Lincoln and the theater, and theater in Lincoln's days

[Eva Elisabeth]

It might be different in the US, and also for private theaters that present only one single musical production - and for those shows that feature pop stars, but at the opera/theater (at least in Germany) I think essentially not so much has changed. I think the main innovation is the lightening technology. And videos are used sometimes. Despite this, machinery mainly relieves labor and manpower, but most of the effects are actually quite old. Example: a hydraulic version of the revolving stage had already been constructed by Tommaso Francini for "Le ballet de la délivrance de Renaud" at the Palais du Louvre in 1617 (actually Leonardo da Vinci had already sketched such in 1490). Although it's now operated by electric power, the "effect" itself is old. And a great deal of the making of the scene sets and backdrops as well as of scene changings during a performance is still pure traditional handicraft done by carpenters, sculptors, painters, locksmiths and stagehands.