Shock and Awe: the Theatre and Dramatic Literature of September 11th

Abstract

How did the American theatre community respond to the events of September and how did the response shape new dramatic works? This thesis will examine the American theatre before and directly after the events of September ll’ , 2001. The response to theatrical works being written and performed will be examined by reviews. Also, the political activism from theatre artists will be discussed. The thesis will also look at the dramatic literature that was written in response to these events. With more dramatic works being written, there are categories which emerged. The categories are plays written before 9/11 with parallel themes of post 9/11 plays, remembrance, responses to the politics and policies directly after 9/11 and the Bush administration. The following plays will be used to demonstrate the three categories: Omnium Gatherum by Theresa Rebeck and Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros Guantanamo: 'Honor Bound to Defend Freedom' by Victoria Brittain & Gillian Slovo The Guys by Anne Nelson Stuff Happens by David Hare with Their Eyes: September 11th— The View from a High School at Ground Zero by Annie Thoms Wake Up and Smell the Coffee by Eric Bogosian The Women of Lockerbie by Deborah Brevoort 9 Parts of Desire by Heather Raffo Using excerpts from these scripts, the thesis will define the categories and how each plays best fit into the categories.