American Theatre: History, Context, Form (British Association for American Studies (BAAS) Paperbacks) - Hardcover

Theresa Saxon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0748645209 ISBN 13: 9780748645206

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 2011

Synopsis

Argues for the recognition of American theatre history as long, rich, diverse and critically compelling. Embracing all epochs of theatre history, from pre-colonial Native American performance rituals and the endeavours of early colonisers in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, to the end of the twentieth century, Theresa Saxon situates American theatre as a lively, dynamic and diverse arena. She considers the implications of political manoeuvrings, economics - state-funding and commercial enterprises - race and gender, as well as material factors such as technology, riot and fire, as major forces in determining the structure of America's playhouses and productions. She goes on to investigate critical understandings of the term 'theatre,' and assesses ways in which the various values of commerce, entertainment, education and dramatic production have informed the definition of theatre throughout America's history.

About this title

Review:

In this compact and highly readable volume, Theresa Saxon introduces readers to a wide breadth of over four hundred years of American theatre and performance history. Given that mandate, Saxon's choice to draw upon a wide range of sources not generally available in theatre history texts and to highlight the early performance histories of Native Americans and African Americans is particularly noteworthy and commendable. --Lisa Merrill, Ph.D., Professor of Performance Studies, Hofstra University, USA

About the Author:

Theresa Saxon is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire.

About this edition

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0748645209
• ISBN 13: 9780748645206
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 216