Howard Sherman's Book, "Another Day’s Begun: Thornton Wilder’s 'Our Town' in the 21st Century," is a Theatre MUST READ!

     Photo courtesy of Methuen Drama     

When I saw Howard Sherman’s book, Another Day’s Begun: Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” in the 21^st Century, I bought it immediately.  I started reading it right away, yet found myself taking breaks between chapters, prolonging it so it would last longer.  I didn’t want it to end.  It transported me back into the theatre, engaging me in the cathartic experience that I’ve been missing during this pandemic.

Mr. Sherman opens the book with a brief background on Thornton Wilder and the story of the development of Our Town.  It smoothly segues into “oral histories,” consisting of interviews with actors, directors, and producers who all worked on productions of Our Town between the years 2002 and 2019.  Mr. Sherman wisely chose a large range of artists and individuals in varied geographical locations for these interviews, allowing his inquiry to ring with a remarkable level of truth.  His inquiry is simple: How does Thornton Wilder’s Our Town hold up in the 21^st century?  The answer is that it holds up remarkable well across diverse populations.  The more profound arc of his discovery is the unraveling of what makes an American classic and how theatre in America reflect who we are. 

Photo courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers

A few years ago I conducted my own research on Thornton Wilder.  I read Penelope Niven’s biography on him (Thornton Wilder: A Life, HarperCollins Publishers, 2012).  It revealed a fascinating man.  He wrote seven novels, which I started reading, and countless short plays, some of which I was familiar with.  His writing is grounded in a unique philosophy based on his travels, studies, and encounters.  His only three full length plays were highly successful (Our Town, The Skin of Our Teeth, and The Matchmaker, which was adapted into the musical Hello Dolly).  He won the Pulitzer Prize in both fiction and drama (The Bridge of San Luis Rey in 1927, Our Town in 1938, and The Skin of Our Teeth in 1942).  His work communicates a strong belief in mankind’s ability to adapt and thrive.  

Mr. Sherman’s study of Our Town in the 21^st Century encapsulates the understanding of the unique brilliance of Thornton Wilder.  The effect of his work on diverse populations far transcends the life of the man and the writing itself.  Howard Sherman’s sharing of the oral histories in this book affirms how Thornton Wilder’s writing sends the reader and audience on an inner journey to self-discovery.  The documented experiences in this book allow the reader to assess their own individual point of view of their experience with Our Town, and deepen their personal insights.  This is why Mr. Sherman’s book is a must read.  It allows for a unique communal experience, which is very much needed in these isolated times. 

As we enter into a post-pandemic period, both with gratitude and trepidation, Howard Sherman’s Another Day’s Begun reminds us of how united we are as human-kind and how our own individual histories and points of view combine to define us as one culture.  This book is an intelligent and heart-warming exploration of how connected we are as a human race.  Buy it, read it, and do as I did, savor its journey. 

Domenick Danza

Sherman, Howard. Another Day’s Begun. New York, NY: Methuen Drama, 2021. 

Niven, Penelope. Thornton Wilder: A Life. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2012.