Broadway and Corporate Capitalism: The Rise of the Professional-Managerial Class, 1900–1920 (Palgrave Studies in Theatre and Performance History)

Through an examination of plays, actors, reviews, and audience response of the period, this study traces the development of Broadway as a source of 'mature' American drama, and the simultaneous development of Professional-Managerial Class consciousness and habitus. Broadway and Corporate Capitalism examines two overlapping and, in many ways, symbiotic phenomena of early 20th century America - the emergence of the Professional-Managerial Class within American corporate capitalism and the evolution of Broadway. Michael Schwartz shows how the class movements moved - literally and figuratively - to the rhythm of noisy, frenetic farces, highly charged business and sports melodramas, and exuberant musicals. This book brings to life the representative plays, playwrights, actors, critics, and audiences from one of the liveliest periods of Broadway.--Résumé de l'éditeur Front Matter....Pages i-vii Introduction: A Matter for Experts....Pages 1-21 The Growth of Broadway, the Emergence of the PMC....Pages 23-49 The Problem of Nerves....Pages 51-75 Muckraking the Playing Field: Emerging PMC Class Consciousness....Pages 77-100 A Size Thirteen Collar: Musicals and PMC Class Consciousness....Pages 101-124 System and Farce: Emerging PMC Habitus....Pages 125-151 Conclusion: Business as Usual....Pages 153-168 Back Matter....Pages 169-220