Postmodern Theatre in the United States (1950s–2010s)

This chapter maps American postmodernism, de-centering the modernist authority of the text and universal values toward audience collaboration with fragments and diverse truths. It considers various directions: politics, philosophies, puppetry-animation, clowning, and anthropologies. It investigates the Living and Open Theatres, rock musicals, Blau’s companies and theories, San Francisco Mime Troupe, Bread and Puppet, and Mabou Mines, plus Akalaitis, Taymor, and Irwin. It considers Schechner’s “environmental theatre” and anthropological “performance studies,” plus “post-dramatic” offshoots. It explores Kaprow’s happenings regarding later performance artists. It contemplates the disorienting spectacles of Foreman and Wilson—and other avant-garde artists. It considers Spolin’s “theatre games,” regional theatres, off-off-Broadway, and musical innovations. It also maps the major directors and playwrights of the last half-century, plus various ethnic, feminist, and queer theatre developments.