Antigone and Oedipus in the Early American Theater
Abstract
The first production of a Greek drama in North America has been a subject of scholarly debate for at least the last century. Some reference late eighteenth-century theater productions of Medea as the origin of the trend, some the Bowery’s 1834 Oedipus, some the 1845 Philadelphia Antigone, and many Harvard University’s 1881 Oedipus Tyrannus. Due to the large number of sources claiming Harvard’s Oedipus as the kickoff production, likely in part because of its massive success and subsequent inspired productions and news articles, there lacks sufficient discussion on what earlier North American stagings of Greek plays can tell us about how and why the Harvard showing and those immediately following were so well-received. Analysis of responses to earlier, less successful showings, comparisons between previous productions and the Harvard Oedipus, and consideration of social contexts surrounding each performance exemplify a pattern of early American politicization of the ancient world.
Start Time
15-4-2026 2:30 PM
End Time
15-4-2026 3:30 PM
Room Number
252
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
UG Orals
Presentation Category
Arts and Humanities
Student Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Rachel Mazzara
Antigone and Oedipus in the Early American Theater
252
The first production of a Greek drama in North America has been a subject of scholarly debate for at least the last century. Some reference late eighteenth-century theater productions of Medea as the origin of the trend, some the Bowery’s 1834 Oedipus, some the 1845 Philadelphia Antigone, and many Harvard University’s 1881 Oedipus Tyrannus. Due to the large number of sources claiming Harvard’s Oedipus as the kickoff production, likely in part because of its massive success and subsequent inspired productions and news articles, there lacks sufficient discussion on what earlier North American stagings of Greek plays can tell us about how and why the Harvard showing and those immediately following were so well-received. Analysis of responses to earlier, less successful showings, comparisons between previous productions and the Harvard Oedipus, and consideration of social contexts surrounding each performance exemplify a pattern of early American politicization of the ancient world.
