Enrico Cecchetti was literally born into dance: he came into this world in a theater dressing room, only to make his stage debut moments later as an infant in his father's arms. In the 78 years to follow, Cecchetti never left the dance world. Despite his great talent and importance, Cecchetti did

Classical, Composed, Grand, Physical force, Romantic ballet

Elizabeth Streb is an extreme dancer. In her incredibly athletic works, dancers swan-dive from scaffolding, hurl themselves against primary-colored walls, and bounce vigorously on trampolines. This recipient of the 1997 MacArthur genius award describes her ideal move as "dangerous, hard, fast, wild,

Athleticism, Event, Implosive, Kinetic, Physical force

Sean O'Casey stormed the citadel of English cultural imperialism in his native Ireland with powerhouse plays promoting Irish nationalism. Born and bred in the Dublin slums, illiterate until the age of 14, and a self-taught reader, writer, and theater-goer, O'Casey maintained a strong bias towards the

Dark, Feminist, Gritty, Irish renaissance, Lyrical, Political

"In the work of every American playwright at the end of the twentieth century, there are only two stages: before she or he has read Maria Irene Fornes -- and after." Though Paula Vogel's words are a fitting tribute to this dramatist's sensitive works, it's not surprising if Fornes' name draws a b

Contemporary plays, Dark, Enigmatic, Event, Feminist theater, Ironic, Kinetic, Surreal