Stage Designers in Early 20th Century America—Artists, Activists, Cultural Critics

E. Christin Essin documents theatre's backstage history through the cultural roles played by designers during the modern development of their profession. Featuring work by Robert Edmond Jones, Lee Simonson, Aline Bernstein, Norman Bel Geddes, Mordecai Gorelik, Jo Mielziner, Howard Bay, and Boris Aronson, this book blends theatre history and visual culture. By casting designers as authors, cultural critics, activists, entrepreneurs, and global cartographers, Essin tells a story about scenic images on the page, stage, and beyond that helped American audiences see the everyday landscapes and exotic destinations from a modern perspective.