Panel 25: Identity patterns and socio-cultural exchanges in the migration of European theatricals to the United States (1850-1930) (EN)

Chairs:

Elena Mazzoleni, Università degli studi di Bergamo

Anna Maria Testaverde, Università degli studi di Bergamo

Giulia Bravi, Università degli studi di Bergamo

We would like to present the panel Identity patterns and socio-cultural exchanges in the migration of European theatricals to the United States (1850-1930), to open the historiographic investigation about the diaspora of the European performing arts heritage exported, in the period of the great European migratory movements (1850-1930), to North America. The historiographical research focuses on circus artists, dancers, and theatre amateurs united by the sharing of mixed forms with an experimental character. The exportation of this patrimony guarantees the communities in the colonies the possibility of reflecting their cultural and social identity of origin with the aim of keeping alive the relationship with the mother country. Historiography in this regard remains fragmentary and lacks an adequate methodological approach on the part of theatre historians. Hence the importance of identifying precise research, analysis and cataloguing tools to attempt an initial mapping of the phenomenon at continental level. The panel would also provide a recognition of performance venues, biographies, traditional performance genres, new forms of performances born of cultural contamination, and impresario and management systems.

Keywords: Theatre; United States; Italy; Migration; Contamination