The American Stage

This book focuses on the economic and social forces which shaped American theatre throughout its history.

Ron Engle (Edited by), Tice L. Miller (Edited by)

9780521412384, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 6 May 1993

344 pages, 10 b/w illus.
23.4 x 15.6 x 2.1 cm, 0.66 kg

"All in all, The American Stage is an enjoyable read whether taken as a whole or taken chapter-by-chapter according to interest. Recommended for all who are involved in serious theatre research or simply curious about the colorful history of the American theatre." Alma J. Bennett, Journal of American Culture

This book focuses on the economic and social forces which shaped American theatre throughout its 250-year history. The collection of essays, written by leading theatre historians and critics of the American theatre, represent a variety of methodologies and approaches, and reflect the disparity and diversity of the social and economic issues which have moulded the cultural heritage of America. Arranged chronologically, the volume explores such topics as anti-theatrical legislation in Colonial America; the theatre's response to slavery, prostitution, alcoholism and women's rights; the significance of black American musical comedy; women managers in nineteenth-century American theatre; economic welfare in the Federal Theatre Project; theatre nostalgia during the Reagan era; and issues of multiculturalism in theatre. Alone or as a collection, the essays will stimulate discussions concerning the traditionally held views of America's theatrical heritage.

List of illustrations
Notes on the contributors
Preface Ron Engle and Tice L. Miller
Acknowledgements
Introduction: American theatre history scholarship Oscar G. Brockett
1. The theatre and its audience: changing modes of social organisation in the American theatre Douglas McDermott
2. Puritan mercantilism and the politics of anti-theatrical legislation in colonial America Peter A. Davis
3. 'Lady-managers' in nineteenth-century American theatre Vera Mowry Roberts
4. Hustlers in the house: the Bowery Theatre as a mode of historical information Rosemarie K. Bank
5. Museum theatre and the problem of respectability for mid-century urban Americans Bruce A. McConachie
6. Social awareness on stage: tensions mounting, 1850–1859 Walter J. Meserve
7. The development of the American theatre program Marvin Carlson
8. The Hyers Sisters: pioneers in black musical comedy Errol Hill
9. Money without glory: turn-of-the-century America's women playwrights Felicia Hardison Londré
10. 'For laughing purposes only': the literature of American popular entertainment Brooks McNamara
11. E pluribus unum: Bernhardt's 1905–1906 farewell tour Stephen M. Archer
12. Commercialism glorified and vilified: 1920s theatre and the business world Ronald H. Wainscott
13. Quicksilver revisited: a portrait of the American stage in the 1930s Charles H. Shattuck
14. The economic structure of the Federal Theatre Project Barry B. Witham
15. The American Repertory Theatre (1946–1947) and the repertory ideal, a case study Daniel J. Watermeier
16. Sojourning in Never Never Land: the idea of Hollywood in recent theatre autobiographies Thomas Postlewait
17. Consuming the past: commercial American theatre in the Reagan era Alan Woods
18. Narrative strategies in selected studies of American theatre economies Margaret M. Knapp
19. Multiculturalism versus technoculturalism: its challenge to American theatre and the functions of arts management Stephen Langley
20. Checklist of selected books on American theatre, 1960–1990 Don B. Wilmeth
Index.

Subject Areas: Theatre studies [AN]