Women in nineteenth century American theatre management.
Item
-
Title
-
Women in nineteenth century American theatre management.
-
Identifier
-
AAI9130305
-
identifier
-
9130305
-
Creator
-
Curry, Jane Kathleen.
-
Contributor
-
Adviser: Walter J. Meserve
-
Date
-
1991
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Theater | Women's Studies
-
Abstract
-
Women's participation in professional theatrical production during the nineteenth century in the United States extended beyond the obvious capacity of women as actresses. Many women held positions of great responsibility and power as theatre managers--managing stock companies, owning or leasing theatres, hiring actors and other personnel, selecting plays for production, directing rehearsals, supervising all production details, and promoting their dramatic offerings. Competing in risky business ventures, these women were remarkable for defying societal norms that severely restricted career opportunities for women. More than fifty women who managed theatres in the United States during the nineteenth century are discussed in this dissertation.;This study provides an account of the pioneers, fifteen women who, often out of necessity, became managers in various parts of the country and, for the most part, were unaware of being part of a larger trend of women in management. All of them were managing theatres before 24 December 1853, when Catherine Sinclair, often incorrectly cited as the first woman theatre manager in the United States, opened the Metropolitan Theatre in San Francisco. Sinclair and four others took advantage of the California Gold Rush to launch managerial careers. One of those women, Laura Keene, went on to achieve prominence as a manager in New York City. As the first woman to establish herself as manager of a large, first-class house in New York, Keene attracted a great deal of attention and even direct opposition to her management. Her career provides good examples of both the frustrations and satisfactions encountered by women theatre managers. The careers of more than fifteen women who entered management in New York after Keene are also examined. Louisa Lane Drew, another outstanding woman manager, is discussed along with three other Philadelphia managers. Also presented are the activities of ten women who managed theatres in other parts of the country during the second half of the nineteenth century.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
