legitimate theater

• legitimate theatre (standard spelling in all English-speaking countries except the USA)

A reference to the British Licensing Act 1737

legitimate theater (countable and uncountable, plural legitimate theaters)

1. (uncountable) Serious drama, as opposed to farce or musical theater.
   • 1996, Jack Barth, “A Fish Called Selma”, in The Simpsons, spoken by Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta):

     [while watching "Planet of the Apes", the musical] I love legitimate theater

2. (countable) A theater that performs serious dramas.

• illegitimate theater

• legitimate drama

• legitimate theatre