Figure 1.-- Here is a photo of a highschool theatrical club in Skowhegan, Maine, taken in 1900. It looks as though the children were involved in some sort of minstrel show or musical review because some of the youths are wearing black face with their costumes. The boy sitting crossed legged in the front row may be the manager or leader of the group because he seems to be in ordinary school clothes except possibly for the rakish, comically tilted hat. He wears the typical knee pants with long black stockings. We believe that this was his normal school clothing and not a costume. The players seem to be about 16 to 18 years old. We don't know the name of the school, but Skowhegan, Maine, probably had only a single high school in 1900.

Drama seems to be especially popular in American schools. We are not entirely sure why. Presumably it is in part due to the English tradition which places some emphasis on sdchool drama. A great focus on extra-curricular activities in America may be another factor. Schools put on a great range of plays. prof\duce a range of theatricals suitable for younger children. Most secondary school perform a school play each year. The older children are able to put on more sophisticated productions. The classics are commonly produced. This was the case through the early-20th century. Since World War II the school productions have been more varied. Musicals (especially Broadway plays) are also popular. Other types of productions were tableauxs and pageants. There were also reviews, probably influenced by the Vaudeville productions of the late 19th and early 20th century. Theatricals are produced at every level of American education, including both primary and secondary schools. A closely related activity is oratory. We note Roy Chapin Hodgson who received an award for oratory.

Drama Traditions

Drama seems to be especially popular in American schools. This was, however, was not the case at the onset of American history. Religious authorities in the New England colonies supported public education, but they were also critical of theatricals--even the classics. The Puritabns were an important influence in America and they did not even like Christmas festivities, let alone sometimes ribald theatrical plays. In the southern colonies, the religious indluence was less important, but so was the support for public education. We are not sure when the first school theatricals were produced in America. We do know that the school play was a well established American tradition by the late-19th century. We suspect that English developments were a major influence on American trends. We are not entirely sure why school drama became so important in America. Presumably it is in part due to the English tradition which places some emphasis on school drama. A great focus on extra-curricular activities in America may be another factor.

School Plays

American schools put on a great range of plays. Theatricals are produced at every level of American education, including both primary and secondary schools. Primary schools produce a range of theatricals suitable for younger children. These are commonly fun productions of theatricals specially designed for the younger children. Many of these children enjoy costumes snd pretend activities. Most secondary school perform a school play each year. The older children are able to put on more sophisticated productions. The classics are commonly produced. This was particuarly common in the 19th abd early-20th centuries. Greek and Roman plays are difficult to produce. So often Shakespeare's plays were produced. Since World War II the school productions have been more varied. Many plays were written in the the 19th cedntury. And we notice some particularly important ones beginning at the turn-of-the 20tyh century. The development of musicals created new material for school productions. The Broadway musicals that begin to develop in the 1920s have proven very popular high school productions. A factor here is that changing moral values have made it possivlr to produce plays that once would have been though in appropriate for school productions.

Tableauxs and Pagents

Other types of productions were tableauxs and pageants. There were also reviews, probably influenced by the Vaudeville productions of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Oratory

A closely related activity is oratory. We note Roy Chapin Hodgson who received an award for oratory.

Created: 5:08 AM 12/5/2006
Last updated: 10:40 PM 11/21/2010