Julie Taymor: Playing With Fire Book

In this unique book, award-winning writer Eileen Blumenthal traces Taymor's theatrical apprenticeship: in France, where she studied mime; at Oberlin College, where she worked with the experimental director Herbert Blau; in Indonesia, where she honed her directorial skills by immersing herself in traditional dance-drama, puppetry, and mask-making and formed her own theater company, Teatr Loh; and in New York, where she has further developed her art. Blumenthal then presents each of Taymor's major projects in theater, opera, and film. The many pictures illustrating Blumenthal's text include not only production photos but also Taymor's sketches for characters and costumes, and shots of Taymor in rehearsal and constructing puppets and masks. Following the essay, fifteen major productions, from Way of Snow to Titus Andronicus, are lavishly illustrated, mostly in color. Scores of the photographs and design renderings are published for the first time in this volume. Also featured are Taymor's own notes on each production, in which she describes how projects were conceived and carried out, plus some of the challenges encountered along the way. Altogether this sumptuous book offers a fascinating look at the creative spirit of one of today's leading directors, writers, and designers.

One of the most imaginative and provocative directors and designers working today, Taymor draws on elements from the West, Indonesia, Japan, traditional theater, Asian dance-drama, puppetry, masked dance, contemporary cinema, and other performing arts to bring her extraordinary theatrical hybrids to life. Tracing her extensive career, this volume includes 195 illustrations, 110 in color, as well as Taymor's personal production notes.