Theatre, Society and the Nation Staging American Identities [Paperback]

Selects key moments in American history and examines how the theatre responded to these events.Theatre has often served as a touchstone for moments of political change or national definition. In this book Steve Wilmer selects key historical moments in American history and examines how the theatre, in formal and informal settings, responded to these events, from the Colonial fight for independence, through Native American struggles, the Socialist Worker play, the Civil Rights Movement, and up to works of the last decade. In addition to examining theatrical events and play texts, Wilmer also considers audience reception and critical response.Theatre has often served as a touchstone for moments of political change or national definition. In this book Steve Wilmer selects key historical moments in American history and examines how the theatre, in formal and informal settings, responded to these events, from the Colonial fight for independence, through Native American struggles, the Socialist Worker play, the Civil Rights Movement, and up to works of the last decade. In addition to examining theatrical events and play texts, Wilmer also considers audience reception and critical response.Theater has often served as a touchstone for critical moments of political change or national definition. Steve Wilmer selects key historical moments in American history to examine the theater's response. The selected events range from the Colonial fight for independence through Native American struggles, the Socialist Worker play and the Civil Rights Movement, to those of the last decade. Wilmer also considers audience reception and critical response.Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. From British colony to independent nation: refashioning identity; 2. Federalist and Democratic Republican theatre: partisan drama in nationalist trappings; 3. Independence for whom? American Indians and the Ghost Dance; 4. The role of workers in the nation: the Paterson Strike Pageant; 5. Staging social rló½