1. History of Western Theatre

2. How did theatre, as we know it, come to be?

3. Greek Theatre Rooted in Dionysian festivals of the 6TH CENTURYB.C.
Life cycle / rebirth, in honor of the god DIONYSUS
Began with only a chorus speaking / unifying story. Later they held drama contests to honor him
THESPIS + first actor
THESPIAN = actor

4. Thespis (534 B. C.) Defined Theatre art of acting a part on stage
dramatic impersonation of a character other than yourself
Uncertain whether he was a playwright, an actor, or a priest
The term “Thespian” comes from his name. It is another word for “actor”.

5. Description of Greek Theater
Took place in large hillside amphitheaters. Some held up to , 000 people!!
Players included a chorus and their leader.
Lines were chanted.
Chorus performed in an “orchestra”, not on a raised platform.
Only Men performed.

8. MANY OF THE STAGE TERMS WE USE TODAY CAN BE TRACED BACK TO GREEK THEATRE
ORCHESTRA – flat performance space in front of hillside
SKENE – structure to wall off portion of stage
PROSKENION – façade on the first floor of the skene
MACHINA – crane-like hoist
CHORUS – explained, commented and engaged
TRAGOIDIA – origin of the word TRAGEDY.

9. GREEK MASKS
Every character has specific mask

10. The Rise of Tragedy AESCHYLUS
Sometimes called father of tragedy. Author of ORESTEIA. Introduced concept of second actor.
SOPHOCLES
Introduces third actor and tragic flaw. Author of ANTIGONE and OEDIPUS REX. Characters questioned the will of the gods.
EURIPIDES
Inner conflict – man vs. conscience. Master of expressing PATHOS, the mix of human sorrow and compassion. MEDEA is his most famous work.

11. Comedy Origin not certain Improvised portions of Dionysian festivals?
Groups (komos) joining Dionysian processions and exchanging barbs?
Notable writers:
ARISTOPHANES – Old Comedy
MENANDER – New Comedy

12. ROMAN DRAMA

13. ROMAN DRAMA
Mostly adaptations from Greek. Result of invasion. Degraded theatre into debauchery. (Latin word for play – “ludus”)
ANDRONICUS – first Roman writer (from a Greek colony)
PLAUTUS
TERENCE
Performed in AMPITHEATERS
SENECA – wrote “CLOSET DRAMAS”, plays meant to be read rather than performed.

14. Medieval theatre

15. Medieval Theatre
400 AD, Augustine: “The Theatres are falling, those sinks of uncleanness and public places of debauchery. And why are they falling? They are falling because of the reformation of the age, because they lewd and sacrilegious practices for which they are built are out of fashion.”
Ironically, it is in the church that drama is reborn. A century later, the church begins producing morality and liturgical plays to communicate to the uneducated masses.

17. Medieval Theatre TROPE – short dramatized scene from the Bible.
LITURGICAL SONG – Question and answer song performed by Monks.
SAINT PLAYS – based on legends of Saints
MYSTERY PLAYS – stories based on biblical history.
PASSION PLAY – based on the last week of Christ’s life.

18. Medieval Theatre
Although against theater during Roman Empire, churches are most responsible for bringing theater back
Church needed to establish itself in the community.
Began using drama to tell stories about religious holidays

19. Medieval Theatre
By late 14th century, plays presented by CRAFT GUILDS and performed on PAGEANT WAGONS.
FOLK PLAYS– planting, harvest related.
ROBIN HOOD plays – based on a hero stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.

20. Plays move outside
MORALITY PLAYS– dealt with principles of right and wrong.
“EVERYMAN”

21. renaissance theatre

22. RENAISSANCE (1400 A.D.) Revival of the Greek drama as OPERA.
Comic troupes – COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE.
Improvised scenarios using humorous stage business (LAZZI) using stock characters including INNAMORATI (young male lover) and INNAMORATAE (young female lover)
Spain – CERVANTES, LOPE DE VEGA, and CALDERON.
France – professional theatre developed under the patronage of the STATE.

23. Commedia dell’arte

24. elizabethan theatre

25. Elizabethan dramatists
SHAKESPEARE – noted use of SOLILOQUY.
CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE– first use of BLANK VERSE.
BEN JONSON– specialized in ENGLISH COMEDY and made use of existing beliefs about the HUMORS.

26. Elizabethan THeatre Began early afternoon; ended just before dusk
Women never on stage; parts played by boys
Attended by all classes of society
Refreshments sold during performances
Audience in a “holiday” mood

27. Elizabethan PLAYHOUSE
Inspired by INN YARDS.
Included:
PIT – area surrounding the stage.
GROUNDLINGS – playgoers who stood in the pit.
HEAVENS – roof with specialized celestial paintings.
TIRING HOUSE – actor’s dressing room.

28. Restoration drama
1642 – 1660 – government controlled by PURITANS and all theatre banned. Actors thrown in prison.
ENGLISH ROYAL PATENT OF Theatre organized under the state, women first appear as actors.
Stage was RAKED.
Notable authors: WILLIAM WYCHERLY, WILLIAM CONGRAVES, and GEORGE FARQUHAR.

29. AFTER SHAKESPEARE Moliere
Trained Commedia actor used many of the traditions, plots and devices of that training.

30. Restoration drama

31. School for scandal

32. She stoops to conquer

33. ENGLISH DRAMA SINCE 1700 REALISM
RICHARD BRIMSLEY SHERIDAN– author of SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL and creator of MRS. MALAPROP.
OLIVER GOLDSMITH – Author of She Stoops to Conquer.
OSCAR WILDE– Noted use of EPIGRAMS and clever dialogue. Author of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.

34. The importance of being eArnest

35. ENGLISH DRAMA SINCE 1700
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW – author of PYGMALLION, CANDIDA, MAN AND SUPERMAN.
“life force” – belief that humanity will improve.
“thinking persons society” – wanted to convert more to “thinkers”.

36. Theatre comes stateside

37. THEATRE IN THE U.S. DAVID DOUGLASS managed THE AMERICAN COMPANY.
Troupes from ENGLAND were first on the American stage.
The BARRYMORE family produced a number of noted American actors.
Early notable actors:
IRA ALDRIDGE – an African-American
CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN – played male roles.

38. AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS
EUGENE O”NEILL – plays include: The Iceman Cometh, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, and Strange Interlude.
LORRAINE HANSBERRY – A Raisin in the Sun.
CHARLES GORDONE – first African-American Pulitzer winner.
ALISON’S HOUSE by SUSAN GLASPELL is another Pulitzer Winner.
Neil Simon author of Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Rumors, Brighton Beach Memoirs.

39. MUSICAL THEATRE
Vaudeville + Jazz
Showboat! – the first hit musical

40. MUSICAL THEATRE
The addition of technical implements gave rise to the theatrical nature of musical theatre.