Theater During The 19Th Century In America

The mid 1800s was a time of great change for the American theater. It was a time of incredible increase in the population making the number of theaters in large and mid-size cities grew as well,especially in the cities around the East Cost. Americans had more time off and better standards of living, so they went to the theater for entertainment.

Romanticism, the leading artistic writing andarts mode in Europe, was stick in America Theater as well but was merged with more democratic and populist themes.
Especially in New York City, there was magnificent development of the businesses suchas dramatic agencies, costume shops, theater suppliers, photography studios, etc. making the theater operate all around the country.
Theater design and technology changed as well around the mid-19thcentury. The interiors began improving in the 1850s, with the decoration and seating. In 1869, Laura Keen opened the remodeled Chestnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, were the newspapers describedthe comfortable seats, attractive decorations, excellent visibility and good ventilation.
Theater crowds had a reputation as rowdy, loud and uncouth. The improvements made to theaters encouragedmiddle- and upper class patrons to attend plays, and crowds became quieter to evade causing trouble on the performance.
American theaters continue being durably influenced by London theater. Many actorsand actresses were born and got their professional start in England. Plays performed tended to go along the English classical tradition, like Shakespeare's plays. Still, American-born playwrights,actors and contemporary plays began to have an importance as well.
Acting styles in the early 19th century were prone to overstated movement, effects, comedy, and peculiar costumes. Yet a more realacting style came into trend, and actors were estimated to present a more logical expression of the characters.
Subject stuff of new plays was more often up to date social life, like marriage or...