Theatre and Drama
This guide provides suggested resources for theatre and drama research at the University of Michigan.
Theatrical History and Records of Productions
This guide is arranged geographically – for each text/dramatic representation, a date and a bibliographical reference to published editions or manuscript sources are given. Includes a chronological list of texts, a list of sites, and an index of playing companies, playwrights, and playing places.
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American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1869-1914. by Gerald BordmanCall Number: Hatcher Graduate Reference Room: PN 2256 .B61 1994Publication Date: New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.Arranged chronologically, this book documents each theatre season from 1869-1914. Treats primarily New York’s first-class houses, but also includes productions at lesser houses when information was readily accessible.
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American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1930-1969 by Gerald BordmanCall Number: AAEL: PN 2266 .B67 1996Publication Date: New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.Arranged chronologically, this book documents each theatre season from 1930-1969. Includes Broadway and Off-Broadway offerings.
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American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1969-2000. by Thomas S. HischakCall Number: AAEL: PN 2277 .N5 H57 2001Publication Date: New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.Includes all non-musical Broadway productions, virtually all Off-Broadway shows, and a selection of Off-Off-Broadway offerings.
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American Theatre Companies, 1749-1887. by Edited by Weldon B. Durham.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2237 .A43 1986Publication Date: New York: Greenwood Press, 1986.Provides historical background, personnel, repertory, and bibliographies for American theatre companies formed between 1749 and 1887. Appendices include a chronology of companies, companies by state, and an index of people and plays.
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American Theatre Companies, 1888-1930. by Edited by Weldon B. Durham.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2256 .A44 1987Publication Date: New York: Greenwood Press, 1987.Same coverage as above, but for 1888-1930.
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American Theatre Companies, 1931-1986 by Edited by Weldon B. Durham.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2266 .A54 1989Publication Date: New York: Greenwood Press, 1989.Same coverage as above, but for 1931-1986.
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Annals of English Drama, 975-1700: An Analytical Record of All Plays, Extant or Lost, Chronologically Arranged and Indexed by Authors, Titles, Dramatic Companies, etc. by Alfred HarbageCall Number: Hatcher Graduate: Z 2014 .D7 H25 1989Publication Date: 3d ed. London: Routledge, 1989.
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Annals of the New York Stage by George C. OdellCall Number: AAEL: PN 2277 .N5 O23Publication Date: 15 vols. New York: Columbia University Press, 1927-1949.A comprehensive history of New York theatre covering the years 1700 through 1894.
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The Best Plays. New York, 1894- .Call Number: Hatcher Graduate/Buhr: PN 2266 .A2 B56 (latest year in Hatcher Graduate Reference)Title, publisher, and location vary, so search by call number in the Library Catalog to see complete holdings/locations. Provides an overview of the season on and Off-Broadway and essays on the best plays of the year. Includes a listing of plays produced on, Off-, and Off-Off-Broadway, with a cast list, production credits, dates, and brief overview of each, as well as new professional productions (listed by state) and lists of awards, longest-running plays, etc.
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Dramatic Texts and Records of Britain: A Chronological Topography to 1558. by Ian Lancashire.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2587 .L36 1984Publication Date: Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1984.This guide is arranged geographically – for each text/dramatic representation, a date and a bibliographical reference to published editions or manuscript sources are given. Includes a chronological list of texts, a list of sites, and an index of playing companies, playwrights, and playing places.
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The Encyclopedia of the New York Stage, 1920-1930. 2 vols. by Samuel L. Leiter.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2277 .N5 L361 1985Publication Date: Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1985.Attempts to provide a description of every legitimate theatrical production given in the New York professional theatre during the 1920s. Arranged alphabetically by work. Appendices include a calendar of productions, play categories (genre, subject matter, etc.), awards, theatres, and longest-running shows.
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The Encyclopedia of the New York Stage, 1930-1940. by Samuel L. LeiterCall Number: AAEL: PN 2277 .N5 L3641 1989Publication Date: New York: Greenwood Press, 1989.Same coverage as above, but for the 1930s.
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The Encyclopedia of the New York Stage, 1940-1950. by Samuel L. Leiter.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2277 .N5 L3651 1992Publication Date: New York: Greenwood Press, 1992.Same coverage as above, but for the 1940s.
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A Guide to the Baltimore Stage in the Eighteenth Century: A History and Day Book Calendar. by Compiled and edited by David Ritchey.Call Number: Hatcher Graduate: 822.9 R598guPublication Date: Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1982.
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A History of English Drama, 1660-1900. 6 vols.Call Number: Hatcher Graduate: PR 625 .N65Publication Date: Cambridge: University Press, 1952-.
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The Internet Off-Broadway Database (free online)Includes complete Off-Broadway seasons from the present back to 1958, as well as notable productions from earlier years. Includes dates, theatre, and credits for each production. Allows searching by show title, name, role, award, theatre, and date.
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The London Stage, 1660-1800: A Calendar of Plays, Entertainments & Afterpieces, Together with Casts, Box-receipts and Contemporary Comment. 5 vols.Call Number: Hatcher Graduate: PN 2592 .L85Publication Date: Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1960-Compiled from the playbills, newspapers and theatrical diaries of the period.
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The London Stage, 1890-1899: A Calendar of Plays and Players. J. P. Wearing. 2 vols.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2596 .L6 W37 1976Publication Date: Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1976.Provides a chronological listing of the plays and players on the London stage for the given decade. Entries include title, genre, number of acts, author, theatre, date and length of run, performers, production staff, and references to reviews. Includes an index to plays and performers.
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The London Stage, 1900-1909: A Calendar of Plays and Players. 2 vols. by J. P. WearingCall Number: AAEL: PN 2596 .L6 W38 1981Publication Date: Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1981.
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The London Stage, 1910-1919: A Calendar of Plays and Players. 2 vols. by J. P. Wearing.Call Number: PN 2596 .L6 W383 1982Publication Date: Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1982.
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The London Stage, 1920-1929: A Calendar of Plays and Players. 3 vols. by J. P. Wearing.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2596 .L6 W384 1984Publication Date: Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1984.
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The London Stage, 1930-1939: A Calendar of Plays and Players. 3 vols. by J. P. Wearing.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2596 .L6 W3845 1990Publication Date: Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1990.
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The London Stage, 1940-1949: A Calendar of Plays and Players. 2 vols. by J. P. Wearing.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2596 .L6 W3846 1991Publication Date: Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1991.
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The London Stage, 1950-1959: A Calendar of Plays and Players. 2 vols. by J. P. Wearing.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2596 .L6 W3847 1993Publication Date: Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1993.
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A Record of the Boston Stage by William ClappPublication Date: Boston: J. Monroe, 1853.Available full text through Hathi Trust.
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Records of the New York Stage from 1750 to 1860. 2 vols. by Joseph Norton Ireland.Call Number: Hatcher Graduate: 822.9 I65 1966Publication Date: New York: B. Blom, 1966.
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Theatre World.Call Number: Hatcher Graduate: PN 2277 .N5 A15 (early issues in Buhr; latest year in Hatcher Graduate Reference)Publication Date: New York: Crown Publishers, 1944- .Covers the year on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway. Provides a chronological listing of plays opening in the given season, with cast lists, production credits, and a brief synopsis for each. Includes productions from past seasons that played and/or closed; productions by professional regional companies; and lists of awards, longest-running plays, etc.
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Victorian Plays: A Record of Significant Productions on the London Stage, 1837-1901. by Compiled by Donald Mullin.Call Number: AAEL: PN 2596 .L6 M85 1987Publication Date: New York: Greenwood Press, 1987.An A to Z listing of productions; listings include the date of the production's first performance, the theatre, and the cast list.
Last Updated: Oct 28, 2025 2:03 PM