About Smith and Kraus Publishers

Smith and Kraus Publishers, founded in 1990, is the largest publisher of trade theater books in the United States. The leading source for books about theater—from collections of monologues and scenes for use in class or at auditions, to contemporary and classic play collections, to acting technique and career resource titles, and a substantial list of books for children and teachers—Smith and Kraus boasts over 500 books in print.

Beyond publishing the works of contemporary new playwrights like Theresa Rebeck and Christopher Durang, Smith and Kraus has released the definitive translations of plays by the old masters, like Sophocles, Anton Chekhov, August Strindberg, and many others.

In 2010, Smith and Kraus announced the launch of a new imprint, In An Hour Books (inanhourbooks.com). In An Hour Books has published two series.

The first is Playwrights In an Hour, a collection of 27 books. These informative little books, written by experts in their fields, are under 100 pages and connect the histories, societies, and biographies of 27 playwrights to their plays. They take no more than one hour to read! TheLos Angeles Times called Playwrights In an Hour, “Red Bull for theater buffs.” At only $10 per book, Playwrights In an Hour is ideal for actors, directors, theatergoers, educators, and students (wholesale prices available).

The second series under the In An Hour Books imprint is Production in Print. A Production in Print is a production of a play as a book. Each book includes a brief biography of the playwright, a concise chronology corresponding to the playwright’s life, images from your production and, the centerpiece of the book, the production’s script. If you’re producing a new play, this is a great way to have it published!

The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre Company of Washington D.C. has already sold one thousand Production in Print copies of Pierre Corneille’s The Liar—adapted by David Ives—to accompany its spring 2010 production of the play. The company has already ordered more copies and David Ives loved our book so much that he has commissioned In An Hour Books to create a Production in Print for his forthcoming Broadway play, Venus in Fur.

Smith and Kraus specializes in publishing books that enrich the experience of going to the theater. Our 500 titles and our new imprint In An Hour Books helps each reader and theatergoer have a more profound experience at the theater, revitalizing the relationship between the theater and the community—which helps theaters sell more tickets!

Peruse over 500 Smith and Kraus titles at Smith & Kraus.