*CFP*
*???Victorian Blockbusters???: box office hits of the late 19^th and early
20^th centuries.*
The phenomenal box-office hits of the Broadway and West End stages did
not begin with /Les Mis??rables/, /Phantom of the Opera/ and /Miss Saigon./
The Victorian and Edwardian theatre staged sensational and spectacular
successes which would challenge the popularity of even contemporary
productions such as /Harry Potter and the Cursed Child/ (which has
resurrected and updated numerous special effects and aspects of stage
technology originating in the 19^th century).
These ???blockbusters??? might include such productions as:
Klaw and Erlanger???s spectacular adaptation of /Ben Hur/ (1899)
The Drury Lane production of /The Whip/ (1909)
Irving???s productions at the Lyceum of plays such as /The Bells/ (in
which he starred numerous times between 1871 and 1905) and /Faust/ (1886).
James O???Neill in the stage adaptation of /The Count of Monte Cristo/
(which he played over 6000 times!)
The many successes of Dion Boucicault, including /The Corsican Brothers/
(originally staged by Charles Kean in 1852).
George Aiken???s adaptation of /Uncle Tim???s Cabin/ (originating in 1852)
which dominated theatre listings for over half a century.
I am now seeking proposals from authors for inclusion in a new
collection of essays, provisionally titled /Victorian Blockbusters: box
office hits of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries/.
Each essay (of approximately 5000/6000 words length) should concentrate
primarily on one specific play (musical theatre will also be included),
originally produced between 1850 and 1910. The deadline for submission
is yet to be established, but will likely be late 2020/early 2021.
Proposals should include a short abstract (300 words) and a brief
biographical note, and should be sent to the editor, Paul Fryer
(paul@paulfryer.me.uk <mailto:paul>) to arrive by
_Monday 16^th September_.
—
Prof. Paul Fryer PhD, FRSA, FHEA.
Visiting Professor, School of Performance and Creative Industies, University of Leeds.
Visiting Professor, School of Arts and Creative Industries, London South Bank University.
Hon. Visiting Professor, School of Arts and Digital Industries, University of East London.
Director, The Stanislavsky Research Centre.
Editor-in-Chief, Stanislavski Studies (Taylor & Francis).