“What a Drama Queen!”

 Any work that is written or performed on a stage by actors using speech and movements.

 Drama includes all elements of good fiction:  Plot  Characters  Setting  Theme

A drama is normally divided up into scenes Drama- whole story must be told through dialogue and stage actions Novels and stories are told through narration, description, and some dialogue

 A DRAMA IS WRITTEN AS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN CHARACTERS  What is the author of a drama called?  Playwright

 A playwright describes the:  Setting  Characters movements  Props  This description is written in italics throughout the play! These notes represent the playwright’s vision of the performance. However, a great deal is left to the imagination of the director, the actors, and the readers.

 Plot: The structure and relationship of actions and events in a work of fiction.  Character: Any representation of an individual being presented in a dramatic or narrative work through extended dramatic or verbal representation

 ACT: A major division in a play. Often, individual acts are divided into smaller units ("scenes") that all take place in a specific location  SCENE: A dramatic sequence that takes place within a single location (or setting) on stage. Often, scenes serve as the subdivision of an act within a play.setting

 Stage Directions: These are instructions to the actors about how the dialogue should be spoken and instruction to the crew about sound effects and movement.  Dialogue: The words spoken by the actors

A radio play is a play written for radio broadcast. This means it is primarily meant to be heard, not seen. Since we cannot see the actors, radio playwrights give information about the characters through dialogue and stage directions.

The TV was introduced in the 1920’s, but most homes did not have television sets until the 1950’s. Families would gather around the radio to listen to their favorite radio plays. These plays were dramas, comedies, and mysteries. Actors read their parts into the microphone with flair and background music would help set the mood.