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Theatre Studies

A guide for students in theatre, covering auditions, craft, and the history of theatre.

Steps for finding a play

First identify the play you want.  (Perhaps you want a certain genre or have cast size limitations.)  Once you've identified a title you're interested in, note down as much information as possible, including the title, author, and publication information.

Use the search options in Play Index. (See below for tips and more information.)

If you already have a title in mind, try using WorldCat to get the complete publication information.  (See below.)

Then obtain the play, either by finding it in our collection or by requesting a copy from another library.

To find it in our libraries, search OneSearch and limit to "Library Catalog."

If we don't own it, request that we borrow a copy for you through Interlibrary Loan.

Resources for identifying a play: Play Index

While Play Index does not link you to the full text of the play, it does provide all of the publication information (through the "Find this play in a book" link) so that you can check in OneSearch to see if we have the play.  If we do not, you can place a request through Interlibrary Loan for us to borrow it from another library.

There are three types of records in Play Index:

  • Plays
  • Book parts (for plays that are published as part of a book)
  • Books (which are typically collections of several plays)

Remember, you're trying to find the publication information for the play -- title, author, publisher, date -- so that you can track it down.

These are the limits you can place on your search in Play Index.  Look for these options under the "Advanced Search" boxes.

This is an example of a "book part" record. 

This tells us that the play "Death of a salesman" is included in a book "Source" titled "The portable Arthur Miller" published by Viking.

We can click to view more about the play itself ("View play information") or the collection ("Link to Parent Book").

This is an example of a record entry for a play, with an abstract, and information about casting requirements.

Click on the "Find this play in a book" link at the end of the record to get the publication information for the script of the play.  This will help you locate and/or request the play.

This is an example of a "Parent Book" record.

It provides all of the publication information we'd need to either look it up in OneSearch, or to place an Interlibrary Loan request, if we don't have it here at our libraries.

Notice that we can click on the "Link to Book Parts" at the bottom in order to find a list of all of the plays included in this collection.

Resources for locating a play

OneSearch suggestions:

  • Put quotes around the title.  Ex. "death of a salesman"
  • If you have a generic title, use the "Advanced Search" form and include your author in one box and the title in another.

WorldCat suggestion:

  • Put quotes around your title.  Ex. "angels in america"
  • After searching, use the tab above the search results to select "Books."

Requesting a play, if we don't own it

If you've searched in OneSearch (with the "Library Catalog" limiter) and haven't found your title, InterLibrary Loan is a good option, allowing you to borrow the title from another library. 

How it works:

  1. Once you log in with your BSU username and password, click "Book Request" under "New Request" on the left. 
  2. Type in the publication information for the play.  (If you don't have it, look in the Play Index or try WorldCat.)
  3. Click "Submit Request."
  4. You will receive an email when your play is ready to come and check out.  This can take a week or more.