American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama

American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama documents the history of American theater from 1869 to 1914. Author Gerald Bordman presents a comprehensive record of theatrical productions, including Broadway shows, regional theater, and touring companies. The book follows a chronological format, examining productions season by season and providing details about performances, actors, directors, and reception. Each chapter contains information about notable premieres, long-running shows, and significant developments in American theater during specific time periods. Bordman includes coverage of both comedic and dramatic works, tracking the evolution of different theatrical styles and genres across decades. The text incorporates reviews, box office data, and other historical records to create a thorough picture of American theater's development. This volume serves as both a reference work and a cultural history, revealing patterns in American entertainment preferences and artistic movements through the lens of theater. The chronicle illuminates connections between social changes and theatrical innovations during a transformative period in American performing arts.

Readers value this book as a reference text for American theater history. Professional theater scholars and students rely on it for detailed season-by-season documentation of Broadway productions. Readers highlight: - Comprehensive coverage of shows from 1930-1969 - Inclusion of lesser-known productions - Detailed information about opening/closing dates, theaters, and cast members Common criticisms: - Dense writing style that can be dry - Brief plot summaries lack depth - High price point for the print edition - Some factual errors noted by theater historians Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (4 ratings) One theater professor noted it serves as "an invaluable chronological record," while a drama student called it "more encyclopedic than engaging." Multiple reviewers mentioned using it primarily as a reference rather than reading it cover-to-cover. Limited review data exists online since this is an academic reference work rather than a general interest book.

The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre by John Russell Brown This comprehensive chronicle traces theatre's development from ancient origins through major movements and provides extensive coverage of American theatrical traditions.

Broadway: The American Musical by Michael Kantor The book maps Broadway's evolution from the 1700s to present through production histories, cultural contexts, and theatrical innovations.

A History of the Theatre by Oscar G. Brockett and Franklin J. Hildy This work presents theatre's progression through time with focus on performances, stagecraft, and dramatic literature across cultures.

The Cambridge Guide to American Theatre by Don B. Wilmeth and Christopher Bigsby The encyclopedia-style entries cover American theatre's personalities, plays, companies, and movements from colonial times through modern productions.

Broadway Theatres: History and Architecture by William Morrison The book documents the physical spaces of American theatre through blueprints, photographs, and architectural histories of Broadway's most significant venues.

🎭 Gerald Bordman spent over 30 years researching and documenting American theatre history, making this book one of the most comprehensive chronicles of its kind 📚 The book covers American theatre productions from 1869-1940, detailing over 4,500 plays and providing rich context about each era's theatrical landscape 🎪 Many of the plays documented in the book were never published or recorded, making this work a crucial preservation of otherwise lost theatrical history 👥 Bordman's chronicle reveals how immigrant communities, particularly Jewish and Irish theater groups, significantly shaped American drama during the late 19th century 🏆 The book won the Theatre Library Association Award and is considered a standard reference work in theater studies programs across the United States