Body of Work: Sexuality in Recent American Drama

Abstract A review of the New York theatre of the last 2 decades reveals increasing attention by playwrights to themes of sex and sexuality, references to sex in dialogue, and display of sexual activity on stage. The roots of this interest in, and frankness about, sexuality can be traced to certain landmark stage productions of the 1950s and 1960s, but sexuality has been an integral component of theatre art since ancient times. The recent flourishing of plays about sex may be attributed to (a) the relaxation of decency standards and (b) the hospitality to playwrights representing groups for whom sexuality and sexual activity are primary indices of identity.