Theatre in America has had a rich history-from the first performance of the Lewis Hallam Troupe
in September 1752 to the lively shows of modern Broadway. Over the past few centuries
significant works by American playwrights have been produced including Abie's Irish Rose Long
Day's Journey into Night A Streetcar Named Desire Death of a Salesman A Raisin in the Sun
Fences and Angels in America. In 100 Greatest American Plays Thomas S. Hischak provides an
engaging discussion of the best stage productions to come out of the United States. Each play
is discussed in the context of its original presentation as well as its legacy. Arranged
alphabetically the entries for these plays include: ·plot details ·production history
·biography of the playwright ·literary aspects of the drama ·critical reaction to the play
·major awards ·the play's influence ·cast lists of notable stage and film versions The plays
have been selected not for their popularity but for their importance to American theatre and
include works by Edward Albee Harvey Fierstein Lorraine Hansberry Lillian Hellman Tony
Kushner David Mamet Arthur Miller Eugene O'Neill Sam Shepard Neil Simon Gore Vidal Wendy
Wasserstein Thornton Wilder Tennessee Williams and August Wilson. This informative volume
also includes complete lists of Pulitzer Prize winners for Drama the New York Drama Critics
Circle Award for American Plays and the Tony Award for Best Play. Providing critical
information about the most important works produced since the eighteenth century 100 Greatest
American Plays will appeal to anyone interested in the cultural history of theatre.
