American culture

Theater in the United States

Theater of the United States is based in the Western tradition, mostly borrowed from the performance styles prevalent in Europe. Today, it is heavily interlaced with American literature, film, television, and music, and it is not uncommon for a single story to appear in all forms.

Regions with significant music scenes often have have strong theater and comedy traditions as well. Musical theater may be the most popular form: it is certainly the most colorful, and choreographed motions pioneered on stage have found their way onto movie and television screens.

Broadway in New York City is considered the pinnacle of U.S. theater, though this art form appears all across the country. Regional or resident theatres in the United States are professional theatre companies outside of New York City that produce their own seasons. Even tiny rural communities sometimes awe audiences with extravagant productions.

Note: Both "theater" and "theatre" are common spellings in the U.S. when referring to stage productions, and "theatre" is often encountered when there might be some doubt as to whether someone is discussing cinema or the stage.