Dr. Amy Hughes

Theater historian and author of An Actor's Tale (University of Michigan Press, 2025), specializing in popular 19th-century American theater and archival research.

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Nov 24, 2025 • 1h 4min

Amy Hughes, "An Actor's Tale: Theater, Culture, and Everyday Life in the Nineteenth-Century United States" (U Michigan Press, 2025)

Dr. Amy Hughes, theater historian and author of *An Actor's Tale*, dives into the life of Harry Watkins, a nondescript 19th-century actor. She uncovers the forgotten narratives of ordinary performers, questioning how white mediocrity has shaped American culture. The discussion highlights how myths like meritocracy and the American Dream influenced both Watkins and modern entertainment. Amy also reflects on gender dynamics, the value of labor in marriage, and her next project exploring 19th-century dog dramas, shedding light on our cultural love for dogs.

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