Term | Definition |
Old American Company | Hallam Jr., John Henry, John St. Theatre, Establishes NYC w/ Theatre |
Thomas Abthorpe COOPER | American, Actor, Manager, Tragedian, Popularized "Kemble" style |
Original Traveling Circuit | Boston , New York, Philidalphia, Charelston SC/ Sharing companies, then salaries/ Cooke created demand for stars |
Junius Brutus BOOTH | American, Actor, Tragedian, Huge star, Plays in Mississippi Valley & California |
Royall TYLER | American, PW, "The Contrast" |
William DUNLAP | American, PW, Historian, Painter, Manager, "Father of American Drama", "Andre", 60 plays (13 Kotzebue) |
John Howard PAYNE | American, Actor, PW, Child star (Romeo/Hamlet) |
Samuel DRAKE | American, Actor, Manager, took troupe to St. Louis |
William CHAPMAN | American, Actor, Invented Showboats; "Floating Palaces" |
Edwin FORREST | American, Actor, FIRST to win lasting fame, "American style", Bare legs, roles: King Lear, Spartacus, Metamora, Macbeth, Othello, Richard III, Athletic and unsophisticated |
Charlotte CUSHMAN | American, Actress, FIRST to win lasting fame, Opera singer, famous in both American and England, Roles: Lady Mac, Queen Catherine, Romeo, and Hamlet, Leading tragic actress, "The Female Macready |
4 Native Roles for Americans (List) | 1. Native American; the "noble savage"- Metamora (FORREST)
2. Yankee; the American common man- (George HILL)
3. African-American; played by whites in blackface- Thomas RICE; "Minstrel show"; Jim Crow character
4. City Boy; the "bowery boy"- (CHANFRAU) |
Anna Cora MOWATT | American, PW, Actress, FIRST American Female PW, Roles: Juliet and Rosalind, "Fashion" |
American Technical Innovations | Gas lighting- Chestnut St. Theatre, Gas table- Gas-light control board, Limelight- follow spot |
George Henry BOKER | American, PW, Poet, "Francesca de Rimini", Finest Poetic tragedy of 19th c. |
Edwin BOOTH | American, Actor, most important in US, International Star- Australia, England, Germany, Son of Junius/Bro of John Wilkes, Roles: Othello, Iago, Richelieu, Hamlet (most famous for/ran for over 100 consecutive shows), Built Booth's Theatre |
4 Innovations of the Booth's Theatre (List) | 1. Flat floor
2. Elevator and fly system
3. No apron
4. Box sets |
Augustin DALY | American, Director, PW, Critic, "Under the Gaslight- melodrama, Daly's Theatre |
Daly's 5 Directing Rules (List) | 1. Absolute Control
2. Coached Actors
3. Staged Blocking and Business
4. Abandoned "lines of business"
5. Casting "Star Maker" |
Steele McKAYE | American, did everything, Delsarte system, America Academy of Dramatic Arts, "Hazel Kirke"- Pre-realism, Built Lyceum Theatre- first in America to use electricity, double elevator, Spectatorium (25 stage theatre), folding theatre chair |
Bronson HOWARD | American, PW, First professional, "Shenandoah", The Society of American Dramatists and Composers |
William GILLETTE | American, Actor, PW, "Secret Service", "Sherlock Holmes", "Illusion of the first time" |
James A. HERNE | American, Actor, PW, "Margaret Fleming" (most realistic in 19th century), realistic mode in America |
The Black Crook | Americas first book musical, by Charles M, Barras, 474 performances, emphasis on spectacle, music, dance and song |
FIRST recorded theatrical Performance | "The Bear and the Cub"; a Farce; 3 arrests |
FIRST professional actor on colonial soil | Anthony Aston (c.1682-1753)- British |
FIRST play written in colonial America | Androboros by Robert Hunter |
FIRST professional theatre building built | Williamsburg, VA |
FIRST professional American play performed | The Prince of Parthia by Thomas Godfrey (1736-1763) |
FIRST professional company in America | Lewis Hallam and wife's company in Williamsburg |
Brings professional actors to Jamaica | David Douglass |