Hardback

Add to GoodReads

Electra USA

American Stagings of Sophocles' Tragedy

E. Teresa Choate

Theatrical performance is the most ephemeral of arts. Once a production closes, the living work of art disappears. Fortunately, some productions leave behind enough evidence to reconstruct in words and pictures what a performance was like and to conjecture what the audience saw and heard. Between 1889 and 1995 in America, productions of Sophocles' Electra became the project of some of the most significant directors, actresses, and producers of their day. In reconstructing eleven major productions, this book seeks to accomplish two goals: first, to preserve, albeit in imperfect written form, the productions themselves; and, second, by tracing the history of Electra's production, to highlight some of the most pivotal figures in the development of American theater, including several key women often neglected by theater historians. Along the way, for those who celebrate Greek tragedy in production, this book will allow the reader to sit vicariously in the audience and enjoy seven Electra productions on the American stage.

University Press Copublishing Division / Fairleigh Dickinson University Press

Pages: 292 • Trim: 6½ x 9¾

978-1-61147-416-9 • Hardback • September 2009 • $128.00 • (£98.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / Reference, Performing Arts / Theater / History & Criticism, Literary Criticism / Ancient & Classical, Literary Criticism / Drama, Drama / Ancient, Classical, Fiction / Classics

Electra USA

American Stagings of Sophocles' Tragedy

Hardback

Summary

Theatrical performance is the most ephemeral of arts. Once a production closes, the living work of art disappears. Fortunately, some productions leave behind enough evidence to reconstruct in words and pictures what a performance was like and to conjecture what the audience saw and heard. Between 1889 and 1995 in America, productions of Sophocles' Electra became the project of some of the most significant directors, actresses, and producers of their day. In reconstructing eleven major productions, this book seeks to accomplish two goals: first, to preserve, albeit in imperfect written form, the productions themselves; and, second, by tracing the history of Electra's production, to highlight some of the most pivotal figures in the development of American theater, including several key women often neglected by theater historians. Along the way, for those who celebrate Greek tragedy in production, this book will allow the reader to sit vicariously in the audience and enjoy seven Electra productions on the American stage.

Details

University Press Copublishing Division / Fairleigh Dickinson University Press

Pages: 292 • Trim: 6½ x 9¾

978-1-61147-416-9 • Hardback • September 2009 • $128.00 • (£98.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / Reference, Performing Arts / Theater / History & Criticism, Literary Criticism / Ancient & Classical, Literary Criticism / Drama, Drama / Ancient, Classical, Fiction / Classics

Author

E. Theresa Choate is associate professor and assistant chair at the Department of Theater in the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Kean University.

Electra USA

American Stagings of Sophocles' Tragedy

E. Teresa Choate

Electra USA

American Stagings of Sophocles' Tragedy

ALSO AVAILABLE