2.  Imagine a film or a television program wherein men play the roles of women, actors chant lyrical passages in unison, and performers recite lines while their faces are completely concealed from viewers.  No, this is not the latest season of The Bachelor or Survivor: The Australian Outback  It IS, however….

4.  Dionysus  the god of wine and fertility.  A suffering god  Died each winter; reborn each spring

5.  “City of Dionysia”  In the Fifth century B.C. an annual religious festival is held each spring to honor of Dionysus  Four-day celebration with dancing around a public altar, singing of hymns, playing of music, and competition for prizes (goats or bulls)

6. ORIGIN OF TRAGEDY  “City of Dionysia”  At the festival hymns were sung by a Chorus of fifty men while dancing around the altar  They competed for the prize of a goat (thought to be sacred to Dionysus  Tragedy means goat- song in Greek

7. ORIGIN OF TRAGEDY  Thespis– “Father of Drama” (6 th Century B.C.)  Athenian—won a prize in 534 B.C.  Converted the choral lyrics into songs that told the story of a famous hero  First introduced a masked actor who would dialogue with the leader of the Chorus while playing that hero or god

8. ORIGINS OF TRAGEDY  Aeschylus—(535-426 B.C.)  Introduced the second actor  Dialogue becomes more important :: chorus becomes less important  Trilogies: three plays based on a single theme or story

9. ORIGINS OF TRAGEDY  Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)  Athenian known for musical, poetic, political, and dramatic talents  Introduced the third actor  Fixed the Chorus at fifteen men  Added painted scenery  Wrote more than 120 tragedies, but only seven have survived  Best record for wins at the festival-24 1 st prizes and seven 2 nd prizes in 31 competitions!

10. ORIGINS OF TRAGEDY  Sophocles  Three “Theban” plays  Tragedies about King Oedipus of Thebes  Antigone-442 B.C. (Third part of story)  Oedipus Rex- 430 B.C. (First part of story)  Oedipus at Colonus-401 B.C. (Middle part)

11. STRUCTURE OF THE THEATER A)Theatron (seating)D) Skene (dressing room) B)Orchestra (stage)E) Proskenion (backdrop) C)Themele (altar)F1) Parados-Anistrophe F2) Parados-Strophe

12. STRUCTURE OF THE THEATER

13. COSTUMES AND MASKS  Long flowing robes—colored symbolically  High boots with raised soles (platforms)  Larger than life masks—made of linen, wood cork  Identified age, gender, and emotion  Exaggerated features—large eyes, open mouth

14. COSTUMES AND MASKS

15. CHORUS - Music and Dance  Music and dance had special meaning  Chorus moved in unison from left to right (antistrophe) and back again from right to left (strophe)  All motions and gestures were in unison to help maintain and create rhythm

16. CHORUS-Function  Helped set the mood and express theme  Added beauty to the production  Helped divide action into episodes  Gave background information  Questions, advises, expresses opinions— usually through the Chorus leader (Choragos)

17. CONVENTIONS OF GREEK THEATER  Messenger  Tells of news happening away from the scene  Reports acts of violence not allowed to be seen

18. CONVENTIONS OF GREEK THEATER  Continuous presentation of the chorus  No intermissions  No lighting; no curtains