T. Edward Hambleton's Phoenix Theatre, 1953-1982: Its impact on the theatre in New York City.
Item
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Title
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T. Edward Hambleton's Phoenix Theatre, 1953-1982: Its impact on the theatre in New York City.
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Identifier
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AAI9325073
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identifier
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9325073
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Creator
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Butt, Rex.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Walter Meserve
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Date
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1993
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Theater | Biography
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Abstract
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The Phoenix Theatre, founded in 1952 by T. Edward Hambleton and Norris Houghton, was co-managed by Hambleton and Houghton until 1962 when Houghton resigned; thereafter, Hambleton, retaining the title of general manager, guided the Phoenix through twenty-one more seasons. Dismissed as a theatre with no clear artistic focus, the Phoenix and Hambleton's management of it have received scant attention from critics and historians.;This dissertation identifies T. Edward Hambleton's contributions to the development of theatre in New York City over three decades through his management of the Phoenix Theatre. Specifically it substantiates several claims: that the Phoenix was instrumental in establishing off-Broadway as an alternative to Broadway for established artists; that it played a central role in instigating nonprofit production in New York City and in wooing foundation and public support for nonprofit production; that as an outgrowth of its concern for expanding the potential audience for theatre, the Phoenix actively involved high schools in its program, establishing procedures later followed by other theatres; that, not only interested in expanding audience, the Phoenix, more than any other theatre in the city, worked to expand Broadway's limited repertoire through its long-term attempt to reinstitute permanent professional repertory on Broadway; and that, failing this goal, the Phoenix was later central in the effort to resurrect off-Broadway as a venue for the production of new works and in the effort to encourage playwrights through a unique commissioning program.;All of the above accomplishments have gone essentially unnoticed, and critical and scholarly response to the Phoenix suggests that it merely managed to keep its doors open for nearly thirty years by grasping at any expedient measures available. Though Hambleton's Phoenix Theatre was far from the clearly perceived, intensely pursued vision preferred by critics and historians, it was a significant force in the development of theatre in New York City that deserves to be given careful attention.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
