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Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia

Exploring the deep and fascinating history of theater in the City of Philadelphia

Recent Episodes

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95. Tom Bissinger's Fun House
Feb. 23, 2025

95. Tom Bissinger's Fun House

An interview with the director, writer and artist Tom Bissinger, in which we talk about his work in the 1960s and 70s, including his all-too-brief term as the final Artistic Director of the Theatre of the Living Arts.
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94. Mary Robinson and the Drama Guild
Feb. 7, 2025

94. Mary Robinson and the Drama Guild

An interview with the director Mary B. Robinson, about the time she spent as the final Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Drama Guild.
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93. Interview: Gregory Poggi
Jan. 24, 2025

93. Interview: Gregory Poggi

Gregory Poggi successfully led the Philadelphia Drama Guild throughout the decade of the 1980s. He talked with us about his tussles with board members, battles with critics, fundraising triumphs and the growing audience support for professional nonprofit theater companies
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92. The Philadelphia Drama Guild
Jan. 11, 2025

92. The Philadelphia Drama Guild

The sudden success of the Drama Guild - a former amateur theater group transformed into a professional local powerhouse - finally fulfills the promise of giving Philadelphia a flagship nonprofit theater company.
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91. Encore Episode: New Years' Day in the New Theatre, 1800
Dec. 27, 2024

91. Encore Episode: New Years' Day in the New Theatre, 1800

January 1, 1800: Philadelphia's premiere theater company rang in the New Year with their production of the spectacular Romance entitled "Blue Beard, or Female Curiosity."
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90. The Arts Centers: New Philly Theaters for the 1970s
Dec. 13, 2024

90. The Arts Centers: New Philly Theaters for the 1970s

Three new Philadelphia theater complexes are built for the mid-century modern era - funded by wealthy philanthropists.
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Recent Blog Posts

Feb. 24, 2025

"Scuba Duba," "La Turista," and "The Recruiting Officer" at the TLA

Above, a photo of Dick Shawn and Judi West in Scuba Duba - a production with played Paramus, NJ and Philadelphia PA in the summer of 1969. July 1, 1969: The ban on Scuba Duba was lifted. Philadelphians could go see Dick Shawn do his stuff at Playho…

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Images for Episode 93: Gregory Poggi
Jan. 24, 2025

Images for Episode 93: Gregory Poggi

Above: a recent photo of Gregory Poggi, taken when he was teaching at the University of Michigan.The image of Poggi that is the icon image for our podcast episode is from 1979. It was part of a larger photo that accompanied an article by Edgar Willi…

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Photos for Episode 92 - the Philadelphia Drama Guild in the 1970s
Jan. 11, 2025

Photos for Episode 92 - the Philadelphia Drama Guild in the 1970s

Above: Dr. Sidney Bloom, DDS, at work in his dental office in 1966, when he was already the Producer of the Drama Guild, then a community theater group. Four years later he would take the organization professional, and lead it to new heights.Below, …

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