1943 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's first collaboration, "Oklahoma!" opens on Broadway. It became famous for its story of humble American farmers and for its groundbreaking choreography by Agnes de Mille.

1945 Tennessee Williams's first play, "The Glass Menagerie," is produced on Broadway.

1947 Elia Kazan, among others, founds the Actor's Studio, in New York City. Marlon Brando appears on Broadway in Kazan's production of Tennessee Williams's, "A Streetcar Named Desire." Brando's naturalistic acting stands as a changing point in the history of American theater.

1949 Elia Kazan directs Arthur Miller's "Death Of A Salesman" on Broadway.

1949 Brecht and Weigel found the Berliner Ensemble.