19 th Century Realism Changes in scientific thought leaked into theater Wanted to observe like on stage 1 hour play 1 hour of real time Theater moved indoors using gas lamps Operas became famous in Europe Box set using stage to create a very realistic set setting breaking the 4th wall talking to the audience Henrik Ibsen father of modern drama Wrote controversial plays Talked about things that happened behind closed doors Famous Plays A Doll s House Enemy of the People Dominated Europe in the late 19th Century Moscow Art Theatre Anton Chekov Felt as though realism needed a completely new form of acting Famous Plays The Seagull The 3 Sisters The Cherry Orchard All talked about facing social change In the 20th century the realism playwriting style came over into the United States Eugene O Neil Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams Beyond the Horizon by Eugene O Neil opened on Broadway in 1920 Long Day s Journey into Night is considered the greatest American Realism piece of all time Arthur Miller Plays are most produced of all time Famous pieces Death of a Salesman The Crucible All My Sons A View from the Bridge Tennessee Williams post WWII Famous pieces The Glass Menagerie A Streetcar Named Desire Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Lillian Helman New Orleans NYC Briefly attended NYU Columbia Lived in NYC in 1920 s plays have roaring 20 s influence Famous Pieces The Children s Hour 1934 Broadway In Days to Come The Little Foxes Ability to combine strong social politics with human struggles Lorrain Hansberry Frist African American women to have a play on Broadway A Raisin in the Sun 1959 Broadway ran for 530 performances won NY Drama Critiques Circle award for Best Play August Wilson African American Considered to be the best American realist post Miller s time The Century Cycle depicts African American life in each decade of the century set in Pittsburgh Famous Plays include Fences 7 Guitars The Piano Lesson and Joe Turner s Come and Gone Died in 2005 after finishing Gem of the Ocean