About the Book

“We are not, ultimately, technicians. We are architects of the temple of the soul.”

Standby is a groundbreaking philosophy of design for the stage. Beginning with the proposition that the goal of theatrical design is to contribute additional layers of meaning to an experience, Joshua Langman argues for a unique approach centered on the creation of revelatory theatrical moments. In a field that is too often dismissed as purely technical, Standby rediscovers design as a sacred calling, a transformative force with the power to elevate a performance and enable it to resonate beyond the bounds of its physical production.

Standby is the perfect contemporary introduction to the craft. Sections on the purposes of design, the elements of a production concept, the alchemy of theatrical magic, and the traits required by successful designers articulate foundational ideas that are often only intuited. The text includes innovative, highly practical frameworks that apply to any design discipline and any form of performance. Standby is also a love letter to the theatre, to every child who has ever been amazed by a special effect, and to the artisans of the theatre who make it all happen. Equally at home on tech tables, seminar tables, and bedside tables, Standby is a book that will be treasured by students and professionals alike, looked to for inspiration when the ideas won’t come, and returned to when a designer needs reminding of why it matters.

Placing design in its theatrical and societal context, Langman illuminates the connection between the craft of design and the purposes and methods of the performing arts. A passionate plea for beauty, craftsmanship, and conceptual rigor, Standby introducers readers to the theatre as a place of heightened dreams and rare visions, a place where playwrights, directors, performers, technicians, and designers collaboratively incarnate experiences with the power to change their audiences. Standby is full of lovingly wrought stories, unconventional wisdom, and essential hints for theatre-makers of all kinds. Steeped in the culture of the theatre, basking in the warmth of the stage lights, Standby captures that elusive magnetism that draws artists and audiences to this ancient art, and challenges us to exploit the vast transformative potential of theatrical design.

Joshua Langman has designed lighting, sound, and projections for Ensemble Studio Theatre, Summer Shorts, La MaMa ETC, the Jim Henson Foundation, singer-songwriter Cidny Bullens, Brooklyn Gypsies, the 52nd Street Project, and many others. He originated the theatrical design program at Talent Unlimited High School in Manhattan, and he has lectured and facilitated workshops on design at Carnegie Hall and other venues. Langman is a faculty member in the Kean University Theatre Conservatory, where he teaches theatrical design. Standby is his first book.

Portrait by Sharon Holiner