(Part 2) Top products from r/Theatre

I'll try to respond to each item:
Rehearsal Time: 3, 4, or 5 nights a week is reasonable. As long as you don't have every actor called to every rehearsal. (I'll discuss this more later.)
Schedule: Plan out what you are going to work at every rehearsal. For example, on Monday we are working Act I Scenes 1-2. Call only the actors that are in those scenes. Work those scenes, run those scenes move on. If I have a long enough rehearsal process I like to plan in 30 minutes to 1 hour of rehearsal for every minute of show.
Warm-ups and Exercises: I'm a firm believer that these are activities that actors should take care of before rehearsal begins. Sometimes you'll encounter an activity or an exercise that will help with a scene or a moment in the show, then, by all means, work it into the rehearsal
Off Book: An expectation that I have for my actors is that the third time I run a scene, they are off book. They may not have a scene memorized at the start of rehearsal, but if you're using your rehearsal time well, they will have it memorized by the end. You can also set official off-book dates. With Shakespeare I would do it by Act. Let's say that I'm going to block and work Act I over 1 week. Well, the final rehearsal that week would be the official off-book date for Act I.
Staging: Venue size shouldn't matter too much. If your actors are comfortable in what they are doing, then they'll be able to adjust. If you can secure them a bit of time to work in each venue before hand that would be ideal. Just enough time for them to work their spacing and to move around the space and get comfortable.
Initial Sessions: I like to have a brief discussion with my cast, introduce the designers and stage manager, review the production calendar, and then do a table read. It's ideal if your designers are at the table read, but I know that doesn't happen all the time. Discuss your ideas about the characters, but don't dictate exactly what you want. As for character research, that is part of the actor's job description. Rehearsal is a place for the actor to try out the work they've done on their own. The director is there to shape what the actor brings, not to dictate what is seen.
Minor Roles: Call them when needed. Invite them to come to sit in at any rehearsal, but only call them when you need them. There's nothing worse than feeling like someone is wasting your time.
Individual Work: (See Above)
Technical Work: Preferably before you've even auditioned. You should have production meetings before you ever start working with actors, get everyone on the same page. Invite them to the table read.
Books and Resources: [Stage Management] (http://www.amazon.com/Stage-Management-Edition-Lawrence-Stern/dp/0205006132) [Tips: Ideas for Directors] (http://www.amazon.com/Tips-Ideas-Directors-Art-Theater/dp/1575252414/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394337595&sr=1-1&keywords=tips+ideas+for+directors)
Hearts and Minds: Don't waste their time. Be well prepared for every rehearsal. Do your director homework. Study, analyze, and plan. If you don't have an answer to an actor's question, find it as soon as you leave that night. Have an answer for them the next day before you even start rehearsal.
Actor Wishlist: This is strictly my opinion, feel free to ignore it. Don't give a line reading. Nothing more humiliating as an actor than for a director to have to give you a line reading.

That's how I work. I would absolutely kill for a 3 month rehearsal process.

So glad you've taken an interest in Shakespeare. He's the best for a reason!

The thing is, your question is almost impossibly broad. First off, what "theater movement" do you mean exactly? In the Western tradition? (I'm assuming, because you're asking about Shakespeare.) There are HUNDRES of movements in theater (Absurdism! Realism! Naturalism! Theater of the Absurd! Artaud's Theater of Cruelty! And that's just the 20th century!) And how are you defining "modern" and "pre-modern?" Pre-Victorian, maybe? Or post-Elizabethan?

Also, when you're talking about Shakespeare's influence, do you mean just from a text/language standpoint? All the words he invented? (Here's a list! http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/wordsinvented.html) Or what he did from a character development standpoint? How he played with then-existing dramatic convention? Or how the Globe and King's Men productions helped shape dramatic productions? This is an entire academic field we're talking about, people get PHDs in this subject! :)

Also, FYI, "Broadway" only refers to theaters of a certain size in New York. Not to any specific production qualities or standards. Although there is a lot of cultural baggage associating the term with musicals and big spectacles, smaller scale plays and more "experimental" works are mounted in Broadway theaters today.

BUT to answer your initial question: I think it's safe to say that there has not been a single artist with more influence on Western theater than William Shakespeare. Nearly every single other person (from Shaw to Chekov to Miller) who has shaped or formed the Western theatrical tradition had read, studied or seen a Shakespeare play. His influence is nearly impossible to quantify, and certainly not fit for one Reddit post :)

This is a fun, easy read which provides a thin but useful overview of Shakespeare's influence on the WHOLE WORLD!

Here's some other books to check out if you're interested.

http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-World-Stage-Eminent-Lives/dp/B0091LM8L8

http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-An-Illustrated-Stage-History/dp/0198123728

https://cache.kzoo.edu/handle/10920/27867

I think there are a lot of good answer in this thread, but i just wanted to add the link to Brecht on Theater, a collection of essays written by Brecht regarding his view of theater.

Also this book 20th Century Theatre which does a good job of boiling down the salient bits from Brecht on Theater, as well as including essays from some of Brecht's actors (e.g., Helene Weigel). This is also a great reference for pretty much everyone of note in 20th Cent. Theater, from Vakhtangov and Mayakovsky, down through Brecht, Grotowski, Peter Brook, etc.

Outrageous Fortune: The Life and Times of the New American Play this is the best book I've ever read that really explains the new play development process.

Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers I have not read this book yet, but you definitely want to read something about dramaturgy

Building The Successful Theater Company this is probably the best book to read for management and arts administration

This has good reviews on Amazon! I would just look around there for books! You'll find some good things. Also knowing period makeup and what was popular for men and women in each decade is super helpful!

The Makeup Artist Handbook: Techniques for Film, Television, Photography, and Theatre https://www.amazon.com/dp/0240818946/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_YkEEwbMX719MH

There are several great books out there. There's an outdated book from about ten years ago that catalogs just about every cast recording and gives them ratings (it only goes up to about 2004, but it's fantastic for everything before that).

https://www.amazon.com/Theatermania-Guide-Musical-Theater-Recordings/dp/0823084353

Also, The Secret Life of the American Musical is an AMAZING guide to the structures of musical, and comes with recommendations for shows at the back.

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-American-Musical-Broadway/dp/0374536899/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492386029&sr=8-1&keywords=jack+viertel

That's a fantastic book and if she's a Tina Fey fan, [Bossypants] (http://www.amazon.com/Bossypants-Tina-Fey/dp/0316056898) is a fantastic book and she has 'bits' in Live From New York, a collection of cast member's experiences on SNL and a history of the show. Glad she liked it!

Rather than /r/askhistory I would try /r/askhistorians. The responses tend to be much better.

Btw, this would be a fantastic topic for a research paper.

edit: Just did a cursory search on Google Scholar. The book Out on Stage by Alan Sinfield seems like a great starting point.

This is usually a winner: https://www.bookdarts.com

I usually keep a few tins on hand just in case. You can also buy them on Amazon, and a lot of independent booksellers if you've got a local shop you want to support.

Sharpie used to sell a stainless steel marker, but it was discontinued. I'm also a fan of the following for just about any creative-type: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062266764/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zzSJxb1HRAR0C

EDIT: added a hyphen where it felt needed.

I wrote out a huge nice reply and accidentally hit back... Long story short: This book if you want to actually learn about the history of theatre by reading through representational plays of many eras and genres that are well annotated and explained. I highly recommend this. Be warned, you might actually have to think.

If you just want a text book that is boring and gives you facts, figures, and dates: Here it is.

I would contend that the Paul Schmidt translations are best. Chekov's humor is preserved and Schmidt is a Russian-language scholar and former actor.

When I worked on Chekhov in school, we used Michael Frayn's translations. My teacher has studied Chekhov for years and believes that Frayn's translations best capture the essence of his work.

These books have helped me a lot over the years.

Keith Johnstone - Impro

Sanford Meisner - On Acting

Laurence Olivier - On Acting

David Mamet - True and False

Try some beard balm like this. It can help with the itch some. It's kind of hit and miss to find one that works, so you might have to try a few.

There is quite a bit of material out there on Frantic, mostly due to the lovely tradition of british theatre to educate and share their knowledge. If you google Frantic, some pdfs will show up. And then there is a book they wrote themselves which is highly recommended, not just for info on Frantic, but devising techniques in theatre.

As for Brecht, there are plenty of books. This might be a good start

It's making fun of the New York Post. They're known for these kinds of snappy, sensationalist headlines.
Here's a book about it: http://www.amazon.com/Headless-Body-Topless-Bar-Headlines/dp/0061340715

Here are some more recent ones: http://hypervocal.com/entertainment/2012/22-bestworst-ny-post-covers-2012/

http://www.mandatory.com/2012/12/03/the-most-ridiculous-new-york-post-headlines-over-the-years/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0380787156

or at libraries:

http://www.worldcat.org/title/nothing-but-the-truth-a-play/oclc/36429167

You could get a copy and see for yourself!

http://www.amazon.com/Abigails-Party-Goose-Pimples-Mike-Leigh/dp/014048180X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397592626&sr=1-1&keywords=abigail%27s+party

Another great book, if interested in the psychology of combat and fighting is On Killing by Dave Grossman.