19th Century American Theatre

This seminar confronts the drama of national and cultural identity. Students will read plays and other primary source material as well as essays and historical commentary. Topics include: the beginnings of nationalism, the theatrical and the political, economic forces and show business, melodrama's gendered vortex, the representation of race, the roots of "American studies" in theatre history, marketing stars and shows, "presenting" ethnicity and the development of theatrical criticism, among other issues.