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Max Reinhardt, Austrian Director
Max was one of the first directors who was known for being a major creative artist in several countries. He proffered realism over naturalism. He directed his first play in 1902. I chose Max because he was not afraid to take risks and his risk made him famous overnight. He didn't just want to direct, he wanted ownership so he purchased a theater at the age of 32. He transformed theatrical productions with joy and captured audiences with his theatrical brilliance.(www.britannica.com/biography) -
Flippo Tammaso Marinetti, an Italian Writer and Poet
Flippo was not a fan of modernism and wanted his fans to embrace futurism. He launched the literacy movement in 1909 for futurism. Futurism was writing and arts keeping up with the modern world of a booming power industry and faster vehicles. Flippo was unsuccessful in his attempt to move futurism so he partnered up with other writers who together, took it to the next level. I chose Flippo because he brought new energy, color and movement to art with futurism.
(www.histouring.com) -
Tennessee Williams, an American Playwright and Screenwriter
Tennessee Williams, an openly gay writer, was not afraid to be himself in a time where is was frowned upon and was successful. As a child he became ill and was bed bound for 6 months so he began writing. He wrote between 1930 to 1983. In 1944 he had his big break with The Glass Menagerie in New York City. He wrote 29 major plays in his lifetime. He is still being honored today. I chose him because he was true to himself and was successful.
(www.biography.com) -
Epic Theatre
Epic Theatre was developed by Bertoh Brecht in the 1920s. He wanted to change the way the audience experienced theater and get away from dramatic theater. He did not want his actors to become their characters, he wanted them to present the character. He engaged the audience with songs. His techniques would influence theater into the 1950s. I chose Brecht because his movement was necessary at the time to keep theatre going during a time where it was rapidly declining.
(http://thedramateacher.com) -
Appia and Craig
Appia took the stage and revamped it for the time. They took boring flat walls and flooring and made them three-dimensional. They created transitions by using steps, platforms and ramps. They thought abstract structure should replace a representational approach to visual elements. They agreed and advocated for scenery, costumes, and lighting to be simplified. I chose them due to their upgrades being essential to theatre to keep up with the era. They reshaped the stage.
(http://ukessays.com) -
Richard Rychtarik
Richard came to the US from Chocen in 1925. He was a set and costume designer who studied art and architecture in school. He preferred the idea of modernism over realism. He mainly worked with Opera’s. He brought drama to the stage by using lighting and colors taking Opera to the next level the the early 1900’s. He designed sets for Metropolitan Opera. In 1949 he was popular enough to join CBS as their Chief Scenic Designer.
(https://case.edu/ech/articles/r/rychtarik-waslav-richard) -
The Great Depression
I chose the Great Depression because it took a huge toll on live theater. At this time films were starting to take the place of theater and 2/3 of theaters closed due to low sales. The government financed its First Federal Theater project to help financially support theater and keep it alive. This time shifted the theatre world and play writers were fighting to stay in work. Different techniques of writing had to be thought of to keep theatre alive.
(http://www.bartleby.com) -
Eddie Cantor, an American comedian, actor, songwriter, actor, singer and radio show host
Eddie was a broadway actor who had the nickname “Banjo Eyes” and this led him to his broadway performance in Banjo Eyes in 1941. He won an Oscar in 1956 for film work. His work in film, radio, broadway, recordings, animation and humanitarian work is extensive for his time. His work was so successful another popular journalist stated Eddie did more to bring America out of the Great Depression than the government did, this is why I chose him.
(https://m.IMDb.com) -
Edith Head, an American costume designer
Edith, holds the record for winning the most Academy Awards in history as a female. In 1924 she was hired as a costume sketch artist for Paramount. She worked there 44 years and moved on in the 60's to Universal. She designed for 54 performers and was nominated for 23 awards in her career, winning 8. She was awarded a start on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1974. I chose Edith because she is known as the most influential costume designer in history.
(https://en.wikipedia.org>wiki>Edith_Head) -
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Post World War II the United States recovered quickly. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was written by Tennessee Williams, and was a play about deception and lying. The play brought in 17.6 million and the third highest grossing play that year and MGM’s most successful play that year. The play was about a family fighting over their father’s inheritance when he died of cancer. I chose this play because of the skillful writing and how well it did for its time period.
(https://en.m.Wikipedia.org)