Overview

A collection of stories and fascinating facets of theater history in Philadelphia. From the founding of The Walnut Street Theatre and the beginning of the American circus to the world premiere performance of Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman, and from censorship and opposition to riots and deadly fires, this engaging collection of short, focused narratives introduces the reader to the often overlooked and frequently underappreciated topic of the history of theater in Philadelphia, and offer a new way of approaching the wider history of this unique and important American city. The stories are populated by some of the many notable visitors to the city’s theaters, including Oscar Wilde, Edmund Kean, John Wilkes Booth, Sarah Bernhardt, Ayn Rand, Tennessee Williams, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Muhammad Ali, Paul Robeson and Joseph Papp;and the stories of heroes of local theater including Edwin Forrest, Pearl Bailey, Molly Picon, and Charles Fuller and Kevin Bacon. Also putting in appearances are the mostly forgotten, but no less fascinating Annie Kemp Bowler “the Original Stalacta,” May Manning Lillile the Quaker Cowgirl, and tennis champion William (“Big Bill”) Tilden. All together, these lively and vivid stories—many of them little-known or unexplored—serve to form a larger narrative of the role that theater has played, and continues to play, in shaping and reflecting the texture of life in an American city.

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9781955041379

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Reviews

"""Peter Schmitz deserves our thanks for writing a book in which he posits: ""The story of Philadelphia theater is fascinating when you get up close and not enough people in the world know about it."" As a lifelong Philadelphian and theater-maker, I say ""bravo"" for answering the call and for doing so in such an eclectic and surprising way. The book is a combination of rigorous research and juicy backstage gossip told from a witty and winking point of view. Readers will surely enjoy discovering conjoining essays on Lady Day and William Penn in one chapter and later learn how Charles Fuller was inspired by Molly Picon in another. These unlikely juxtapositions seem to bring us all together in one dramatic continuum that finally puts Philadelphia theater front and center where it belongs.""--Sara Garonzik ""The real reason W.C. Fields said he'd rather be in Philadelphia: there was always a good show on. Peter Schmitz tells the story of several centuries of Philly theatre with style and enthusiasm.""--Michael Goldfarb, BBC and NPR ""What a wild trip through the history of what makes Philadelphia theater so unique. The book captures the spirit of the city and its contributions to both Art and Entertainment.""--Joe Canuso, Founder, Theatre Exile ""In Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia, Peter Schmitz offers us a charming variety of delicious historical treats that add up to a thoroughly satisfying feast. He brings to life home-grown theater artists Edwin Forrest, the Barrymore family, Pearl Bailey, George Kelly, and Charles Fuller, among many others--as well as the city they lived in, the theaters they built, and the communities they served. This is a book that all theater lovers will want to read and treasure.""--Mary B. Robinson, director, author of To Repair the World"

""Peter Schmitz deserves our thanks for writing a book in which he posits: ""The story of Philadelphia theater is fascinating when you get up close and not enough people in the world know about it."" As a lifelong Philadelphian and theater-maker, I say ""bravo"" for answering the call and for doing so in such an eclectic and surprising way. The book is a combination of rigorous research and juicy backstage gossip told from a witty and winking point of view. Readers will surely enjoy discovering conjoining essays on Lady Day and William Penn in one chapter and later learn how Charles Fuller was inspired by Molly Picon in another. These unlikely juxtapositions seem to bring us all together in one dramatic continuum that finally puts Philadelphia theater front and center where it belongs.""--Sara Garonzik ""The real reason W.C. Fields said he'd rather be in Philadelphia: there was always a good show on. Peter Schmitz tells the story of several centuries of Philly theatre with style and enthusiasm.""--Michael Goldfarb, BBC and NPR ""What a wild trip through the history of what makes Philadelphia theater so unique. The book captures the spirit of the city and its contributions to both Art and Entertainment.""--Joe Canuso, Founder, Theatre Exile ""In Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia, Peter Schmitz offers us a charming variety of delicious historical treats that add up to a thoroughly satisfying feast. He brings to life home-grown theater artists Edwin Forrest, the Barrymore family, Pearl Bailey, George Kelly, and Charles Fuller, among many others--as well as the city they lived in, the theaters they built, and the communities they served. This is a book that all theater lovers will want to read and treasure.""--Mary B. Robinson, director, author of To Repair the World

Author Information

Peter Schmitz is an actor, podcaster and theater historian. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, he studied History as an undergraduate at Yale University, and Theater at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Acting Program. Working for many years as a professional actor, in his early career he was based in both New York City and Minnesota. He relocated to the Philadelphia area some twenty years ago. At present, he is an Adjunct Professor in the Theater Department of Temple University, and also works as an actor and dialect coach in the Philadelphia theater community. Peter researches, writes and narrates the podcast Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia.

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