Final answer:
Minstrel stars of the 19th century include Thomas Dartmouth 'Daddy' Rice, Edwin Pearce Christy, Dan Emmett, George Nichols, and Stephen Foster, significant figures in the creation and popularization of minstrel shows which have since been recognized as racially insensitive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 19th century minstrel shows featured various performers who were considered stars of the era. The term "minstrel stars of the 19th century" tends to refer to white performers who engaged in blackface performances, which are now understood to be racially insensitve and offensive.
Nevertheless, in the interest of historical accuracy, some notable figures include Thomas Dartmouth 'Daddy' Rice, who is credited with creating the character Jim Crow; Edwin Pearce Christy, founder of the Christy's Minstrels; Dan Emmett, credited with the song "Dixie" and a founder of the Virginia Minstrels; George Nichols, known as 'The Virginia Minstrel'; and Stephen Foster, a prolific songwriter whose songs were often used in minstrel shows.
Minstrelsy was a form of entertainment that developed in the 19th century combining music, comedy, and racist caricatures of Black individuals, and its legacy has had a complex influence on subsequent American music and theater, including musical theater.