Broadway, Seriously: Crash Course Theater #46

The video explores the transformation of Broadway post-WWII, focusing on the shift towards serious drama. It highlights the contributions of Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and Lorraine Hansberry, examining their major works and impact on American theater. The video also discusses the rise of off-Broadway and the Black Arts Movement, indicating future trends in theater.

What was one reason Broadway shifted towards serious drama post-World War II?

• To reduce production costs

• Due to the impact of movies and television

• To attract more tourists

• To compete with radio shows

Which play marked Tennessee Williams' first major success?

• The Night of the Iguana

• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

• The Glass Menagerie

• A Streetcar Named Desire

What style is Tennessee Williams known for in his plays?

• Musical theater

• Documentary style

• Symbolism and expressionism

• Pure realism

What is the central theme of 'Death of a Salesman' by Arthur Miller?

• The impact of war on families

• The corrupting influence of the American Dream

• The struggle for artistic expression

• The rise of industrialization

How does Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman' differ in style from traditional plays?

• It is written entirely in verse

• It combines realism with expressionism

• It uses a musical format

• It features a single character

What inspired Lorraine Hansberry's 'A Raisin in the Sun'?

• Her travels across Europe

• Her family's encounter with racial discrimination

• Her career as a journalist

• Her experiences in the theater industry

What is a central theme in 'A Raisin in the Sun'?

• The impact of technology on family life

• Dreams and aspirations in a racially divided society

• The challenges of urban life

• The pursuit of wealth

What significant achievement did 'A Raisin in the Sun' accomplish on Broadway?

• It was the first play to be adapted into a musical

• It was the first play to feature an all-female cast

• It was the first play to win a Pulitzer Prize

• It was the first play to portray the truth of Black people's lives on stage

What movement is mentioned as rising alongside off-Broadway theaters?

• The Black Arts Movement

• The Environmental Movement

• The Civil Rights Movement

• The Feminist Movement

What does the conclusion of the video hint at regarding the future of American theater?

• The emergence of off-Broadway and diverse artistic movements

• A focus on historical dramas

• A shift towards more musicals

• A decline in theater popularity