This is the story behind one of the most important – yet largely forgotten – women in American theater during the early 20th century.

Rachel Crothers was renowned for her ability to command all aspects of a stage production—unusual for playwrights and even more so for a woman of this time period. Rachel Crothers: Broadway Innovator, Feminist Pioneer celebrates her remarkable skill and feminism, from her experiences as a young actress in Illinois and New York to the success of her first play in 1906 and beyond. Crothers integrated themes of double standards, prostitution, and women’s rights in her work, and she went on to become President of the Stage Women’s War Relief Fund through both World Wars and the Great Depression. Incorporating extensive archival material, this book also discusses each of Crother’s plays with careful consideration for her attention to detail, character influences, motivations for social justice, and creative vision.

This is a set of uncorrected page proofs. It is not a finished book and is not expected to look like one. Errors in spelling, page length, format and so forth will all be corrected by the time the book is published several months from now. Photos and diagrams, which may be included in the finished book, may not be included in this format. Uncorrected proofs are primarily useful so that you, the reader, might know months before actual publication what the author and publisher are offering. If you plan to quote the text in your review, you must check it with the publicist or against the final version. Please contact rlreviews@bloomsbury.com with any questions. Thank you!