Early-Twentieth-Century Frontier Dramas on Broadway: Situating the Western Experience in Performing Arts - by Richard Wattenberg
Frontier dramas were among the most popular and successful of early-twentieth-century Broadway type plays. The long runs of dramas such as Augustus Thomas's Arizona (1900), Owen Wister and Kirke La Shelle's The Virginian (1904), Edwin Milton Royle's The Squaw Man (1905), David Belasco's The Girl of the Golden West (1905), William Vaughn Moody's The Great Divide (1906), and Rachel Crothers's The Three of Us (1906) not only indicate the popularity of these plays but also tell us that these plays offered views about the frontier that original audiences could and did embrace. By focusing on how these and other plays represent the intersection of period ideas about the nature of the frontier process on the one hand, with prevailing dramatic conventions and theatre production practices, on the other, Wattenberg sets the frontier perspective offered in these theatrical works within the larger context of late nineteenth and early twentieth century American culture. Despite differences in how these plays translate the frontier experience into stage action, as a group they delineate the parameters of a coalescing frontier discourse that shaped and has continued to shape American art and thought.
Allison Charney's forthcoming album, ALIKE - My Mother's Dream, will make a bold and timely contribution to the classical music canon when it's released in August. Learn more here!
FUSONG, a new musical with book and lyrics by Christine Toy Johnson and music by Cecilia Lin, based on Geling Yan's searing novel, 'The Lost Daughter of Happiness', has just released a concept album. Learn more here!
With the original cast recording now streaming, we caught up with Dave Malloy and Lucy Kirkwood to discuss their musical of Roald Dahl's The Witches, which held its world premiere at the National Theatre in 2023.
Oasis have announced details of deluxe formats of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? to celebrate the album’s 30th anniversary. The release will hit shelves on October 3.
CENTER STAGE RECORDS will release Out of Myself – Songs of Peter Foley in streaming and digital formats in July. The album will feature Kate Baldwin, Melissa Errrico and more.
Mercury Studios, TH Entertainment, and Nashville PBS are set to release a DVD and Blu-ray release of Brenda Lee: “Rockin’ Around” on September 5, 2025.
The Vienna Symphony Orchestra has recorded Frank Wildhorn’s “Odessa Symphonie,' the full-length symphony by the Tony Award-nominated composer. Listen to it now.
In celebration of Pride 2025, New York Theatre Barn will release a concept album of the original musical Winner featuring Taylor Iman Jones and Jade McLeod. Learn more!
The official Wicked Instagram account has posted a new video, teasing a special edition re-release of the original Broadway cast recording featuring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.
YELLOW SOUND LABEL has released the new single from The Billy Joel Project, the debut album from The Broadway Ensemble. Listen to New York State of Mind here!
Tony Award-winning performer Cynthia Erivo has set the release of a new book, Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They're Too Much, on November 18, 2025.
Tomorrow, Broadway Records is set to release the original London cast recording of Roald Dahl’s The Witches. Ahead of the release, BroadwayWorld is excited to share an exclusive track from the recording, featuring the company performing the song One Day. Check it out now!
Rock legend Billy Idol is set for the release of new vinyl re-pressings of three classic albums: Charmed Life, Whiplash Smile, and his first-ever solo release, the Don’t Stop EP, are all due August 15.
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Warner Music Nashville and Rhino Records, along with Randy Travis, have announced the upcoming release of NOW PLAYING – Randy Travis, a new vinyl collection featuring 10 of the country icon’s most beloved songs.
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GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS will release the CD of Real Women Have Curves: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording). Learn more about the musical and see how to listen here!
Following its debut on PBS's Great Performances in May, the official proshot of Broadway's Girl From the North Country will be making its way to physical media in the UK.
Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 24 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's Summer 2025 reading list.
Recording artist Ricky Asc (currently starring on Broadway in Boop! The Musical under the name Ricky Schroeder) has released a song and music video just in time for the NYC Pride dancefloors. Learn more!
The Billy Joel Project, the debut album from The Broadway Ensemble – an 11-member cast with a combined 48 Broadway credits – has been released on streaming and digital formats Friday, July 11, with a CD edition to follow later this summer.
Boston-based vocalist Brian De Lorenzo will mark the release of his new album Toast of the Town, Volume 1 with a concert on Tuesday, June 17 at 7:30 PM at Club Café’s Moonshine Room. The performance will feature the Tom LaMark Orchestra, also featured on the album.
Theatre Communications Group has announced the upcoming publication of three acclaimed plays: Ain’t No Mo’ by Jordan E. Cooper, Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee, and Public Obscenities by Shayok Misha Chowdhury.
Frank “Fraver” Verlizzo, the theater poster designer whose imagery defined decades of Broadway hits, has released a new novel. Learn more about 'Scenery of the Crime”, the first in the Retro Broadway Mystery Series.
Broadway performer and rising recording artist Omar Madden has officially released his debut EP, Thoughts & Feels, now available on all major streaming platforms.
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Sam & Company, a genre-spanning musical theatre album by Sam Nasar, will stream everywhere in June. Learn more about the album and about where its proceeds will be donated to here!
Left on Tenth, the new play based on the bestselling memoir by Delia Ephron, is now available for purchase through Dramatists Play Service. Learn more here!
The cast recording has been released for Jo - The Little Women Musical, a new musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's iconic coming-of-age novel Little Women. Listen to the album here!
BroadwayWorld has your exclusive first listen to 'An Ode to Aunt March’s Urn' from the upcoming studio album Jo - The Little Women Musical. Learn more and listen here!