Introduction to Theater:

1
Introduction to Theater

• Chapter 1
• You and the Theater

2
Stage language conventions

• Conventions-special or traditional ways
• of doing things.

Ex Curtain going up Places Break a leg
3
Dramatic Tradition

• Drama-second only to dance as the oldest of
  the humanities.

Humanities-the areas of human interest which
attempt to answer eternal questions Who am
I? Why am I here? Where am I
going? The humanities include drama, music,
art, literature, and philosophy.
4
Dramatic Tradition

• Drama-second only to dance as the oldest of
  the humanities.

Drama- comes from a Greek word meaning to do or
to act.
Doing is what theater is all about! Acting
Building Directing Writing Producing
5
Dramatic Tradition

• dance pre-done the acting out of wished-for
  events a forerunner of ritualistic drama.

Drama- comes from a Greek word meaning to do or
to act.
6
Essentials for Drama

1. Actors

7
Essentials for Drama

• Actors
• Audience

8
Essentials for Drama

1. Actors
2. Audience
3. Place

9
Essentials for Drama

1. Actors
2. Audience
3. Place
4. Lighting

10
The Ingredients of Drama

• Character (s)

11
The Ingredients of Drama

• Character (s)
• Situation-problem or challenge

12
The Ingredients of Drama

• Character (s)
• Situation-problem or challenge

• Drama becomes interesting when
• We empathize with the character.
• There is conflict.

13
The Ingredients of Drama

• Character (s)
• Situation-problem or challenge

• Drama becomes interesting when
• We empathize with the character.
• There is conflict.

Empathy-emotional identity with someone or
something outside ones self. Sympathy is
feeling sorry for someone, empathy is
feeling with someone.

14
The Ingredients of Drama

• Character (s)
• Situation-problem or challenge

• Drama becomes interesting when
• We empathize with the character.
• There is conflict.

Conflict-a struggle between two opposing forces.

The struggle can be with himself, another
character, or with a force. Ex Hamlet struggled
with himself. Robin Hood fought against
authority.

15
More key terms

16
More key terms

• script- drama that is written down.

17
More key terms

• script- drama that is written down.
• Like a novel, a play almost always tells a
  story and has a beginning, middle and an end.
  However, drama is meant to be acted out-not
  merely read.

18
More key terms

• script- drama that is written down.
• Like a novel, a play almost always tells a
  story and has a beginning, middle and an end.
  However, drama is meant to be acted out-not
  merely read.
• legitimate theater term used to distinguish
  live performances from other media-like TV and
  movies.

19
More key terms

20
More key terms

• critique- the evaluation of a work or
  performance.

21
More key terms

• critique- the evaluation of a work or
  performance.
• stage fright-the nervous anticipation of going on
  stage to perform.

22
The study of drama

• Is the study of human nature.
• Improves the art of communicating. (feelings,
  important events, political statements, etc.)
• Allows you to become more expressive.
• Allows you to entertain-to make people think,
  question, smile, laugh, and cry.
• Allows you to discover yourself .

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Chapter 1 Vocabulary

• 1. Convention
• 2. Humanities
• 3. Drama
• 4. Dance pre-done
• 5. Situation
• 6. Conflict
• 7. Empathy
• 8. Script
• 9. Legitimate Theater
• 10. Critique
• 11. Stage fright

24
The origins of Western Drama

• Western drama originates in classical Greece.

25
The origins of Western Drama

• Western drama originates in classical Greece.
• The theatrical culture of the city-state of
  Athens produced three genres of drama tragedy,
  comedy, and the satyr play.

26
The origins of Western Drama

• Western drama originates in classical Greece.
• The theatrical culture of the city-state of
  Athens produced three genres of drama tragedy,
  comedy, and the satyr play.
• Writers (dramatists) participated in competitions
  held as part of festivities celebrating the god
  Dionysus.

27
The origins of Western Drama

• Western drama originates in classical Greece.
• The theatrical culture of the city-state of
  Athens produced three genres of drama tragedy,
  comedy, and the satyr play.
• Writers (dramatists) participated in competitions
  held as part of festivities celebrating the god
  Dionysus.
• Thespis was an early Greek dramatist.
• (thespian)

28
Ancient Greek Theatre
Many theaters seated up to 14,000.
29
Tragedy/ComedyMasks (Roman Period)
30
The origins of Western Drama

• Roman Period (27 BCE-476 CE)
• The Romans adopted many of the Greek traditions
  in their theatre productions.

31
The origins of Western Drama

• Roman Period (27 BCE-476 CE)
• The Romans adopted many of the Greek traditions
  in their theatre productions.
• Medieval Period (fall of Roman empire thru 13th
  century)
• Most medieval theatre is not well documented due
  to
• a lack of surviving records and texts,
• a low literacy rate of the general population,
• and the opposition of the clergy to many types of
  performance.
• It is known that mimes, minstrels, bards,
  storytellers, and jugglers traveled in search of
  new audiences and financial support.

32
The origins of Western Drama

• English Renaissance Theatre Period
• aka Early Modern English theatre
• "Elizabethan theatre" the plays written and
  performed publicly in England during the reign of
  Queen Elizabeth (15581603).

33
The origins of Western Drama

• English Renaissance Theatre Period
• aka Early Modern English theatre
• "Elizabethan theatre" the plays written and
  performed publicly in England during the reign of
  Queen Elizabeth (15581603).
• Jacobean theatre (associated with the reign of
  King James I, 16031625)

34
English Renaissance Theatre Period

• Renaissance theatre derived from several
  traditions, such as mystery plays that formed a
  part of religious festivals in England.

35
English Renaissance Theatre Period

• Renaissance theatre derived from several
  traditions, such as mystery plays that formed a
  part of religious festivals in England.
• The Globe Theatre was a theatre London associated
  with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by
  Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord
  Chamberlain's Men.

36
Shakespeares Globe Theatre built circa 1599
37
Inside Shakespeares Globe Theatre
38
Modern Theater

• Constantin Stanislavski
• Theatre director and actor
• Stanislavski organized his realistic techniques
  into a coherent and usable system.
• Most consider his system to be the forerunner
  of American Method Acting.