Influenced by Ibsen and Strindberg, American drama had its origins in small theatre companies and groups of semi-professional players in the early 1900s, whose commitment was to inspire such writers as Eugene O'Neill, Susan Glaspell, Imamu Amiri Baraka, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. Born into this century, American drama has acted both as a reflection and as a commentary on the dominance, power and sometimes corruption of the American democratic dream.

Today, American theatre still challenges its audiences with a powerful voice unknown to television and commercial film, bringing to the fore issues of gender, colour and political oppression. This collection of specially written essays offers a comprehensive introduction to the subject for students wishing to familiarise themselves with this exciting field, and those already involved with the current debate in the area will welcome the broad approach adopted by this volume.