Rise of the Diva on the Sixteenth-Century Commedia Dell'Arte Stage

Description:

"This book examines the emergence of the professional actress from the 1560s onwards in Italy. Tracing this development from actresses' earliest appearances as sideshow attractions to their attainment of international stardom, Rosalind Kerr explores the ways in which actresses used their talents and sex appeal to further their careers and establish the cult of the diva in Italy and beyond." -- dust jacket

subjects: Women in the theater,  Actresses,  Sex role in motion pictures,  Commedia dell'arte,  Women, italy,  History and criticism,  Sex role in the theater,  History