Shaping the Modern Theater

Shaping the Modern Theater:

Relating the Work to the Audience, Changing American Theater Forever

Traditional theater is simply a portrayal of fictional events through an artistic display. Thornton Wilder, author of Our Town, created a different portrayal of fictional events that captivated the minds of audiences abroad. Utilizing techniques rarely seen before, Wilder connected his works to his viewers in a way never before seen in American Literature. In an effort to eliminate the barrier between actor and audience, Thornton Wilder changes the American theater by using the Stage Manager, as well as themes of simplicity and the importance of life in his play Our Town.

Before looking into the novel itself, one must first understand the characterization. The Stage Manager, one of Thornton Wilder’s characters from Our Town, is used primarily as a liaison between the audience and the actors on stage. He talks to the audience for the actors, and has small conversations