American Theatre (magazine)

American Theatre (magazine) is a monthly publication that covers the world of theatre, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre, and university theatre, with a focus on playwrights like Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and Eugene O'Neill. The magazine features interviews with notable figures such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Audra McDonald, and Hugh Jackman, and provides in-depth coverage of theatre festivals like the Humana Festival of New American Plays and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. With its comprehensive coverage of the theatre industry, American Theatre has become a leading source of information for theatre professionals and theatre enthusiasts alike, including those involved with Theatre for Young Audiences and the National Theatre Conference.

● History

The magazine was founded in 1984 by Theatre Communications Group (TCG), a national organization that aims to promote and support the American theatre community, which includes organizations like the Actors' Equity Association and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. TCG was established in 1961 by a group of theatre producers and theatre directors, including Peter Zeisler, Gordon Davidson, and Zelda Fichandler, with the goal of strengthening the regional theatre movement, which includes companies like the Guthrie Theater and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Over the years, American Theatre has covered significant events in the theatre history of the United States, including the Broadway strike of 2007 and the Emerging Voices/New Voices program at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, which has featured works by playwrights like Sarah Ruhl and Rajiv Joseph. The magazine has also profiled influential theatre companies like the Public Theater, the Wooster Group, and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, which have been instrumental in shaping the American theatre landscape.

● Content

American Theatre features a wide range of content, including interviews with playwrights like August Wilson and Tony Kushner, profiles of theatre companies like the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the La Jolla Playhouse, and reviews of theatre productions like the Broadway production of Hamilton and the Off-Broadway production of Rent. The magazine also covers topics like theatre education, theatre criticism, and theatre technology, with contributions from experts like theatre critics Ben Brantley and Charles Isherwood, and theatre educators like Anna Deavere Smith and Anne Bogart. Additionally, American Theatre publishes special issues and supplements, such as the annual October issue, which focuses on the theatre season and includes previews of upcoming theatre productions at regional theatres like the Guthrie Theater and the Center Theatre Group, and the December issue, which highlights the year's most notable theatre productions and includes interviews with theatre award winners like the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

● Impact

American Theatre has had a significant impact on the theatre industry, providing a platform for playwrights to showcase their work and for theatre companies to promote their productions, including companies like the Public Theater and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. The magazine's coverage of theatre festivals like the Humana Festival of New American Plays and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has helped to promote new and innovative works, such as those by playwrights Sarah Ruhl and Rajiv Joseph. American Theatre has also played a key role in shaping the national conversation about theatre, with articles and interviews that address issues like diversity in theatre, inclusion in theatre, and theatre accessibility, featuring insights from experts like theatre critics Ben Brantley and Charles Isherwood, and theatre educators like Anna Deavere Smith and Anne Bogart. The magazine's influence extends beyond the theatre industry, with its coverage of theatre and social justice issues, such as the Black Lives Matter movement and the MeToo movement, which have been addressed in works by playwrights like Dominique Morisseau and Lucy Thurber.

● Editorial_Staff

The editorial staff of American Theatre includes experienced theatre journalists and theatre critics, such as Rob Weinert-Kendt, Diep Tran, and Allison Considine, who have written for publications like The New York Times, The Village Voice, and Variety. The magazine's editors have a deep understanding of the theatre industry and a passion for promoting and supporting the work of playwrights and theatre companies, including those involved with Theatre for Young Audiences and the National Theatre Conference. The editorial staff works closely with Theatre Communications Group to ensure that the magazine reflects the organization's mission and values, which include promoting diversity in theatre, inclusion in theatre, and theatre accessibility, and supporting the work of regional theatres like the Guthrie Theater and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

● Publication_Details

American Theatre is published monthly by Theatre Communications Group, with a circulation of over 10,000 copies per issue, reaching theatre professionals and theatre enthusiasts across the United States, including those involved with Theatre for Young Audiences and the National Theatre Conference. The magazine is available in print and digital formats, with a website that features online exclusives, archives, and a comprehensive database of theatre productions and theatre companies, including companies like the Public Theater and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. American Theatre is also available on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, where it engages with readers and promotes its content, including articles and interviews with playwrights like Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller.

● Awards_and_Recognition

American Theatre has received numerous awards and recognition for its excellence in theatre journalism, including the National Magazine Award and the ASME Award for General Excellence, which have been awarded to publications like The New Yorker and The Atlantic. The magazine's editors and writers have also received individual awards, such as the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism and the Theatre Communications Group's National Theatre Conference Award, which have been awarded to theatre critics like Ben Brantley and Charles Isherwood. American Theatre has been recognized for its contributions to the theatre industry, including its support of emerging playwrights and theatre companies, like the Public Theater and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, and its coverage of theatre and social justice issues, which have been addressed in works by playwrights like Dominique Morisseau and Lucy Thurber.

Category:Theatre