This book investigates the significance of Gertrude Stein's dramatic works within the broader context of avant-garde theatre and cinema. It offers the first detailed analyses of her major plays, situating them within the history of avant-garde performance and comparing her theories and writings to those of Dadaists, Surrealists, and Futurists. The study further explores the unique aspects of Stein's work by examining her engagement with American life and drama, proposing a previously unrecognized connection among avant-garde drama, cinema, and homosexuality. By elucidating these relationships, the book aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Stein's dramatic writings as influential modernist works with a lasting impact on American theatre.

This study is recognized as the first book to place Gertrude Stein's drama within the history of the theatrical and cinematic avant-gardes. It addresses the escalating interest in her dramatic writing, particularly within American avant-garde theatres, by providing in-depth analyses of her major plays. The book is noted for its comparative approach, contrasting Stein's work with that of Dadaists, Surrealists, and Futurists, while also highlighting her unique contributions and connections to American life and drama. Its central argument posits a significant, previously unrecognized relationship between the histories of avant-garde drama, cinema, and homosexuality, offering a new lens through which to understand Stein's influential dramatic works.