Search results for ""author matthew powell""

The Blackfriars Theatre, founded in 1940, was one of New York's first Off-Broadway playhouses. It was unique in another way: it was started by two Catholic priests and was the only professional level theatre in the United States under Roman Catholic auspices. It was the first such theatrical venture by any religious group. God Off-Broadway examines the efforts of the Blackfriars staff to meld theatre and religion between 1940 and 1972. While not as commercially successful as the founders had hoped it would be, Blackfriars contributed in many other ways to the American theatrical tradition. The first play ever to move from Off-Broadway to Broadway (Career Angel, 1945) was a Blackfriars production. Blackfriars also started and showcased many young performers who later went on to successful careers, among them: Shelley Berman, Anthony Franciosa, Eileen Heckart, Darren McGavin, Patricia Neal, and Geraldine Page. Although by the late 1960s the company was reduced to producing routine religious dramas and innocuous family comedies, daring and innovation characterized the early years of the theatre. Blackfriars took artistic and social risks in the 1940s by producing plays about racial justice. Powell based the book on primary sources, including Blackfriars archives and interviews with Blackfriars veterans. Playwright Robert Anderson, who had his New York debut at Blackfriars, contributes an introduction to the book. In addition to a complete chronological treatment of the theatre group, the author provides a survey of the relationship of the Catholic Church and the theatre in America. Eighteen black and white photographs complement the text.

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In the past century, multinational military operations have become the norm; but while contributions from different nations provide many benefits - from expanded capability to political credibility - they also present a number of challenges. Issues such as command and control, communications, equipment standardization, intelligence, logistics, planning, tactics, and training all require consideration. Cultural factors present challenges as well, particularly when language barriers are involved.In Allies in Air Power, experts from around the world survey these operations from the birth of aviation to the present day. Chapters cover conflicts including World War I, multiple theaters of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Kosovo, the Iraq War, and various United Nations peacekeeping missions. Contributors also analyze the role of organizations such as the UN, NATO, and so-called "coalitions of the willing" in laying the groundwork for multinational air operations.While joint military action has become commonplace, there have been few detailed studies of air power cooperation over a prolonged period or across multiple conflicts. The case studies in this volume not only assess the effectiveness of multinational operations over time, but also provide vital insights into how they may be improved in the future.

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