Book Reviews

Cleveland's middle class grew tremendously in the late nineteenth century, and the rise of vaudeville as the dominant entertainment genre influenced both the content of theatrical productions as well as the nature of audiences. Grand theaters originally built exclusively for dramatic productions became venues for mixed programs, including legitimate theater, variety shows, and movies.

Vacha's twentieth century history of theater in Cleveland heralds the rise of a national "Little Theater" movement, including organizations like Cleveland Playhouse and Karamu. During World War I local emphasis on drama studies and locally produced plays recalled the stock company era of the previous century. Vacha describes the emergence of Playhouse Square as the geographic center of theater in Cleveland during the time when ornate theaters such as the Hanna, Ohio, and Hippodrome were built. However, the Great Depression soon followed, leading to the creation of the Federal Theater Project during a trying time of economic calamity across the nation. World War II briefly revived some of the grand theaters, ushering in a new era of patriotic themes and a brief respite from the declining period of the 1930s on the local theater scene.

In "New Directions," Vacha recalls the challenges posed by the decline of Cleveland's post-World War II downtown. Some venerable downtown theaters were lost, torn down in the era of urban renewal, but others were restored in the recent renaissance of downtown Cleveland. Vacha views the theater district not only as a product of renewed economic investment in the downtown, but also as a stimulus to further economic and cultural reawakening. The recent return of touring Broadway shows to the city brings the story of theater in Cleveland full circle. Playhouse Square is considered to be an important part of a rejuvenated downtown cultural and entertainment district.

Showtime successfully sets Cleveland's theater history against the backdrop of the city's development geographically, socially, economically, and culturally, as well as placing the story in context with national history. Vacha provides vivid descriptions of the theaters themselves, the individuals who influenced the genre, and the shifting of entertainment districts within the city's boundaries. Intriguing and fascinating connections are drawn between Cleveland's history and the lives of prominent national and international figures like John Wilkes Booth, Sara Bernhardt, P.T. Barnum, and John Houseman. Colorful stories about these and many other memorable individuals provide revealing glimpses of those individuals who shaped Cleveland's theatrical history.

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