“Standby is nothing short of groundbreaking, with inspiring and practical insights given at every turn. Joshua Langman has achieved something extraordinary: he shows us step by step how mastering the technical craft of theatrical design is merely the beginning—the real work lives inside an open invitation to create magic on the stage. As Langman explains: ‘Designers are poets masquerading as mechanics.’ After reading Standby, it is impossible to see this sacred calling as anything less.”—Amanda Gronich, dramaturg, The Laramie Project

“Langman’s very readable schematic approach to design is a valuable tool for young designers learning how to approach the form.”—Beowulf Boritt, Tony Award–winning Broadway scenic designer
 
“Langman dives into theatrical design with a surgeon’s level of precision, dissecting all of the steps of the process and laying out a virtual road map from conception to completion. Any literary arsenal of texts on design will greatly benefit from its inclusion.”—Cory Pattak, creator of in 1: the podcast 

“Writing in an easy storytelling style, [Langman] includes his personal experiences and descriptive examples of his amazing theatrical designs. . . . An excellent read for anyone aspiring to be or currently working as a theatrical designer.”—K. Wagner, CHOICE

"Standby is an exemplary work of contemporary theatre design theory, practical enough to be used as a handbook by designers and technicians and elegant enough to invite all readers—artists, students, educators, audience members—to reconsider the 'how' of design."--David Bisaha, SUNY Binghamton