Introduction Christopher Bigsby and Don B. Wilmeth; Timeline: beginnings to
1870 compiled by Don B. Wilmeth and Jonathan Curley; 1. American theatre in
context from the beginning to 1870 Bruce McConachie; 2. Structure and
management in the American theatre from the beginning to 1870 Douglas
McDermott; 3. The plays and playwrights: plays and playwrights to 1800
Peter A. Davis; Plays and playwrights: 1800-1865 Gary A. Richardson; 4. The
actors: European actors and the star system in the American theatre,
1752-1870 Simon Williams; The emergence of the American actor Joseph Roach;
5. Scenography, stagecraft, and architecture in the American theatre,
beginnings to 1870 Mary C. Henderson; 6. Paratheatricals and popular stage
entertainment Peter G. Buckley.
