Theatre World

Theatre World is an annual American theatre pictorial and statistical print publication. It includes Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and regional theatre, national theatrical awards, and obituaries.

Theatre World

In 1944, three young men who loved theater, Daniel Blum,^[1] Norman McDonald, and John Willis,^[2] created Theatre World, a magazine about the theater.^[2]

Theatre World was first published in 1945.^[3] George Jean Nathan's annual Theatre Book Of The Year (Alfred A. Knopf) preceded and competed.^[4][5]

Theatre World is an annual pictorial and statistical record of American theatre, in print. It includes Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and regional theatre, as well as a complete national theatrical awards section and obituaries. It is a pictorial and statistical reference to each American theatrical season, and is used by industry professionals, students, historians, and fans.

Theatre World is the recipient of a 2001 Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre, presented by the American Theatre Wing. On behalf of the publication, longtime editor-in-chief, John Willis (1916-2010),^[6] accepted honors including the first Special Lucille Lortel Award, a Special Drama Desk Award, and the Broadway Theatre Institute (now The Theatre Museum) Lifetime Achievement Award.

Theatre World is published annually by Theatre World Media and distributed by Applause Theatre and Cinema Books. The permanent editorial staff currently consists of Ben Hodges, editor in chief, and coeditor Scott Denny. Current editorial staff includes Adam Feldman of Time Out New York (Broadway), Linda Buchwald TDF Stages (Off-Broadway), Shay Gines New York Innovative Theatre Awards (Off-Off-Broadway), and Diep Tran American Theatre Magazine (Regional theatre).

Theatre World Awards

Theatre World Awards were created in 1944 by Daniel Blum, Norman McDonald, and John Willis, the Theatre World founders to coincide with the first publication of Theatre World.^[7]

Until 1998, the Theatre World editorial staff administered the Theatre World Awards for Outstanding Broadway and off-Broadway debuts. First under the supervision of Theatre World founder Daniel Blum and then under John Willis, who took over the production of the Awards following Blum's death in 1964, the Theatre World Awards were first given to those recipients considered "Promising Personalities." In 1998, the Theatre World Awards were incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization and are currently overseen by a board of directors independent of "Theatre World."

Daniel Blum

Daniel Blum (1900–1965) was born in Chicago, Illinois.^[1] His father was president of Federated Metals.^[1][8][9] He attended Shakespeare Grammar School in Chicago, Howe Prep School in Howe, Indiana, and the Wharton School of Business, then went to work for Federated in Chicago.^[1]

From 1929 to 1940, he was a producer and columnist, while amassing a theatrical collection.^[1] By 1940, his private collection had required a full-time staff to maintain it.^[1] By 1951, his staff could no longer both help him compile his books on the theater and maintain his collection.^[1]

In 1929, he co-produced Bambina's road production, it lost 50,000 dollars. He was drama critic for the Chicago Journal of Commerce, 1934 to 1937.^[1] He was drama editor for the Manhattan Magazine in 1939.^[1] He directed summer stock in Abingdon, Virginia (1940) at the Barter Theatre.^[1] He was assistant stage manager for Sons and Soldiers (1943), New York City.^[1] He co-produced, with Malcolm Wells, The Country Wife (1957), Playwrights Company (1957), and Between Seasons (1961).^[1]

The success of Theatre World prompted Screen World (1950-1965), Opera World (1952-1954) and John Willis' Dance World.^[2][1]

Works, by founder, Daniel Blum

Blum also compiled and published seven non-annual books: A Pictorial History of the Silent Screen (1953),^[10] A Pictorial History of the Opera in America (1954), A Pictorial History of the Talkies (1958), and A Pictorial History of Television (1959).^[11][12] A Pictorial History of the American Theatre, 100 Years: 1860-1960 (1960).^[13][14] Only Great Stars of the American Stage (1952) did not feature a photograph-filled, large-sized volume, with minimal text.^[1]

See also

• Theatre World Award

References

1. Blum, Daniel C. "Papers, circa 1860-1965". Wisconsin Historical Society Archives / Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research. Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids, University of Wisconsin Digital Collections. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
2. "John Willis's Dance World papers (1950-1984)". Archives & Manuscripts. New York Public Library. Retrieved August 28, 2021. John Willis was born in Morristown, Tennessee. He attended Morristown High School, from which he graduated in 1934. He attended Milligan College in Tennessee. He later began taking extension classes at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (1938-41)....Willis was in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He also taught non-consecutively in the New York City public schools system for twenty five-years.
3. Blum, Daniel (ed.). Theatre World, 1944-1945. Biblo & Tannen Booksellers & Publishers, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-8196-0325-8.
4. Nathan, George Jean (1972). The Theatre Book of the Year, 1943-1944: A Record and an Interpretation. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.
5. Nathan, George Jean (1943). The Theatre Book Of The Year 1942-1943. Alfred A. Knopf. Retrieved August 28, 2021. via archive.org
6. Nathan, George Jean. "Theatre Books Of The Year (1942-48)". archive.org. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
7. "Theatre World Awards Announced - Ceremony to Take Place May 23". BroadwayWorld. Wisdom Digital Media. May 9, 2005. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
8. "Federated Metals". Nytimes.com. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
9. "Federated Metals".
10. Blum, Daniel C. (1953). A Pictorial History of the Silent Screen. Grosset & Dunlap. OCLC 439026150. Retrieved May 11, 2021 – via archive.org. free download
11. Blum, Daniel C. (1959). Pictorial history of television (PDF). Philadelphia: Chilton Co., Book Division. OCLC 469857274. Retrieved May 11, 2021 – via archive.org. free download
12. White, Melvin R. (May 1960). "Review: A Pictorial History of Television; Theatre World, Vol. 15, 1958-1959; Stage Design throughout the World since 1935;". Educational Theatre Journal. 12 (2): 152. doi:10.2307/3204622. JSTOR 3204622. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
13. first published as "A Pictorial History of the American Theatre", 1900-1950 (1950)
14. Blum, Daniel C.; Willis, John A. (1981). A Pictorial History of the American Theatre, 1860-1980. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN 978-0-517-54262-0 – via archive.org. free download