This research work is an important one in theatre history as no published survey of directorial history exists and, while some reference works discuss directors, none concentrates on American directors nor takes a systematic approach to the subject. This monograph does exactly that. IDEAS OF THEATRE will be of great use to students and scholars of American theatre history as well as the history and development of our national stage. Chapters include: 1. The Rise of the Director in the American Theatre 2. Ben Teal and the Authoritarian Perspective of Directing 3. David Belasco and the Scientific Perspective of Directing 4. Arthur Hopkins and the Neo-Romantic Perspective of Directing 5. George Abbott and the Total Perspective of Directing 6. Elia Kazan and the Psychological Perspective of Directing 7. The Five Directors Production lists, theatre schools and various movements (Wagnerism, Freudianism, Social Realism, etc) and playwrights as directors are also discussed and included along with an impressive bibliography and robust indexes. Professor Shelton has had a long associated with Kansas State University and is the author of numerous publications.