Modern American Drama: Playwriting in the 1980s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations (Decades of Modern American Drama: Playwriting from the 1930s to 2009, 7)

The Decades of Modern American Playwriting series provides a comprehensive survey and study of the theatre produced in each decade from the 1930s to 2009 in eight volumes. Each volume equips readers with a detailed understanding of the context from which work emerged: an introduction considers life in the decade with a focus on domestic life and conditions, social changes, culture, media, technology, industry and political events; while a chapter on the theatre of the decade offers a wide-ranging and thorough survey of theatres, companies, dramatists, new movements and developments in response to the economic and political conditions of the day. The work of the four most prominent playwrights from the decade receives in-depth analysis and re-evaluation by a team of experts, together with commentary on their subsequent work and legacy. A final section brings together original documents such as interviews with the playwrights and with directors, drafts of play scenes, and other previously unpublished material. The major playwrights and their plays to receive in-depth coverage in this volume include: David Mamet: Edmond (1982), Glengarry Glen Ross (1984), Speed-the-Plow (1988) and Oleanna (1992); David Henry Hwang: Family Devotions (1981), The Sound of a Voice (1983) and M. Butterfly (1988); Maria Irene Fornès: The Danube (1982), Mud (1983) and The Conduct of Life (1985); August Wilson: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1984), Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1984) and Fences (1987). FC Half title Decades of Modern American Drama: Playwriting from the 1930s to 2009 Title Copyright Contents Biographical Note and Notes on Contributors General Preface Brenda Murphy and Julia Listengarten 1 Introduction to the 1980s Sandra G. Shannon Politics The economy Domestic life Social issues Education Media Television and film Technology and science Travel and leisure Fashion 2 American Theatre in the 1980s Sandra G. Shannon Answering Reagan Women’s theatre Multicultural theatre Musical theatre and the ‘British Invasion’ Notable playwrights of the decade 3 David Mamet: Edmond (1982), Glengarry Glen Ross (1984), Speed-the-Plow (1988), Oleanna (1992) Nelson Pressley Introduction Edmond (1982) Glengarry Glen Ross (1984) Speed-the-Plow (1988) Oleanna (1992) Conclusion 4 David Henry Hwang: FOB (1980), The Dance and the Railroad (1981), Family Devotions (1981), M. Butterfly (1988) William C. Boles Introduction FOB (1980) The Dance and the Railroad (1981) Family Devotions (1981) M. Butterfly (1988) Conclusion 5 Maria Irene Fornes: The Danube (1982), Mud (1983), The Conduct of Life (1985) Gwendolyn Alker Introduction The Danube (1982) Development, production and reception The Danube and environmentalism Mud (1983) Development, production and reception Mae as a complicated character The Conduct of Life (1985) Development, production and reception A feminist re-reading of Conduct Conclusion 6 August Wilson: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1984), Fences (1987), Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (1984) Sandra G. Shannon Introduction Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1984) Fences (1987) Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (1984) Afterword Sandra G. Shannon David Mamet David Henry Hwang Maria Irene Fornes August Wilson Documents Ronald Reagan’s Berlin Wall speech The onset of the AIDS epidemic Epidemiologic notes and reports David Mamet From Matthew Roudane ‘David Mamet’s Master Class Memo to the Writers of The Unit’ David Henry Hwang Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Irene Fornes August Wilson From James Earl Jones and Mary Alice ‘The Ground on Which I Stand’ From Lloyd Richards From Suzan-Lori Parks From Denzel Washington and Viola Davis Notes Bibliography Index "The Decades of Modern American Drama series provides a comprehensive survey and study of the theatre produced in each decade from the 1930s to 2009 in eight volumes. Each volume equips readers with a detailed understanding of the context from which work emerged: an introduction considers life in the decade with a focus on domestic life and conditions, social changes, culture, media, technology, industry and political events; while a chapter on the theatre of the decade offers a wide-ranging and thorough survey of theatres, companies, dramatists, new movements and developments in response to the economic and political conditions of the day. The work of the four most prominent playwrights from the decade receives in-depth analysis and re-evaluation by a team of experts, together with commentary on their subsequent work and legacy. A final section brings together original documents such as interviews with the playwrights and with directors, drafts of play scenes, and other previously unpublished material"-- Provided by publisher "The Decades of Modern American Drama series provides a comprehensive survey and study of the theatre produced in each decade from the 1930s to 2009 in eight volumes. Each volume equips readers with a detailed understanding of the context from which work emerged: an introduction considers life in the decade with a focus on domestic life and conditions, social changes, culture, media, technology, industry and political events; while a chapter on the theatre of the decade offers a wide-ranging and thorough survey of theatres, companies, dramatists, new movements and developments in response to the economic and political conditions of the day. The work of the four most prominent playwrights from the decade receives in-depth analysis and re-evaluation by a team of experts, together with commentary on their subsequent work and legacy. A final section brings together documents such as interviews with the playwrights and with directors, drafts of play scenes, and other material that throws light on the period."--Bloomsbury Publishing Decades of Modern American Drama' provides a comprehensive survey and study of the theatre produced in each decade from the 1930s to 2009 in eight volumes. Each volume equips readers with a detailed understanding of the context from which the work emerged: an introduction considers life in the decade with a focus on domestic life and conditions, social changes, culture, media, technology, industry and political events ; while a chapter on the theatre of the decade offers a wide-ranging and thorough survey of theatres, companies, dramatists, new movements and developments in response to the economic and political conditions of the day