Shakespeare and the American Popular StageCambridge University Press, 2006 M10 19 - 221 pages Shakespeare's effect on America's intellectual and artistic life has been much discussed, but what role does he play on the American popular stage? This study changes our understanding of Shakespeare's presence in American life. The book looks at how Shakespeare came to America just before the Revolutionary War. As Americans broke with Britain, they embraced Britain's playwright. Teague re-examines P. T. Barnum's attempt to buy Shakespeare's Birthplace, the Astor Place Riot when twenty-three people died, and the way both Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth regarded Shakespeare. In the history of Broadway, more musicals have drawn on Shakespeare than any other author. Shakespeare musicals like Kiss Me, Kate and West Side Story can tell us much about America's culture, but sometimes failed musicals such as Swingin' the Dream can tell us more. With discussion of over twenty Shakespeare musicals, this study demonstrates that Shakespeare has always been present in popular shows. |
Contents
Section 1 | 28 |
Section 2 | 33 |
Section 3 | 41 |
Section 4 | 52 |
Section 5 | 54 |
Section 6 | 60 |
Section 7 | 64 |
Section 8 | 65 |
Section 11 | 74 |
Section 12 | 79 |
Section 13 | 92 |
Section 14 | 100 |
Section 15 | 111 |
Section 16 | 112 |
Section 17 | 133 |
Section 18 | 137 |
Section 9 | 68 |
Section 10 | 69 |
Section 19 | 147 |
Section 20 | 152 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
action actor American appears Astor audience Barnum beard became become began begins birthplace Booth Boys British Broadway burlesque called century characters claim concern consider continued critics culture dance discuss drama Dream early effect England English enjoyed enters example figure first Forrest Hamlet idea identity important included interest John jokes Julia Kiss later legit less letter lines lively London Macready manager minstrel shows move musical comedy notes offered opened original particularly performers Place plot political popular present production Proteus references regarded remarks respectable returned reviewers role scene seems Shakespeare Shakespeare’s plays Side Story Silvia simply sings social song speech stage success suggests swing Swingin Syracuse tell theatre theatrical thing turned Valentine variety vaudeville wanted West Side writing wrote York