The First Regional Theatres of the United States as an Alternative to Broadway Commercialism

The article aims to draw attention to the problem of the emergence and development of creative troupes of a new type. Non-profit theatres became noticeable to the public after a ten-year dominance of Broadway productions played on stages of American the ater. Contrary to Broadway and its commercialism non-profit theatres turned to art, becoming its alternative. The venues mostly performed musicals, uncomplicated comedies, musical shows. Huge halls, high ticket prices led to the fact that the theatre turned to a major business. The desire of theatrical figures to realize their creative powers in the art theatre led many of them to the idea of creating their own companies in opposition to the Broadway theatre in many regions of the United States. It was the nascence of the movement of non-profit theatres that became an alternate to Broadway commercialism, attracted all the new creative forces of the American theatre. Analyzing the activities of number of non-profit theatres such as Cleveland Playhouse, Arena Stage, Alley Theater, the conclusion was made that they all played an important role in the development of the movement of the regional theatres of the United States. The famous "Arena Stage" Theatre, like other regional theaters, developed traditions of nonprofit theatres of the USA, including the ideas of "little" and "arti" theatres. The study of non-commercial drama theatres in the United States is relevant for modern Russia. Exploring the process of evolution of noncommercial companies the author concluded that the theatre is primarily a creative, artistic institution, that is to be valued precisely for its contribution and influence on the spiritual life of the audience.

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