The American Theatre series discusses every Broadway production chronologically--show by show and season by season. It offers plot summaries, production details, names of leading actors and actresses--the roles they played, as well as any special or unusual aspects of individual shows. This second volume in the series, covers what is probably the richest period in American theater, the years 1914 through 1930. Bordman includes most of Eugene O'Neill's work, along with playwrights as diverse as Elmer Rice and George Kaufman. Among the era's stars one finds John and Ethel Barrymore, Helen Hayes, Katherine Cornell, and Lynn Fontaine and Alfred Lunt. Considering the sheer number of productions, American theater climbed to its all-time high in the 1920s; by mid-decade, nearly 300 new plays appeared on Broadway each year. America saw more theatrical activity--in every sense of the word-- than any time before or since.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
This essential reference work for theater students and scholars is comprised of a season-by-season chronicle of the golden age of American theater. Densely printed in double columns with bold-faced play titles and names of figures, the text doggedly traces every New York production with details of plot, critical reaction, and performance history. From World War I through the Depression, the foundation of American theater as we now know it was laid. O'Neill, Rice, Belasco, Shaw, LaGallienne, the Lunts, and hundreds of others, known and unknown, take their place in the story. What is especially pleasing about this book is not only its amazing cornucopia of information, but its easy readability. And while there are no pictures, the detailed index makes it easy to trace plays and people in their context. For all theater collections.?Thomas E. Luddy, Salem State Coll., Mass.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"[An] essential reference work for theater students and scholars....What is especially pleasing about this book is not only its amazing cornucopia of information, but its easy readability....For all theater collections."--Library Journal
"[A] lively, informal history....Although this is a valuable reference work, reflecting an exhaustive knowledge of the theater, the vivid prose and memorable images also make it a joy to read. The reference value is enhanced by indexes to play titles, people, sources, and organizations."--Choice
"Hits and flops alike receive an insightful overview in this colorful saga of vintage theater history."--B'Nai B'rith Life
"A tireless researcher, he is also a concise and lively writer....An invaluable reference book and a great read."--Happening
"...accessible and of...interest to the general reader..."--Daily News
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
When the theatrical season of 1913-14 ended in mid-June. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
cheap touring melodramas, new straight plays, divided notices, quick flop, crook play, first smash hit, scathing notices, many playgoers, best notices, vanity production, modest run, theatrical year, comic complications, acting honors, latest vehicle, critical drubbing, enthusiastic notices, stylized settings, quick failure, laudatory notices, money notices, glowing notices, two revivals, excellent notices, two other plays Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Greenwich Village, Theatre Guild, Maxine Elliott, Henry Miller, Provincetown Playhouse, David Belasco, Owen Davis, Burns Mantle, Eva Le Gallienne, Robert Edmond Jones, Street Theatre, Arthur Hopkins, Eugene O'Neill, Long Island, Civic Repertory, Ethel Barrymore, Walter Hampden, Dudley Digges, John Golden, Willard Mack, Cherry Lane, Lynn Fontanne, Norman Trevor, Alfred Lunt New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
When the theatrical season of 1913-14 ended in mid-June. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
cheap touring melodramas, new straight plays, divided notices, quick flop, crook play, first smash hit, scathing notices, many playgoers, best notices, vanity production, modest run, theatrical year, comic complications, acting honors, latest vehicle, critical drubbing, enthusiastic notices, stylized settings, quick failure, laudatory notices, money notices, glowing notices, two revivals, excellent notices, two other plays Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Greenwich Village, Theatre Guild, Maxine Elliott, Henry Miller, Provincetown Playhouse, David Belasco, Owen Davis, Burns Mantle, Eva Le Gallienne, Robert Edmond Jones, Street Theatre, Arthur Hopkins, Eugene O'Neill, Long Island, Civic Repertory, Ethel Barrymore, Walter Hampden, Dudley Digges, John Golden, Willard Mack, Cherry Lane, Lynn Fontanne, Norman Trevor, Alfred Lunt New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 82
books:
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- The Merchant of Venice (The Pelican Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare on page 22, page 76, and page 410
- Romeo and Juliet (The Macmillan Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare on page 22, page 38, and page 412
- As You Like It (The New Cambridge Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare on page 76, and page 410
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (Oxford School Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare on page 22, and page 76
- She Stoops to Conquer (The New Mermaids) by Oliver Goldsmith on page 232, and page 349
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