This volume serves as the definitive record of the 1988-1989 American theater season. It provides comprehensive synopses and excerpts from the ten most acclaimed plays, alongside extensive essays, statistics, and photographic documentation of the year's theatrical landscape across the United States, including Off-Off-Broadway productions and award ceremonies.

As the continuation of the long-standing Burns Mantle yearbook, this volume is recognized as a standard reference for American theater history. Its detailed coverage of the 1988-1989 season, including play excerpts, critical essays, and visual documentation, makes it an invaluable resource for theater historians, students, and enthusiasts. The inclusion of Al Hirschfeld's artwork further solidifies its status as a comprehensive chronicle of the era's theatrical achievements. This yearbook offers a deep dive into the plays and performances that defined that specific year in American drama.