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American Theater
Theater in the United States has been strongly influenced by European drama, but the “musical” is of truly American origin. The musical is a play with spoken lines, songs, and dances. It was not until the 1940s and the production of “Oklahoma” that musicals began to change in style and content. Although the basic plot of “Oklahoma” presented an uncomplicated love story, the characters in the play seemed more like real people, and, instead of the routine dancing, ballet was introduced. Since “Oklahoma” many successful musical plays have appeared on the American stage. No longer just light and amusing, they often deal with serious themes, accompanied by sophisticated music and dancing. One example is “West Side Story”, a modern version of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, the story of young lovers who die tragically. Set in New York City, it portrays tense and hostile relationships between Puerto Ricans and Native New Yorkers.
Another highly successful musical play was “My Fair Lady”, the musical version of a play by the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw.
The first important American playwright of serious, nonmusical drama was Eugene O’Neil, who wrote deep and sensitive analyses of human relationships. O’Neil remains this country’s most important dramatist, and his plays are performed frequently. Other notable modern American playwrights include Thornton Wilder, Lillian Hellman, Tennessee Williams, Edward Al-bee, and Arthur Miller. These names are only a few from the long list of contributors to the contemporary stage. The American playwright who is most widely known today is Arthur Miller. His play “Death of a Salesman” has been performed in countries throughout the world. This work captures with sympathy and understanding the heartbreak of an unsuccessful man who cannot manage the forces in his life.
Two important developments in recent years are the “theater of the absurd” and the “black theater”. There also some controversial experiments with electronic music and lighting, body movements to replace spoken words in expressing ideas, and even spontaneous audience participation in some performances.
Black theater presents plays about black people, written by black playwrights, and performed by black casts. Originally, drama about blacks carried messages of protest against racial prejudice. Today, although this theme of protest is still present, black theater is increasingly concerned with blacks as individual human beings and their problems as ordinary people. In recent years theatrical performances by blacks have increasingly stressed black music: spirituals, gospel singing and jazz and ragtime melodies.
New York City is the theater center of the United States. Most important new plays are produced there. For years young actors, actresses, and playwrights have gone to New York, hoping to find success.
The New York theater world is divided into two parts. One centers around Broadway, which is one of the city’s most important streets. Almost all the large commercial theaters are located on or near Broadway in the midtown area. Most Broadway theatergoers seem to prefer musicals and sophisticated dramas or comedies featuring one or two highly paid stars.
The other New York theater division, off-Broadway, has no definite geographic location. Off-Broadway theaters are found throughout the city in buildings once used as garages, offices, and stores. Rents are low, and there is just space enough for small audiences. Sometimes there is no raised stage. Then the cast performs in the center of the room, surrounded on all sides by the audience. The arrangement is known as “theater-in-the-round”.
Many theater groups are active outside New York. There are professional companies in almost every major city. Some of them follow repertory schedules. Different plays are performed several times by the same group of actors within a period of a few weeks or months. There are also traveling acting companies that tour throughout the country. In addition, there are nonprofessional university and community theater groups.
Unlike many other countries, there is no nationally subsidized theater in the US. Some acting companies receive financial help from the National Endowment for the Arts, foundations, and a few communities. However, many theater groups suffer from lack of adequate financing. Frequently commercial theaters must charge very high prices for tickets in order to pay production costs and to make some profit. As a result, many people who love the theater cannot afford to go often.
“Speaking of the USA ”
