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Full-Text Articles in History
A Thaddeus Stevens Musical: A 19th Century Hamilton?, Megan E. Mcnish
A Thaddeus Stevens Musical: A 19th Century Hamilton?, Megan E. Mcnish
The Gettysburg Compiler: On the Front Lines of History
If you read my last post on the Broadway musical Hamilton, you’ve already read my waxing admiration of the show and might also remember that I listen to the soundtrack non-stop. The musical has shown the world the power that music has as a teaching tool. As someone interested in nineteenth century American history, I long for a Hamilton-esque musical regarding the Civil War era. One of the reasons Hamilton is so successful is its ability to draw connections between past and present issues, and that can be done easily for nineteenth century America. Women’s rights, slavery, immigration, …
Theater Of War: Booth And Beyond, Valerie N. Merlina
Theater Of War: Booth And Beyond, Valerie N. Merlina
The Gettysburg Compiler: On the Front Lines of History
Lastly, we come upon perhaps the best known actor of the Civil War era, John Wilkes Booth. Of course, the reason memory allows us to recall the name is not because of the merits achieved through his profession, but rather because he murdered the elected executive official – United States President Abraham Lincoln. Booth, a product of a theater family, was a dramatic, eccentric, and impatient being. He wanted the leading roles, did not want to prepare the role, but to simply play the role. His brother, Edwin Booth, a talented poetical performer, one might deduce, did prepare for his …
Theater Of War: Combining Entertainment And Art, Valerie N. Merlina
Theater Of War: Combining Entertainment And Art, Valerie N. Merlina
The Gettysburg Compiler: On the Front Lines of History
Did the theater work to benefit the causes for north or south, dependent upon region? Sautter stated that this phenomenon was less common than many might expect. Many actors stated their neutrality, or as one Civil War era actor said, “I am neither northerner nor southerner.” Still others simply responded to the war by leaving the country. One must consider the “clannish nature” of theater of the time in order to understand how actors could have taken the neutral role during a war of ideals: many actors were born into theater life, therefore did not grow up in any one …
Theatre Of War: A Witness To Love, Tragedy, And Parody, Valerie N. Merlina
Theatre Of War: A Witness To Love, Tragedy, And Parody, Valerie N. Merlina
The Gettysburg Compiler: On the Front Lines of History
Central to American nineteenth century life was the theater. As the fratricidal fighting of the American Civil War broke out and divided the nation, this centrality remained, and audiences crowded into the theaters. For both north and south, the theater provided an outlet through which Americans could enjoy plays, performances, music, and variety shows that appealed to all social classes of American society. However, in order to understand the operations of theater companies during the war itself, it is first essential to examine the state of the theater as a concept during the mid-nineteenth century, and in the pre-war years. …