I couldn't think of anyone, but I cross-posted your Q to my favorite theatre message board; I think someone will have some good recs.

American Theatre is rather good, if maybe a little industry heavy. The nice thing about American Theatre is the complete text of at least one entire play in every issue. At 40 bucks a year, it is not too bad.

And hey, there's always Playbill. Maybe a little narrow in scope, but the girls would at least be in the know about Broadway.

One more. Sorry. Dramatics Magazine, for theatre students and teachers. $24 a year.

Thank you! So- which do you think would be best for someone brand new at theater acting?

Upon further clicking-through, it looks like Dramatics Magazine might be it?

I'm thinking you're right. Dramatics is probably the most comprehensive and student-targeted.

Buy her Stella Adler's The Art of Acting, or Sanford Meisner's On Acting. One is enormously inspiring and demanding, but will make her feel like theater is the only thing she'll ever live for (in fact, Stella says that in the book), and the other may be for when she's a little older and more intellectually curious about technique.

Both are considered landmark publications about the theater life, from two of the most influential acting teachers ever to hit an American stage.

For a more fun suggestion, get her into improvisational theater, and buy her a book called Impro!, which is all about the mechanics of live theater without a net.

If all this is too much for where she's at, just get her hooked on Upright Citizen's Brigade, or The State, or any other sketch/improv group. Better yet, take her to see some!

Yay for theater kids!

Thanks LT! The one closest me is taking Berkeley Rep classes, which sound from her description like they contain improv. The one in Colorado- I have no idea.