Performance & Film

It is impossible to overstate the impact Star Wars and the women in the galaxy far, far away had on my life. When Princess Leia raised her face in defiance of Darth Vader, my little girl heart swelled. A woman could be a princess and a badass; there was no need to choose. Since then the Star Wars universe has expanded to include many more powerful women. I can’t wait to dig into this beautiful homage to women’s strength. - Ivy

Unlike some celebrity memoirs that focus on art and fame, actress Sally Field’s memoir is much more personal, and includes her life before she was famous. She reveals that as a child, she was sexually abused by her stepfather and talks about how that shaped her decisions regarding her partnerships, which roles she took, and even how she mothered. As an artist, she was drawn to the roles that “spoke of outrage,” but in writing her memoir, you can feel the connection that Field has found with herself. - S.M.C.

Whether through his hit TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race or his books, RuPaul’s positivity and messages of empowerment are absolutely infectious. GuRu gathers all of that wonderfulness into a visually dazzling collection of phrases (“You’re born naked and the rest is drag”) and quotes (“Stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out”) that will inspire readers and help them own their greatness. “Everybody say love!” - S.B.

Nottage is one of our contemporary master dramatists, a writer whose work will be (and should be) performed and studied for decades to come. Heartbreaking and true, Sweat frames a truly modern American tragedy that examines generation, race, class, family, and friendship within a real working class town. - Jocelyn

A nostalgic look back, this book showcases some of the show’s most memorable moments and reveals behind-the-scenes secrets that you didn’t know you needed to hear. If you miss seeing Jon Stewart’s charming smirk on your television every evening, then this book is for you! - Jade

One of the living masters, Francis Ford Coppola intends to turn us toward the future in Live Cinema—a fusion of film and television already being shown (such as Grease Live!) and movie theater broadcasts of opera, ballet, and theater. Although Coppola wrote this as a critical manual of a burgeoning form, he also shares insights about film overall and draws on anecdotes and stories from his own life. A must for the film nerd. - Jocelyn

As I perused the pages—which are packed with pictures, slayer vocabulary, and tons of Buffy trivia—I was transported back to the summer I spent binge-watching Buffy in my bedroom. Even if you think you already know everything there is to know about the Buffyverse, this tome, a true treasure for any Buffy fan, will put your knowledge to the test. - Jade