Angels in the American Theater: Patrons, Patronage, and Philanthropy
edited by Robert A Schanke contributions by Sheila Anderson, Bruce Kirle, Stephen D Burwind, Jeffrey Eric Jenkins, Jeffrey Eric Ullom, Kathy L Privatt, Anthony J Vickery, Theresa M COLLINS, Melanie Blood, Alexis GREENE, Jennifer SCHLUETER, Dan Friedman, David A. Crespy, John R Poole and Barry B Witham
Southern Illinois University Press, 2006 eISBN: 978-0-8093-8743-4 | Paper: 978-0-8093-2747-8 Library of Congress Classification PN1590.S7A54 2007 Dewey Decimal Classification 792.07973
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC
ABOUT THIS BOOK
Angels in the American Theater: Patrons, Patronage, and Philanthropy examines the significant roles that theater patrons have played in shaping and developing theater in the United States. Because box office income rarely covers the cost of production, other sources are vital. Angels—financial investors and backers—have a tremendous impact on what happens on stage, often determining with the power and influence of their money what is conceived, produced, and performed. But in spite of their influence, very little has been written about these philanthropists.
Composed of sixteen essays and fifteen illustrations, Angels in the American Theater explores not only how donors became angels but also their backgrounds, motivations, policies, limitations, support, and successes and failures. Subjects range from millionaires Otto Kahn and the Lewisohn sisters to foundation giants Ford, Rockefeller, Disney, and Clear Channel. The first book to focus on theater philanthropy, Angels in the American Theater employs both a historical and a chronological format and focuses on individual patrons, foundations, and corporations.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Robert A. Schanke, a professor emeritus of theatre at Central College, Iowa, has contributed to numerous journals, reference books and anthologies. He is the author of “That Furious Lesbian”: The Story of Mercedes de Acosta, winner of the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award, Ibsen in America: A Century of Change, Eva Le Gallienne: A Bio-Bibliography, and Shattered Applause: The Lives of Eva Le Gallienne.
REVIEWS
“The story of the American theater, especially since 1900, can be told in large measure through its private patronage and support—financial and personal. This superb book captures the intrigue, egos, unselfishness, and even cliff-hanging moments of the past century’s dependence on theater ‘angels’ in their many manifestations.”—Don B. Wilmeth, coeditor of the three-volume Cambridge History of American Theatre
“Angels in the American Theater should be required reading for administrators and students alike. The essays are informative and readable, and the introduction by editor Robert A. Schanke is especially useful as an overview of theatre funding over the last century.”—Gil Lazier, Dean of Theatre Emeritus, Florida State University.
— -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
List of Illustrations 00
Acknowledgments 00
Introduction: ¿He Who Pays the Piper Calls the Tune¿ 1
Robert A. Schanke
Part One. Individual Angels
1. Modern Cosmopolitanism: Otto Kahn and the American Stage 00
Theresa M. Collins
2. Copper Heiresses Take the Stage: Alice and Irene Lewisohn 00
Melanie Blood
3. Wheedled, Bullied, or Cajoled: Banking on Eva Le Gallienne 00
Robert A. Schanke
4. Queen of Off-Broadway: Lucille Lortel 00
Alexis Greene
5. Patronage and Playwrighting: Richard B. and Jeanne Donovan Fisher's Support of Charles Mee 00
Jennifer Schlueter
6. Everyone's an Angel 00
Dan Friedman
7. An Alternative Theater Angel: Grant Goodman 00
David A. Crespy
8. Producer, Benefactor, and Playhouse Maker: David Geffen 00
John R. Poole
9. The Art of Good Business: Peter Donnelly 00
Barry B. Witham
Part Two. Institutional Angels
10. The Foundation of Theatre Arts Philanthropy in America: W. McNeil Lowry and the Ford Foundation, 1957¿1965 00
Sheila Anderson
11. Funding ¿Mama¿: The MacArthur Foundation and Ellen Stewart 00
Bruce Kirle
12. A Community of Angels for Actors Theatre of Louisville 00
Jeffrey Ullom
13. Raising the Curtain: Rockefeller Support for the American Theater 00
Stephen D. Berwind
14. Funding the Theatrical Future: The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust 00
Jeffrey Eric Jenkins
15. Modern Medicis: Disney on Broadway 00
Kathy L. Privatt
16. Static in the Signal: Clear Channel Communications and Theatre in the USA 00
Anthony J. Vickery
Resources 000
Contributors 000
Index 000
Angels in the American Theater: Patrons, Patronage, and Philanthropy
edited by Robert A Schanke contributions by Sheila Anderson, Bruce Kirle, Stephen D Burwind, Jeffrey Eric Jenkins, Jeffrey Eric Ullom, Kathy L Privatt, Anthony J Vickery, Theresa M COLLINS, Melanie Blood, Alexis GREENE, Jennifer SCHLUETER, Dan Friedman, David A. Crespy, John R Poole and Barry B Witham
Southern Illinois University Press, 2006 eISBN: 978-0-8093-8743-4 Paper: 978-0-8093-2747-8
Angels in the American Theater: Patrons, Patronage, and Philanthropy examines the significant roles that theater patrons have played in shaping and developing theater in the United States. Because box office income rarely covers the cost of production, other sources are vital. Angels—financial investors and backers—have a tremendous impact on what happens on stage, often determining with the power and influence of their money what is conceived, produced, and performed. But in spite of their influence, very little has been written about these philanthropists.
Composed of sixteen essays and fifteen illustrations, Angels in the American Theater explores not only how donors became angels but also their backgrounds, motivations, policies, limitations, support, and successes and failures. Subjects range from millionaires Otto Kahn and the Lewisohn sisters to foundation giants Ford, Rockefeller, Disney, and Clear Channel. The first book to focus on theater philanthropy, Angels in the American Theater employs both a historical and a chronological format and focuses on individual patrons, foundations, and corporations.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Robert A. Schanke, a professor emeritus of theatre at Central College, Iowa, has contributed to numerous journals, reference books and anthologies. He is the author of “That Furious Lesbian”: The Story of Mercedes de Acosta, winner of the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award, Ibsen in America: A Century of Change, Eva Le Gallienne: A Bio-Bibliography, and Shattered Applause: The Lives of Eva Le Gallienne.
REVIEWS
“The story of the American theater, especially since 1900, can be told in large measure through its private patronage and support—financial and personal. This superb book captures the intrigue, egos, unselfishness, and even cliff-hanging moments of the past century’s dependence on theater ‘angels’ in their many manifestations.”—Don B. Wilmeth, coeditor of the three-volume Cambridge History of American Theatre
“Angels in the American Theater should be required reading for administrators and students alike. The essays are informative and readable, and the introduction by editor Robert A. Schanke is especially useful as an overview of theatre funding over the last century.”—Gil Lazier, Dean of Theatre Emeritus, Florida State University.
— -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
List of Illustrations 00
Acknowledgments 00
Introduction: ¿He Who Pays the Piper Calls the Tune¿ 1
Robert A. Schanke
Part One. Individual Angels
1. Modern Cosmopolitanism: Otto Kahn and the American Stage 00
Theresa M. Collins
2. Copper Heiresses Take the Stage: Alice and Irene Lewisohn 00
Melanie Blood
3. Wheedled, Bullied, or Cajoled: Banking on Eva Le Gallienne 00
Robert A. Schanke
4. Queen of Off-Broadway: Lucille Lortel 00
Alexis Greene
5. Patronage and Playwrighting: Richard B. and Jeanne Donovan Fisher's Support of Charles Mee 00
Jennifer Schlueter
6. Everyone's an Angel 00
Dan Friedman
7. An Alternative Theater Angel: Grant Goodman 00
David A. Crespy
8. Producer, Benefactor, and Playhouse Maker: David Geffen 00
John R. Poole
9. The Art of Good Business: Peter Donnelly 00
Barry B. Witham
Part Two. Institutional Angels
10. The Foundation of Theatre Arts Philanthropy in America: W. McNeil Lowry and the Ford Foundation, 1957¿1965 00
Sheila Anderson
11. Funding ¿Mama¿: The MacArthur Foundation and Ellen Stewart 00
Bruce Kirle
12. A Community of Angels for Actors Theatre of Louisville 00
Jeffrey Ullom
13. Raising the Curtain: Rockefeller Support for the American Theater 00
Stephen D. Berwind
14. Funding the Theatrical Future: The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust 00
Jeffrey Eric Jenkins
15. Modern Medicis: Disney on Broadway 00
Kathy L. Privatt
16. Static in the Signal: Clear Channel Communications and Theatre in the USA 00
Anthony J. Vickery
Resources 000
Contributors 000
Index 000
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC