The Revisionist Stage: American Directors Reinvent the Classics

The Revisionist Stage salutes the achievements of a revolutionary group of American directors who have galvanized the standard dramatic repertoire by reworking classic theatre into new forms for the contemporary stage. First setting out comprehensive theoretical and practical overviews of the field, Green goes on to present a critical history that features bold directorial ventures by JoAnne Akalaitis, Lee Breuer, Liviu Ciulei, Richard Foreman, Joseph Papp, Lucian Pintilie, Richard Schechner, Peter Sellars, Andrei Serban, Robert Woodruff, and Garland Wright. Green's critique ranges from works grounded in one historical period (Greek and Roman plays) to those authored by one playwright (Shakespeare, Moliere, and the operas of Mozart and da Ponte). Specifically discussed are such theatrical events as Serban's Fragments of a Trilogy, Breuer's The Gospel at Colonus and Lear, and Peter Sellars's operatic trilogy. With singular versatility and insight, Green thus leads the way to a more informed reading of the business of theatrical revision, challenging its claims, celebrating its ingenuities, and conducting a full-scale investigation of a genre remarkable both for its richness and for its ability to arouse spirited public debate.