Mary C. Henderson, Prominent Theatre Historian, Dies at 83

Mary C. Henderson, a leading historian of the American theatre and author of the seminal texts "Theatre in America" and "The City and the Theatre," died Jan. 3 at her home in Congers, NY, after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease, her son Doug Henderson said. She was 83.

Is is a rare theatre major or stage professional who hasn't encountered or consulted a work by Ms. Henderson. Her first text, "The City and the Theatre," published in 1973 and revised and updated in 2004, made her reputation, and proved to be one of her most lasting works. In its well-illustrated 300 pages, she tracked the history of every important playhouse in New York history, from the early colonial days of the John Street Theatre and the Park Theatre, to the rowdy 19th-century playhouses of the Bowery to the northward march of the theatrical district from Union Square to Madison Square to Herald Square and, finally, Times Square. The A to Z listing of every Broadway theatre featured a photograph or illustration of the theatre, its address, the architect, opening production, and, if applicable, when the theatre was demolished....