A Critical Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Drama: Volume 3, Beyond Broadway
Cambridge University Press
Edition: Illustrated, 5/2/1985
EAN 9780521278966, ISBN10: 0521278961
Paperback, 496 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm
Language: English
Originally published in English
In this, the third and final volume of his critical account of American drama in the twentieth century, Christopher Bigsby turns from the text-oriented drama of Williams, Miller and Albee (volume 2) in order to trace other, parallel theatrical developments of the post-war period, including contemporary groups and playwrights. Beyond Broadway denotes the geographical and spiritual challenges to prevailing standards which so fragmented the theatre of the 1960s in particular. Following his analysis of the Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway playwrights and theatres, Dr Bigsby separates the period into four main areas: performance theatre (including the Living Theatre and the Performance Group); the conjunction of dance, music and painting with drama in the 'theatre of images'; two successful contemporary playwrights, Sam Shepard and David Mamet; and finally the committed theatre exemplified in the San Francisco Mime Troupe and Chicano, black and women's theatre.
List of illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgements
Part I. Beyond Broadway
Introduction
1. Zen, happenings, Artaud, Grotowski
Part II. Performance Theatre
Introduction
2. The living theatre
3. The open theatre
4. The performance group
Part III. The Theatre of Images
Art, Theatre and the Real
Introduction
5. Robert Wilson
6. Richard Foreman
7. Lee Breuer
Part IV. The Playwright
8. Sam Shepard
9. David Mamet
Part V. The Theatre of Commitment
Introduction
10. The San Francisco Mime Troupe
11. Bread and Puppet
12. El Teatro Campesino
13. American Indian theatre
14. Black theatre
15. Gay theatre
16. Women's theatre
Afterword
Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index.