of documents including agency publications, annual reports, census data, congressional hearings, and statistical publications.
MAS Ultra - School Edition via EBSCOhost
Coverage: A comprehensive general reference database designed for high school and junior college libraries. Includes reports and special issues from over 460 of the most wanted K-12 magazines, Essential Documents in American History (a database of over 1,000 original historical documents including The Bill of Rights, The Constitution, The Federalist Papers and the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), over 3,000 charts, tables and graphs, coverage of the CIA World Factbook, Magill's Book Reviews, and searchable full text for 145 Macmillan Books. Total coverage includes over 1 million articles.
MasterFile Premier via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Covers a wide variety of topics from about 3,100 magazines and journals from 1984 to present. Includes many complete articles from more than 1500 periodicals from 1990 to present.
Middle Search Plus via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Designed to assist middle and junior high school students in learning how to research current events and information on a wide range of general topics. Also includes the Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, The Encyclopedia of Animals, Essential Documents in American History, and coverage of the CIA World Factbook. Includes nearly 400,000 articles.
MLA International Bibliography via EBSCOhost
Coverage: The MLA International Bibliography offers a detailed bibliography of journal articles, books and dissertations. Produced by the Modern Language Association, the electronic version of the bibliography dates back to the 1920s and contains over 1.8 million citations from more than 4,400 journals & series and 1,000 book publishers. The indexed materials coverage is international and includes almost 60 titles from J-STOR’s language and literature collection as well as links to full text.
New York Times via ProQuest Company
Coverage: Index of the newspaper from August 1986 to present. Contains complete articles from the most recent 90 days of the paper.
NewsBank NewsFile Collection via NewsBank
Coverage: News articles covering social, economic, environmental, government, sports, the arts, people, health and science issues and events from more than 500 U.S. regional and national newspapers, wire services, and broadcasts. 1992-- present. Newspaper Source via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Provides abstracts and indexing 1995 to present for: The New York Times, Wall Street Journal (Eastern and Western editions), Christian Science Monitor and USA Today. Coverage includes everything except obituaries (exclusive of famous people), sports tables, ads/classifieds, stock prices, and weather. Includes many complete articles from the Christian Science Monitor from 1995 to present, and some complete articles from over 100 other U.S. newspapers.
North Carolina Newspapers via NewsBank
Coverage: The electronic editions of record for valuable local and regional newspapers--all in one easy-to-search database. Each paper provides unique coverage of local and regional news, including companies, politics, sports, industries, cultural activities, and people in the community. Paid ads are excluded.
PAIS Archive via Cambridge Scientific Abstracts
Coverage: The PAIS Archive database comprises a retrospective conversion of the PAIS Annual Cumulated Bulletin, Volumes 1-62, published 1915-1976. At completion of this conversion, the PAIS Archive contains over 1.23 million records. The PAIS Archive database contains references to monographs, periodical articles, notes and announcements, and analytics. PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service) has chronicled issues in the public debate through highly selective coverage of a wide variety of sources. The PAIS Archive provides historical perspective on many of the 20th century's public and social policies.
PAIS International via Cambridge Scientific Abstracts
Coverage: The PAIS International database from CSA contains references to more than 553,300 journal articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, conference reports, publications of international agencies, microfiche, Internet material, and more. Newspapers and newsletters are not indexed. PAIS International includes publications from over 120 countries throughout the world. In addition to English, some of the indexed materials are published in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Primary Search (Children's Magazines) via EBSCOhost
Coverage: Indexing and abstracting of 116 children's magazines from 1984 to present. Includes many complete articles from 35 children's magazines from 1990 to present. Also includes Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, the World Almanac for Kids and the World Almanac of the USA.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post via ProQuest
Coverage: Includes historical backfiles of Christian Science Monitor (1908-1995), New York Times (1851-2005), Wall Street Journal (1889-1991)and Washinton Post (1877-1992).
United States Newspapers via NewsBank
Coverage: The electronic editions of record for valuable local, regional, and national U.S. newspapers--all in one easy-to-search database. Each paper provides unique coverage of local and regional news, including companies, politics, sports, industries, cultural activities, and people in the community. Paid ads are excluded.
WorldCat via OCLC FirstSearch
Coverage: Union catalog of materials held in libraries world-wide.
The Performing Arts Guide
Artslynx International Theatre Resources
Theatre History on the Web
Yahoo Theater Links
MLA Style Manuel – Ref. PN147.A28 1985
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers – Ref. LB2369.G53 2003
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association -- Ref. BF76.7.P83 2001
Electronic Styles: A Handbook for Citing Electronic Information – Ref. PN171.F56 L5 1996
You may also see (online) Landmarks Citation Machine.
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This page was last updated: April 15th, 2009
Send comments to: Library Liaison for Theater and Web Liaison
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