First Theater in America / When was the drama first introduced in America? An inquiry, including a consideration of the objections that have been made to the stage.

The author investigates competing claims about when drama first appeared in America, challenging the attribution to the Hallam company and marshaling Colonial newspaper evidence for earlier performances. He cites an advertisement implying a playhouse in New York in 1733, recounts the 1750 arrival of a Kean and Murray troupe that obtained gubernatorial permission and converted a Nassau Street room into a theater, and describes its layout, ticketing, and capacity. The paper preserves its original text and concludes with a supplement summarizing additional findings uncovered after the initial presentation.