It is difficult to analyze what defines theatre of the 21st-century because everything and anything is being done. A large theme of contemporary theatre is reinvisioning already written works. From Aeschylus to Ibsen, contemporary directors are beginning to look at old texts in a different light – whether through rewriting, such as An Octoroon, or restaging, such as Coriolanus with Ralph Fiennes.

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Also, the validity of theatre as an art form is beginning to be questioned as commercialized theatre becomes more and more prevalent, specifically on Broadway (Cox). If we look at the Tony nominees this year alone, the musicals with the most nominations are Mean Girls, Frozen, and Spongebob, which are all adaptations of popular culture. They were no doubt a ploy by producers to make money after they witnessed the plotlines’ success in film form.

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Of course, there is quality, new theatre being produced – particularly shows that comment on the social issues prevalent in today’s society, such as Fun Home (2013), Dear Evan Hansen (2016), and Ruined (2009). Theatre artists today are continuing a long tradition of using staged performance as a way of creating dialogue and initiating change. By putting serious issues, such as the plight of minorities, on stage, the theatre draws attention to an issue in a way that fosters empathy from the audience.