This volume addresses multiple facets of the artistic expression of a live performance, with a particular focus on the technical issues, people, and institutions related to it. Dance, musical theatre, mime, puppetry, and other performing arts are investigated through the lens of their various components, as well as their protagonists - impresarios, companies, designers, conductors and directors. Specific sections of the book are devoted to lighting, scenography and costume design, staging, but also on circus, puppetry, dance, and entertainers. A number of articles are dedicated to single artists: Diaghilev, Massenet, Pacini, Poulenc, Verdi, and Wagner. With contributions by (in alphabetical order): Mathias Auclair, Raphaël Bortolotti, Michael Burden, Maria Birbili, Simone Ciolfi, Francesc Cortez, María Encina Cortizo, Nathalie Coutelet, Petra Dotlacilova, Catrina Flint, Federico Gon, Vesa Kurkela, Jürgen Maheder, Scott Palmer, Bertrand Porot, Manuela Rita, Ramón Sobrino, Valeriya Zharkova.--