Theatre History Podcast
@theatrehistory.bsky.social
Welcome to the Bluesky feed for the Theatre History Podcast. Keep up with the podcast and check out images, facts, and the occasional bit of backstage gossip from the theatrical past.
Scene from Robert Wilson's THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOSEPH STALIN at BAM Opera House, 1973. Wilson, who died earlier this year, was born #otd 1941 and became one of the preeminent artists of the contemporary theatrical avant-garde. Pic by Jennifer Merin via Wilson's official site, robertwilson.com
October 4, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Scene from Robert Wilson's THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOSEPH STALIN at BAM Opera House, 1973. Wilson, who died earlier this year, was born #otd 1941 and became one of the preeminent artists of the contemporary theatrical avant-garde. Pic by Jennifer Merin via Wilson's official site, robertwilson.com
Robert Redford in BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, 1963. Pic by the Friedman-Abeles studio via the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
September 16, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Robert Redford in BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, 1963. Pic by the Friedman-Abeles studio via the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Scene from Jean-Louis Barrault's (b. 9/8/1910) 1947 production of LA FONTAINE DE JOUVENCE ("The Fountain of Youth), which featured Madeline Renaud & Marcel Marceau in addition to Barrault himself. Pic Etienne Bertrand Weill via @labnf.bsky.social
September 8, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Scene from Jean-Louis Barrault's (b. 9/8/1910) 1947 production of LA FONTAINE DE JOUVENCE ("The Fountain of Youth), which featured Madeline Renaud & Marcel Marceau in addition to Barrault himself. Pic Etienne Bertrand Weill via @labnf.bsky.social
Joseph Papp (b. 6/23/1921) looking over the site where the Delacorte Theater was being constructed in 1960. Pic by George E. Joseph via the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
June 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Joseph Papp (b. 6/23/1921) looking over the site where the Delacorte Theater was being constructed in 1960. Pic by George E. Joseph via the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Robe worn as part of a costume for a role in Japanese noh. This late-18th-century item of clothing, known as an "atsuita," would have been worn by an actor playing a male role. Via the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
June 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Robe worn as part of a costume for a role in Japanese noh. This late-18th-century item of clothing, known as an "atsuita," would have been worn by an actor playing a male role. Via the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Illustration for Irish poet and playwright W.B. Yeats's (b. 6/13/1865) noh-inspired one-act AT THE HAWK'S WELL, 1921. From his FOUR PLAYS FOR DANCERS via @archive.org
June 13, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Illustration for Irish poet and playwright W.B. Yeats's (b. 6/13/1865) noh-inspired one-act AT THE HAWK'S WELL, 1921. From his FOUR PLAYS FOR DANCERS via @archive.org
Uta Hagen (b. 6/12/1919) as Nina in the 1938 Broadway production of Chekhov's THE SEAGULL. Pic by the Vandamm studio via the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
June 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Uta Hagen (b. 6/12/1919) as Nina in the 1938 Broadway production of Chekhov's THE SEAGULL. Pic by the Vandamm studio via the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Zakes Mokae, James Earl Jones, and Ruby Dee in BOESMAN AND LENA at Circle in the Square, 1970. The play was by South African playwright Athol Fugard, who was born #otd 1932 and died in March of this year. Pic via the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
June 11, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Zakes Mokae, James Earl Jones, and Ruby Dee in BOESMAN AND LENA at Circle in the Square, 1970. The play was by South African playwright Athol Fugard, who was born #otd 1932 and died in March of this year. Pic via the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
C. 1580 depiction of the renowned commedia dell'arte troupe known as I Gelosi, who found fame in both Italy and France. The actress at center is often identified as Isabella Andreini (d. 6/10 or 11/1604), one of the company's leaders and its star performer. Via @museecarnavalet.bsky.social
June 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
C. 1580 depiction of the renowned commedia dell'arte troupe known as I Gelosi, who found fame in both Italy and France. The actress at center is often identified as Isabella Andreini (d. 6/10 or 11/1604), one of the company's leaders and its star performer. Via @museecarnavalet.bsky.social
While Porter's known for composing and writing lyrics for Broadway classics such as ANYTHING GOES, this item comes from his film work. The other side is engraved w/ "Broadway Melody of 1940," which he wrote a number of songs for.
June 9, 2025 at 2:40 PM
While Porter's known for composing and writing lyrics for Broadway classics such as ANYTHING GOES, this item comes from his film work. The other side is engraved w/ "Broadway Melody of 1940," which he wrote a number of songs for.
Tim Curry & Kim Milford in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, which premiered on Broadway March 10, 1975. Pic via the Museum of the City of New York.
March 10, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Tim Curry & Kim Milford in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, which premiered on Broadway March 10, 1975. Pic via the Museum of the City of New York.
Costume design sketch by Mark Thompson for Alan Bennett's (b. 3/4/1934) stage adaptation of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS @nationaltheatre.org.uk, 1990. Via the Victoria & Albert Museum.
March 4, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Costume design sketch by Mark Thompson for Alan Bennett's (b. 3/4/1934) stage adaptation of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS @nationaltheatre.org.uk, 1990. Via the Victoria & Albert Museum.
William Charles Macready (b. 3/3/1793) as Lear in c. 1850s depiction of the play's tragic denouement. Via @folgerlibrary.bsky.social
March 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
William Charles Macready (b. 3/3/1793) as Lear in c. 1850s depiction of the play's tragic denouement. Via @folgerlibrary.bsky.social
Molly Picon (b. 2/28/1898) & cast of TSIRKUS MEYDL ("CIRCUS GIRL"), 1928. Pic by the Rappoport Photo Studios via the Museum of the City of New York.
February 28, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Molly Picon (b. 2/28/1898) & cast of TSIRKUS MEYDL ("CIRCUS GIRL"), 1928. Pic by the Rappoport Photo Studios via the Museum of the City of New York.
Gene Hackman in the comedy POOR RICHARD, 1964. Pic by the Friedman-Abeles studio via New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
February 28, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Gene Hackman in the comedy POOR RICHARD, 1964. Pic by the Friedman-Abeles studio via New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
The other side of the pendant features Shakespeare, whose works and roles played a key part in Garrick's career. Garrick's also been credited w/ burnishing the playwright's reputation at a time when Shakespeare hadn't yet been canonized as the apotheosis of Anglophone drama and literature.
February 19, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The other side of the pendant features Shakespeare, whose works and roles played a key part in Garrick's career. Garrick's also been credited w/ burnishing the playwright's reputation at a time when Shakespeare hadn't yet been canonized as the apotheosis of Anglophone drama and literature.
Enamel pendant from 1769 depicting English actor David Garrick (b. 2/19/1717) as Hamlet. Pic via @folgerlibrary.bsky.social
February 19, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Enamel pendant from 1769 depicting English actor David Garrick (b. 2/19/1717) as Hamlet. Pic via @folgerlibrary.bsky.social
Stella Adler (b. 2/10/1901) in the original Broadway production of Clifford Odets's AWAKE AND SING! Pic via the Museum of the City of New York.
February 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Stella Adler (b. 2/10/1901) in the original Broadway production of Clifford Odets's AWAKE AND SING! Pic via the Museum of the City of New York.
Sketch by Jo Mielziner for the set of DEATH OF A SALESMAN, which opened #otd 1949. Pic via the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
February 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Sketch by Jo Mielziner for the set of DEATH OF A SALESMAN, which opened #otd 1949. Pic via the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Poster for an amateur theatrical production at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, w/ a cast featuring novelist Charles Dickens (b. 2/7/1812). Image via the Victoria and Albert Museum.
February 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Poster for an amateur theatrical production at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, w/ a cast featuring novelist Charles Dickens (b. 2/7/1812). Image via the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Poster for a c. 1936 Federal Theatre Project production of Sinclair Lewis's (b. 2/7/1885) IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE, produced by the Detroit unit of the FTP. Image via the Library of Congress.
February 7, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Poster for a c. 1936 Federal Theatre Project production of Sinclair Lewis's (b. 2/7/1885) IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE, produced by the Detroit unit of the FTP. Image via the Library of Congress.
Patent granted by King Charles II to Thomas Killigrew (b. 2/7/1612) in 1662. The document permitted Killigrew to open 1 of the 2 licensed theatre companies in London after the restoration of the monarchy and the return of officially-sanctioned public theatre after the Interregnum.
February 7, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Patent granted by King Charles II to Thomas Killigrew (b. 2/7/1612) in 1662. The document permitted Killigrew to open 1 of the 2 licensed theatre companies in London after the restoration of the monarchy and the return of officially-sanctioned public theatre after the Interregnum.
The reverse side of this photograph, w/ additional information:
February 3, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The reverse side of this photograph, w/ additional information: