Theater in the United States
Theater in the United States is part of the old European theatrical tradition and has been heavily influenced by the British theater. The central hub of the American theater scene is Manhattan, with its divisions of Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway. Many movie and television stars have gotten their big break working in New York productions. Outside New York, many cities have professional regional or resident theater companies that produce their own seasons, with some works being produced regionally with hopes of eventually moving to New York. U.S. theater also has an active community theater culture, which relies mainly on local volunteers who may not be actively pursuing a theatrical career.
Edwin Forrest, a popular early American actor
John Drew, a famous American actor, playing the part of Petruchio from The Taming of the Shrew
Minstrel show performers Rollin Howard (in female costume) and George Griffin, c. 1855.
Program from Mark Hellinger Theatre of My Fair Lady (1913)
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and director in musical theater for nearly 40 years. He won eight Tony Awards and two Academy Awards for Best Original Song. Many of his songs are standard repertoire for vocalists and jazz musicians. He co-wrote 850 songs.
Hammerstein c. 1940
Hammerstein watching an audition at the St. James Theatre on Broadway, 1948
Hammerstein with his first wife, Myra Finn, photographed aboard a ship