Season 1

June 25, 2021

12. Stages of Fire

How Philadelphia's theater fires in the 1800s affected the physical environment that we experience plays in today.

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June 11, 2021

11. The Theatrical Commonwealth

Wars, fires, melodramas, circuses, balloons, and ice cream . . . plus, for even more excitement, an examination of the economic model of American theater.

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May 28, 2021

10. George Frederick Cooke Heads to Philadelphia

George Frederick Cooke's performances of Shakespeare astonished Philadelphia audiences, and his 1811 visit left behind vivid stories of his wild behavior.

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May 14, 2021

9. Chaos Comes to Walnut Street

The hurricanes of World History blow a French equestrian circus company all the way to Philadelphia. The Walnut Street Theatre is born.

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April 30, 2021

8. New Year's Day at the New Theatre, 1800

Philadelphia's premiere theater company rings in the New Year of 1800 with their production of the spectacular Romance entitled "Blue Beard, or Female Curiosity."

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April 16, 2021

7. Two Paintings at The Met

An examination of two works by artist John Lewis Krimmel, as they relate to the history of theater and public performance in early 19th Century Philadelphia.

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April 2, 2021

6. Ricketts' Circus in the Capital City, Part Four

The final installment of our story about John Bill Ricketts, with more adventures about his equestrian circus and theatrical troupe.

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March 26, 2021

5. Ricketts' Circus in the Capital City, Part Three

John Bill Ricketts completes his 1793 season of shows in Philadelphia - and gets out of town just in time to avoid the Yellow Fever.

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March 26, 2021

4. Ricketts' Circus in the Capital City, Part Two

We look at the influence of the English equestrian Phillip Astley, and how the equestrian circus was developing into an international form of popular entertainment in the late 18th Century.

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March 26, 2021

3. Ricketts' Circus in the Capital City, Part One

John Bill Ricketts, the English Equestrian, arrives in Philadelphia, and attracts the attention of a Very Important Person.

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March 26, 2021

2. Early Philadelphia Theater in the 18th Century

A broad overview of Philadelphia theater and its contribution to American drama - from the founding of Pennsylvania to the end of the 18th century.

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March 23, 2021

1. Welcome to Adventures in Theater History

Why we're here, and what we're trying to do with our podcast!

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