Theater, THR-Ć VA
There's no business like show business! Nothing quite matches the immediacy and electricity of a live dramatic performance, a fact which may help explain why the art form has persevered from its ancient origins up through the present day. During the 20th century, live theater demonstrated an unexpected tenacity in the face of tough competition from film, television, video, the Internet, and other media.
Theater Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Threepenny Opera, The
The Threepenny Opera, musical drama in three acts written by Bertolt Brecht in collaboration with composer Kurt......
Thumb, General Tom
General Tom Thumb was an American showman noted for his small stature. He was the first major attraction promoted......
Thurston, Howard
Howard Thurston was an American magician who led the largest magic show in history. (Read Harry Houdiniâs 1926......
Théùtre National Populaire
Théùtre National Populaire (TNP), French national theatre created in 1920 to bring theatre to the general public.......
Théùtre-Libre
Théùtre-Libre, (French: Free Theatre), independent, private theatre founded in Paris in 1887 by André Antoine,......
Tilley, Vesta
Vesta Tilley was an English singing comedienne who was the outstanding male impersonator in music-hall history.......
Today in HistoryâAugust 5: Houdini Wins a Water Fight
One hundred years ago today, Harry Houdini held his breath. For a really long time. Houdini is famous for his exploits......
Today in HistoryâDecember 17: Americaâs Favorite Cartoon Family
The Simpsons first appeared as an independent series on December 17, 1989, with a Christmas special that helped......
Today in HistoryâFebruary 11: The French Chef Premiere: When Julia Child Taught America to Cook (and Laugh)
On this day in 1963, with the premiere of The French Chef, Julia Child changed cookingâand televisionâforever.......
Today in HistoryâFebruary 28: M*A*S*H Ends: âGoodbye, Farewell and Amenâ
At 11:03 pm on this night in 1983, the flow rate in New York Cityâs water tunnels jumped by an extraordinary 300......
Today in HistoryâJanuary 19: Lucille Ball Welcomes a BabyâOn-Screen and Off
On this day in 1953, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz welcomed a baby boy. Twice. In real life, actress Lucille Ball......
Today in HistoryâJanuary 31: How a Flop Started Daytime Television
On this day in 1949, the first daytime TV soap opera premieredâand flopped. These Are My Children was broadcast......
Today in HistoryâJune 16: The âScenic Railwayâ Roller Coaster Opens
The slightly grim inspiration for the first roller coaster in America: gravity-driven railways hauling coal cars......
Today in HistoryâJune 21: The World Welcomes the Ferris Wheel
Consider this: Would you ride for 20 minutes on a revolving wheel that stood some 264 feet tall and carried 2,160......
Today in HistoryâJune 30: Daredevil Crosses Niagara on a Tightrope
On this day in 1859, humankind squared up against Niagara Falls for the first time. The pioneering stuntman didnât......
Today in HistoryâMarch 11: A Raisin in the Sun Makes Theatrical History
When the lights dimmed and the curtain rose at Broadwayâs Ethel Barrymore Theatre on this day in 1959, history......
Today in HistoryâNovember 9: The Sydney Opera Houseâs First Show (Featuring Scaffolding)
The Australian spring day was windy, and it was most certainly more so if you were sitting on scaffolding a dozen......
Today in HistoryâOctober 24: The First Person to Survive Niagara in a Barrel
Letâs say youâre looking to get rich quick. Would you play the lottery? Rob a bank? Hit the blackjack tables? Would......
Today in HistoryâOctober 30: The Day New York Did Not Fall to Martian Forces
8 pm Eastern Time, October 30, 1938: In CBSâs New York studios, the young sensation of stage and radio Orson Welles......
Today in HistoryâSeptember 24: When 60 Minutes Started the Clock Ticking
On a Tuesday night (yes, thatâs right) at 10 pm (again, really) 58 years ago, television was forever changed. As......
Today in HistoryâSeptember 26: TV Transformed Presidential Campaigns
On this day in 1960, two U.S. presidential candidates debated each other. It was a landmark event: Never before......
Today in HistoryâSeptember 7: The First Miss America Pageant
As has often happened in American history, what started as a desire to make a buck or two had a lasting effect......
Todd, Michael
Michael Todd was an American showman with a flair for the flamboyant who is remembered as Elizabeth Taylorâs third......
Tomlin, Lily
...
Tomlinson, Taylor
Taylor Tomlinson is an American comedian and television host known for stand-up that combines commentary on contemporary......
Tony Awards
Tony Awards, annual awards for distinguished achievement in American theater. Named for the actress-producer Antoinette......
touring company
touring company, cast of actors assembled to bring a hit play to a succession of regional centres after the play......
toy theatre
toy theatre, popular 19th-century English childrenâs toy that provides modern theatre historians with a valuable......
trap
trap, in theatre, a concealed opening, usually in the stage floor, through which actors, props, and scenery can......
Trnka, JiĆĂ
JiĆĂ Trnka was a preeminent filmmaker of the Czech puppet animation tradition who was also a painter, designer,......
Tucholsky, Kurt
Kurt Tucholsky was a German satirical essayist, poet, and critic, best-known for his cabaret songs. After studying......
Tucker, Sophie
Sophie Tucker was an American singer whose 62-year stage career included American burlesque, vaudeville, and nightclub......
tumbling
tumbling, execution of acrobatic movements such as rolls, twists, handsprings, or somersaults on floor mats or......
Uniti, Compagnia degli
Compagnia degli Uniti, company of actors performing commedia dellâarte (improvised popular comedy) in Italy in......
Vakhtangov, Yevgeny Bagrationovich
Yevgeny Bagrationovich Vakhtangov was a Russian theatrical director of the Moscow Art Theatre. A pupil of Konstantin......
Valli, Romolo
Romolo Valli was an Italian actor who appeared in leading stage roles and won many awards for his work in motion......
Van Peebles, Melvin
Melvin Van Peebles was an American filmmaker who wrote, directed, and starred in Sweet Sweetbackâs Baadasssss Song......
Vanbrugh, Sir John
Sir John Vanbrugh was a British architect who brought the English Baroque style to its culmination in Blenheim......
vaudeville
vaudeville, a farce with music. In the United States the term connotes a light entertainment popular from the mid-1890s......
ventriloquism
ventriloquism, the art of âthrowingâ the voice, i.e., speaking in such a manner that the sound seems to come from......
Ventura, Jesse
Jesse Ventura is a professional wrestler known as Jesse âthe Bodyâ Ventura and later entered politics, serving......
Vernon, Dai
Dai Vernon was a Canadian magician and sleight-of-hand artist who was one of the 20th centuryâs most renowned practitioners......
Vicente, Gil
Gil Vicente was the chief dramatist of Portugal, sometimes called the Portuguese Plautus. He was also a noted lyric......
Vieux-Colombier, Theatre of the
Theatre of the Vieux-Colombier, French theatre founded in Paris in 1913 by the writer and critic Jacques Copeau......
Waits, Tom
Tom Waits is an American singer-songwriter and actor whose gritty, sometimes romantic depictions of the lives of......
Wallack, James William
James William Wallack was a leading British-American actor and manager of New York theatres, from whose acting......
Wallack, Lester
Lester Wallack was an actor, playwright, and manager of the Wallack Theatre Company, the training ground of virtually......
Wallenda, Karl
...
Warren, Harry
Harry Warren was an American songwriter who, by his own estimate, produced 300 to 400 songs from 1922 through 1960,......
Wasserstein, Wendy
Wendy Wasserstein was an American playwright whose work probes, with humour and sensibility, the predicament facing......
wayang
wayang, (Javanese: âshadowâ), classical Javanese puppet drama that uses the shadows thrown by puppets manipulated......
Weaver, John
John Weaver was a dancer, ballet master, choreographer, and theorist known as the father of English pantomime.......
Weber and Fields
Weber and Fields, American comedy team that was popular at the turn of the 20th century. Joe Weber (in full Joseph......
Weill, Kurt
Kurt Weill was a German-born American composer who created a revolutionary kind of opera of sharp social satire......
West Side Story
West Side Story, theatre music by American composer Leonard Bernstein that premiered August 19, 1957, in Washington,......
West, Mae
Mae West was an American stage and film actress, a sex symbol whose frank sensuality, languid postures, and blasé......
What is Love Island USA?
Love Island USA is a reality dating show that, when airing, releases new episodes on Peacock, NBCâs streaming service,......
Wheeldon, Christopher
Christopher Wheeldon is a British-born ballet soloist and choreographer, known for his work with New York City......
Where Was the First Roller Coaster Invented?
The first roller coaster was invented in Russia. Roller coasters have their origins in a form of ice sledding that......
Whitefriars Theatre
Whitefriars Theatre, private London playhouse located in the priory of the Whitefriars monastery on the north side......
Whittington, Dick
Dick Whittington was an English merchant and lord mayor of London who became a well-known figure in legend and......
Who Are the Britannicas?
Itâs 1986 and Joyce Byers works selling print sets of the EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica over the phone from her home......
Who Was the First Person to Survive Niagara Falls in a Barrel?
Letâs say youâre looking to get rich quick. Would you sell your belongings? Play the lottery? Head to Las Vegas?......
Whoâs Who in Christopher Nolanâs The Odyssey: Cast List
The ancient Greek poem the Odyssey, attributed to Homer, has endured for thousands of years, partly by being translated,......
Whoâs who in Netflixâs Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story
The fourth season (2026) of Monster, Netflixâs true-crime anthology series, focuses on one of the most infamous......
Whoâs who in the wizarding world?
The magic and enchantment of the wizarding world of Harry Potter, created by author J.K. Rowling, have endured......
Why Are People Afraid of Clowns?
Coulrophobia is no laughing matter. This irrational fear of clowns can cause panic and nausea. Although itâs a......
Why Do Clowns Have Red Noses?
A clownâs red nose is often noticed before anything else. Far from being a simple decorative decision, it is a......
Why Do Television Shows Use Laugh Tracks?
Imagine that youâre the creator and show runner of the newest hit comedy show on television. Only it isnât a hit......
Wicked
Wicked, stage musical by American composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and librettist Winnie Holzman that serves......
Wild West show
Wild West show, theatrical extravaganza begun in 1883 by William Frederick âBuffalo Billâ Cody. Cody, an U.S. army......
Williams, Bert
Bert Williams was a Bahamian-born American comedian and singer who portrayed the slow-witted, shuffling Black man......
Williams, Robin
Robin Williams was an American comedian and actor known for his manic stand-up routines and his diverse film performances.......
Wilson, Flip
Flip Wilson was one of the most popular comedians in America, and his comedy variety show, The Flip Wilson Show,......
Winters, Jonathan
Jonathan Winters was an American comedian who used sound effects, facial contortions, a gift for mimicry, and breakneck......
Wong, Ali
Ali Wong is a comedian, writer, and actress whose irreverent and incisive work explores themes of cultural identity,......
WPA Federal Theatre Project
WPA Federal Theatre Project, national theatre project sponsored and funded by the U.S. government as part of the......
WrestleMania
WrestleMania, in professional wrestling, the flagship annual event held by World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.......
Wynn, Ed
Ed Wynn was an American comedian and actor in vaudeville, theatre, and motion pictures and on radio and television.......
Xiong Foxi
Xiong Foxi was a Chinese playwright who helped create popular drama intended to entertain and educate the peasantry.......
yakshagana
yakshagana, dance-drama of South India, associated most strongly with the state of Karnataka. Elaborate and colorful......
Youmans, Vincent
Vincent Youmans was an American songwriter best known for writing the scores for the musicals No, No, Nanette (1925),......
Youssef, Ramy
Ramy Youssef is an American writer, comedian, and actor best known for exploring his experience as the son of Egyptian......
zaju
zaju, one of the major forms of Chinese drama. The style originated as a short variety play in North China during......
zanni
zanni, stock servant character in the Italian improvisational theatre known as the commedia dellâarte. Zanni were......
Ziegfeld, Florenz, Jr.
Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. was an American theatrical producer who brought the revue to spectacular heights under the......
Ć vankmajer, Jan
Jan Ć vankmajer is a Czech Surrealist artist, puppeteer, animator, and filmmaker known for his dark reimaginings......