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BAM is 150 Years Old
BAM: The Complete Works
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The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), the oldest performing arts center in the United States, is celebrating its 150th anniversary with the publication of BAM: The Complete Works on Sept. 18. Visually stunning archival images of artists that have performed at BAM since opening night in 1861 fill the pages of this book. Also included are essays by and about many of the influential artists that make up BAM’s history.
On opening night in Jan. 1861, Simeon B. Chittenden said, “[BAM] denotes an era in our history, and henceforth it should be a power in our midst.” It has certainly lived up to this hype and has since been a powerhouse in influencing arts in America.
BAM: The Complete Works showcases the vital role the theatre institution played in the evolution of performing arts in New York City and across the country. The Brooklyn based organization has hosted an impressive variety of famous authors, thinkers and politicians including Fredrick Douglass, Mark Twain and P.T. Burnum, helping it to become a keystone in the intellectual and social development of the United States.
Demonstrated by the release of BAM: The Complete Works, the theater has stood the test of time through fire, flood, the Great Depression, and a number of social changes in the development of modern day America. The performing arts center is a not-for-profit organization that relies on the generosity of contributors to continue its artistic accomplishments.
BAM experienced a renaissance when Harvey Lichtenstein was appointed executive director in 1967. This period led to it being called “the foremost showcase for contemporary experimental performing arts” by The New York Times.
Included in the book is an examination of Lichtenstein’s tenure at BAM written by cultural critic John Rockwell and an exploration of the academy’s first century of history.
“It is in artistic expression that we see what it is to be human, and what is possible for human beings to be… this has been the purpose of BAM for the past 150 years,” said Charles Mee, an accomplished playwright. Mee also writes the introduction for the book.
The celebration of 150 years in operation includes a yearlong program of special presentations and events that highlight major landmarks in the history of BAM and plans to lay down foundations for a dynamic future.
“All I need is food, clothing, shelter, a happy family, and tickets to BAM,” said Mee, “Then I have a complete life.”
Quantuck Lane Press; September 18, 2011; $95.