by London College of Fashion short courses

What would you define as Contemporary Theatre?Where does it start and where odoes it end?
I’ve got to teach a unit on Contemporary Theatre to University Level students. There is so much material I don’t know where to start. When in the 1900s does it start? Is it Contemporary now or ‘In your face Theatre’? Is that a sub-genre?

The following is the answer:

Answer by Alan
American theater has been around since the late 1800′s with the minstral shows. The early 1900′s brought about vaudeville.

I would start teaching theater probably beginning in the late 1930′s to the present. I’d begin with the musicals of Richard Rodgers and others. The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, and so on are still very popular today.

You could also move the starting time up to the 1950′s and define contemporary as ideas that resonate with today’s audience. In this case discuss the plays of Arthur Miller: Death of a Salesmen, An Enemy of the People, and The Crucible. Also include the plays of Sam Shepard and the plays of Tom Stoppard.

For musicals inclde Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon, and so on.

Answer by dtruxaw
Contemporary theatre normally starts with the range of theatre starting in the 1960′s that was largely influenced by reaction to the War in Vietnam.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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Contemporary Focus 2009


Image by Knoxville Museum of Art
Hunt Clark, Patricia Tinajero, and David Wolff

Contemporary Focus is a new KMA series that serves as a vital means of recognizing, supporting and documenting the development of contemporary art in East Tennessee. Each year, we will feature three emerging artists who work in new and experimental ways.

Presenting Sponsor: Jennifer and Greg Dunn

Contemporary Focus is sponsored in part by the Tennessee Arts
Commission, Arts Builds Communities.

www.contemporaryfocus.org

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