American Theatre and Drama (Intro and Brief History)

Question 1

Where did most of the early American theatre material come from?

Answer 1

• Either recycled pre-war plays, or “imported” British Drama

- It was very much a borrowed theatre with heavy foreign influence

Question 2

What were some characteristics of early american theatre?

Answer 2

• show business dominated, not dramatic literature

- 19th centurey focus on spectacle; American audiences wanted “cinema on the stage”

Question 3

What was the subject matter of the early American works of theatre?

Answer 3

• consistently contrasted virtuous and natural americans with corrupt and decadent Europeans
• stressed love of country and God, obedience to parents, thrift, honesty hard work
• continually insisted that the US was perfect and the guardian of liberty and redeemer of sinful Europe

Question 4

What was American theatre like during the Colonial Period to 1775?

Answer 4

• some theatrical activity prior to the Hallums
• Tony Astor, 1st American Actor
• Nothing significant happens until the Hallums

Question 5

What was American theatre like from the Beginning of the new Nation to 1820?

Answer 5

• Hallums disguise their British nationaliyt as The American Company
• David Douglass joined with the Hallums, was the one responsible for the name change
• Philadelphia - 1st theatre capitol

Question 6

Who is considered to be the first American actor?

Answer 6

Tony Astor, wandering troubadour, around South Carolina

Question 7

Where was the first theatre capitol?

Answer 7

Philadelphia

Question 8

What was American theatre like from 1820-1870?

Answer 8

• progress in play-writing melodrama
• Rise of star actor, and outstanding managers
• importing of stars abroad
• theatre permeates the whole of the country
• more skilled playwrights
• growth of popular entertainment
• Park Theatre, Laffayette - growth of a theatrical empire
• The Booth Theatre (1876)

Question 9

What was American theatre like from 1870-1900?

Answer 9

• technical achievement

- moving away from popular entertainment and into Triumph of realism

Question 10

What was American theatre like from 1900-1930?

Answer 10

• experimentation and beginning of modern drama
• Washington Square Players (The Theatre Guild in Later years)
  
  • aware of Stanislavski “method acting”
• Provincetown Playhouse (discovered Eugene Oneill) nurtured homegrown American playwrights

Question 11

The Hallam Troupe

Answer 11

• family of comedian/performers from London who traveled to America
• established theaters and essentially jump started professional theatre in America

Question 12

What theatres did the Hallams establish? What notable performance occured in 1767?

Answer 12

• Southwark (Philadelphia) 1766
  John Street Theatre (NYC)1767
• Thomas Godfrey’s “The Prince of Persia”

Question 13

William Hallam

Answer 13

organizer of troupe travelling overseas, planned to send them over to make money (did not actually take the journey himself)

Question 14

Lewis Hallam Sr.

Answer 14

leader of the troupe who came with his wife, son and a party of 13

Question 15

David Douglass

Answer 15

• meets the Hallam troupe in Jamaica; they merge and form a new company - The American Company
• he eventually marries Mrs. Hallam

Question 16

“Ye Bear and Ye Cobbe”

Answer 16

(1665) first show, record of a performance in the colonies in Accomac, VA

Question 17

What was the first extant published play in America?

Answer 17

“Androborus” (man eater) by Richard Hunter -1714