Early American Plays, 1714-1830 A Compilation of the Titles of Plays and Dramatic Poems Written by Authors Born in or Residing in North America Previous to 1830

A compact yet thorough guide to the first century of North‑American drama, this volume lists every play and dramatic poem printed or performed between 1714 and 1830. It begins with the colonial satire Androboros and moves through Revolutionary‑era pieces that celebrated Bunker Hill, the death of Montgomery, and the growing myth of the Indian warrior. The entries are presented with brief notes on authors, dates, and where the works appeared, offering a clear roadmap of a largely forgotten theatrical landscape.

The collection highlights the eclectic backgrounds of early playwrights—judges, scientists, soldiers, and budding novelists—all of whom turned to the stage for political commentary, patriotic fervor, or simple amusement. Readers will encounter farces, melodramas, and adaptations of European events, alongside the celebrated Indian tragedy Metamora that helped shape a new national archetype. Each title acts as a snapshot of the social and cultural concerns that animated a young nation.

Accompanied by a thoughtful preface that situates the works in their historical moment, the book invites listeners to explore how drama reflected and influenced early American identity, even when the plays themselves have long since faded from the stage.