American Theatre History

1. American Theatre History

2. The first play ever produced on American soil… • August 27, 1655 • Ye Bare and Ye Cubb • Accomac, Virginia • Fowkes’ Tavern

4. The first playhouse in the American colonies… • 1716 • Williamsburg, Virginia

5. The first professional theatre in America… • 1752 • William Hallam

6. The first time American soldiers fired on American citizens… • The Astor Place Riots • May 7, 1849 • William Charles MacCready • English • Astor Place Opera House • Shakespeare • Upper class • Edwin Forrest • American • Bowery Theatre • Shakespeare • Working Class

7. The Astor Place Opera House

8. Bowery Theatre

9. William Charles MacCready

10. Edwin Forrest

11. First President Assassinated… • Abraham Lincoln • John Wilkes Booth • Ford’s Theatre, Washington D.C. • April 14, 1865

12. John Wilkes Booth (AKA J.B. Wilkes) • Actor and Assassin • First stage appearance: • 17 years old • August 14, 1855 • Earl of Richmond in Richard III • Charles Street Theatre, Baltimore, MD • Downfall? • Southern Sympathizer

13. Sic SemperTyrannis • April 14, 1865 • Went to get his mail, came out an assassin • Stabbed Henry Rathbone • Shot Lincoln • Dove onstage to escape • Broke his leg • Carried to Garrett farm • Shot and Killed on April 26, 1865

16. Common Works of the Late Nineteenth Century • Most popular: • Shakespeare • “…Shakespeare, had he been alive at the time, would have been, at heart at least, an American.” • Development: • Melodrama • A sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions of the audience

17. One of the Most Famous Melodramatic Works • Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Adapted by George Aiken • Based on the novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe • Vital Abolitionist novel • Created Stereotypes we still know today: • The Mammy– affectionate, dark-skinned grandmother • The Pickaninny– black children • Uncle Tom– dutiful, faithful, hard-working servant-slave

18. “The Mammy”

19. “The Pickaninny”

20. “Uncle Tom”

21. Climax • Eliza escaping with her child

22. Theatrical Poster

23. African Grove Theatre • New York City, New York • 3rd attempt • Most successful • First Play Written by an African-American • The Drama of King Shotaway • Shut down in 1823 • 1858 • William Wells Brown • The Escape • Ex-slave

24. The Minstrel Show • Popular Form of Theatre at the time • White, or black, actors dressed in “blackface” • Comic skits • Parodies • Buffoonery • Slapstick • Revealed • Racial stereotyping • Racist Themes

25. Theatrical Syndicate • Creators • Charles Frohman • Al Hayman • Ade Erlanger • Mark Flaw • Sam Flenderson • Fred Zimmerman • Purpose • A systemized booking agency for theatrical troupes across the US

26. Rival: The Shubert Organization • Creators • Lee Shubert • Sam Shubert • Jacob Shubert • Purpose • “Theatre for all”

27. Vaudeville • The Variety Show is born • Series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together and billed together • Types of Acts • Musicians • Singers • Dancers • Comedians • Trained animals • Magicians • Impersonators • Acrobats • jugglers • Sources • Concert saloon • Minstrelsy • Freak shows • Dime museums • Burlesque

28. Burlesque • Characteristics of Burlesque: • Minimal costuming • Focus on the female form • Sexual innuendo • Quick-witted humor • Puns • Short routines or sketches • Think SNL

29. Birth of the Musical • Comic Operas and Pantomimes performed • Minstrel shows - played banjos, tambourines, “bones”, sang, danced, and made jokes • Music Halls and Vaudevilles - unrelated acts, magic, jugglers, acrobats, sketches, animals, singers, and dancers

30. What is a Musical? • a play or movie in which singing and dancing play an essential part

31. The First Musical • The Black Crook - Sept 12, 1866 in New York • Ran 474 performances • 5 1/2 hours long • Mixture of drama, spectacle, scenery, transformations with ballet and scantily clad dancers • Lots of scenic special effects • Produced in Birmingham, AL in 1882!

32. The Black Crook