Episodes

Edwin Forrest returns to his home city in the final decades of his life. After death, he creates a long-term legacy in Philadelphia.

We cover the period from 1829 to 1836, when Forrest was building the great repertoire of roles that would shape his career: Metamora, Spartacus, and Jack Cade.

This is an edited version of the interview with Peter Schmitz by Mike Lueger of "The Theatre History Podcast".

We begin the story of Philadelphia's own Edwin Forrest, the first great star of the American stage! We follow him from birth, through his early years, to his initial success.

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

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

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

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

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."

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Why we're here, and what we're trying to do with our podcast. Peter tells the story of his own personal history, and how he started on the task of researching, exploring, and teaching the history of the theater in Philadelph...