The Art of Acting Up: Johann Friedrich Löwen and the Genesis of German Theatre Historiography.

This article examines Johann Friedrich Löwen's *Geschichte des deutschen Theaters* (1766), often regarded as the first history of German theatre, focusing on its foundational role in shaping German theatre historiography in the eighteenth century. Löwen's work marked a significant shift by centering actors and theatre companies in the historical narrative rather than merely cataloguing plays and playwrights, thereby conferring historical dignity on the acting profession despite portraying actors' conduct negatively to underscore the need for theatre reform. Drawing extensively on the actor Conrad Ekhof's firsthand accounts, Löwen's history intertwines descriptive narrative with a prescriptive agenda advocating for professionalization and the removal of actors from managerial roles in favour of more educated principals. Although criticized for inaccuracies and biases, Löwen's historiographical innovation influenced subsequent theatre histories and contributed to the broader project of establishing a respectable German national theatre tradition.