AM Primary Sources: Dramatic Art

A collection of primary sources documenting popular culture in the second half of the 19th century and in the early 20th century, primarily in Great Britain but also in the United States. The four modules of this collection are: Spiritualism, Sensation and Magic; Circuses, Sideshows and Freaks; Music Hall, Theatre and Popular Entertainment; Moving Pictures, Optical Entertainments and the Advent of Cinema.

Comprises primary source documents from the collection of John Larpent, the English Inspector of Plays from 1778-1824, including more than 2,500 plays. Also includes the diaries of Anna Larpent, his professional collaborator and wife, recording her criticisms of the plays and insights into the theatrical culture of the time. The companion text The London Stage, 1660-1800, listing every traceable performance, is included as a searchable database, as is A Biographical Dictionary of Actors etc. 1660-1800. Useful for researching such topics as censorship and politics; satire and social commentary; celebrity culture; fashion; the rise of opera in Britain; women and theatre; staging, technology, and performance practice; and the business of theatre.

This resource features the prompt book collection from the Folger Shakespeare Library, covering productions from the 1670s to the 1970s. Includes digitized production scripts for most of Shakespeare’s plays, showcasing personal notes, cues for lighting, illustrations of sets and costume design, and notes on music and acting. Also includes photographs, musical scores, correspondence, and ephemera. Certain historic performances have been selected as case studies including David Garrick’s revised 1772 production of Hamlet, Henry Irving’s famous 1879 production of ¬The Merchant of Venice, and Laurence Olivier’s Academy Award-winning cinema release of Hamlet in 1948.

Documenting over 300 productions from 1997-2016, this digital collection documents architectural plans, costume designs and wardrobe notes, prompt books, photographs, and programs, of the reconstructed Globe Theatre. Includes early modern and contemporary musical scores, oral histories on the genesis of the reconstruction project, materials on marketing, publicity, context, and front-of-the-house responses by audiences. Video interviews and essays from key figures are also included.