Enter the Playmakers

A companion to Thomas S. Hischak's earlier book, Enter the Players: New York Stage Actors in the Twentieth Century (Scarecrow, 2003), Enter the Playmakers: Directors and Choreographers on the New York Stage explores the lives and careers of more than 300 directors and choreographers who worked in New York theatre. Famous artists such as Elia Kazan and Jerome Robbins are featured alongside lesser-known or new talents, all of whom have contributed to American theatre. A biographical sketch outlines the life and career of each director and choreographer, explaining his or her strengths, talents, and uniqueness. Also provided is a chronological list of every play or musical that the artist staged in New York, including such details as dates, venue (Broadway, Off Broadway, and so forth), and whether the production was a new work or a revival. Presenting artists from the mid-eighteenth century, as well as current favorites such as Daniel Sullivan, Susan Stroman, Doug Hughes, and Kathleen Marshall, Enter the Playmakers includes traditionalists (for example, Harold Clurman and Gower Champion), avant-garde artists (for instance, Elizabeth LeCompte and Richard Foreman), and directors and choreographers noted for various styles, genres, and theatre movements. Internationally recognized artists such as Max Reinhardt and Peter Brook, whose productions had an impact on New York theatre, are also included. By listing all of the artist's New York credits, each entry gives a vivid picture of the stage career of these important directors and choreographers.

Thomas S. Hischak is professor of theatre at the State University of New York at Cortland.