Abstract

Hinterland II: Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Points South

The article presents studies made by the author on the U.S. national theater. The current generation of regional or "resident professional theatres" has for its ancestors the amateur "little theatres" that sprang up in various parts of the country during and after World War I, full of high hopes and ringing manifestoes, to present the avant-garde drama of the day. The hopes and the manifestoes were never justified, with the depression. However, a number of little theatres survived, with their ideals somewhat impaired, by turning to conventional Broadway material. Sporadically, new amateur groups came into existence. Many of them hired professionals to run the theatres and direct the plays. And, over the years, a few signed contracts with Actors' Equity and became professional theatres. Some of these theatres are now the senior citizens of the resident theatre movement.