Theatre

What are Call Numbers and What Are they Used For?

Call numbers are used to organize books on shelves by grouping similar books together. Call numbers beginning in GV are shelved in Rose Library. If you wish to explore the books we have about choreography for example, you would go to books on the shelfs labeled GV 1782.5.  

Call Numbers for Print & eBooks

Many eBooks are also assigned call numbers, but of course they're not on the shelf. To see both the printed books and eBooks in a call number range, use the Browse by Call Number feature in Library Search as demonstrated in the video below.  Another way to browse is to use the Virtual Browse panel at the bottom of most book records as demonstrated in the below video.

• GT 500-2289 -- Costumes (History/Description) 
• GV1580-1799.4 -- Dancing 
• ND 2885 -- Scene painting
• PN1530 -- The monologue
• PN1551 -- The dialogue
• PN1560-1590 --The performing arts
• PN 1600-3307 -- Drama
  • PN 2067 -- Theatrical Costume  
  • PN 2068 -- Make-up
  • PN 2091 .E4 -- Stage lighting
  • PN 2091 .S8 -- Stage scenery
  • PN 2061-2071 -- Art of acting
  • PN 2085-2091 -- The stage & accessories
  • PN 2181-2193 -- Modern theatre history
• PN 6110.5-6120 -- Play collections
• PR 621-739 -- English literature-drama
• PR 641-739 -- History of drama literature
• PS 330-352 -- American literature/drama

Other Theatre Call Number Ranges

• GN 418-419 - Clothing and dress
• GT 500-2370 - Costume, Dress, Fashion
  • GT 530-560 - Costume - History - To 500
  • GT 575 - Costume - History - Medieval, 500-1500
  • GT 585 - Costume - History - 16th-18th century
  • GT 595 - Costume - History - 19th century
  • GT 596 - Costume - History - 20th century
• NK 4700-4890 Costume
• NK 7300-7600- Jewelry, Gemstones 
• TT 500-650 - Dressmaking and Tailoring, Fashion Designers 
• TT 950-979 - Hairdressing, Beauty Culture 

Video: Use Call Numbers to Browse Printed and eBooks in 50 Seconds

Video: Use the Virtual Browse Panel to Find Similar Books in 20 Seconds

Subject headings are descriptions of the content of library materials using precise language. 

Subject Heading Tips 

• You can click on subject headings in most catalog and research database records or search for them in advanced searches. 
• Remove the dashes to search with them in Library Search. You may be able to use them in other search systems. 
• The below links point to records in Library Search, but you can use the below words or phrases in our research databases.
• Many of the below subject headings contain numerous sub-headings, not just the few shown in indented lists such as Ballet.

Theatre & Performance Subject Headings 

In the library catalog, books, videos and other materials are assigned subject headings based on their content. Here is a sample list of theater-related subject headings. When you view catalog records in Library Search, these subject headings are links to other items with the same subject.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it should give you a sense of commonly used vocabulary and how subject headings are structured.

• Acting 
  • Acting--Auditions
  • Acting--History
  • Acting--Psychological aspects
  • Acting--Study and teaching
  • Acting--Vocational guidance
  • Actors with disabilities
• African American Theater
• American drama
  • American drama--20th century--History and criticism
  • American drama--African American authors
  • American drama--Asian American authors
  • American drama--Hispanic American authors
• Clothing and dress--History
• Costume--History 
• Costume design
• Costume designers
• Drama
  • Drama--Technique
  • Drama--Collections
• Dramatic production
• Dramatists, American
• Dramaturges
• Feminism and theater
• Feminist theater
• Gay theater
• Lesbian theater
• Method acting
• Monologues
• Musical Theater
• Musicals--United States--History and criticism
• One-Act plays
• Participatory theater
• People with disabilities and the arts
• Set designers
• Stage lighting
• Stage management
• Theater and society
• Theater audiences  
• Theater critics
• Theater
  • Theater--England - see also Theater--Great Britain
  • Theater--History
  • Theater--Japan - compare to Japanese drama
  • Theater--Moral and ethical aspects
  • Theater--Political aspects
  • Theater--Production and direction 
  • Theater--reviews
• Theaters--Stage-setting and scenery
• Theatrical companies
• Theatrical Producers and directors
• Voice culture
• Voice-overs
• Women in the theater
• You can also search for individual playwrights and other people as subjects, as well as organizations such as theater companies:
• Churchill, Caryl
• Mabou Mines (Theater group)
• Pinter, Harold, 1930-2008
• Chaikin, Joseph, 1935-2003
• Royal Shakespeare Company
• Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 
  • Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Dramatic production
  • Shakespeare, William,1564-1616--Stage history
• Wilson, August--Criticism and interpretation