Art in a Democracy: Selected Plays of Roadside Theater, Volume 1: The Appalachian History Plays, 1975-1989

This two-volume anthology includes nine award-winning original play scripts, ten essays by authors, and a critical recounting of the theater's history, offering a people's history of the Appalachian coalfields.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 03 April 2023
Publisher: New Village Press

Seminal plays and essays unveil the radical origins and approach of Appalachia's Roadside Theater. This two-volume anthology chronicles the theater's first 45 years, featuring nine award-winning original play scripts, ten essays by authors from diverse disciplines and generations, delving into the plays' social, economic, and political contexts, and a critical recounting of the theater's history from 1975 to 2020.

Volume 1 of the anthology presents a people's history of the Appalachian coalfields, tracing the European incursion to the American War in Vietnam. The plays in this collection capture the struggles, triumphs, and resilience of the region's workers, exploring themes of labor, community, and the impact of industrialization.

Through its innovative performances and thought-provoking essays, Appalachia's Roadside Theater has become a vital voice in the ongoing conversation about the legacy of coal mining and the challenges facing rural communities. This anthology serves as a valuable resource for scholars, artists, and anyone interested in understanding the cultural and social significance of theater in Appalachia.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781613321911