1. ˙Claudia Chao ˙Betty Chen ˙Kailin Doucette Theatre I Period 6
Renaissance Theatre
˙Claudia Chao
˙Betty Chen
˙Kailin Doucette
Theatre I
Period 6

2. Important Historical Events
˙Renaissance = Rebirth
˙Began in early 14th century
˙Right before the Elizabethan Era
˙Known as the famous “commedia dell’arte”

3. Commedia Dell’arte
Started around the 14th century lasted till the 18th century
The commedia, the "comedy of professional artists," was the popular theatre of Renaissance Italy

4. Commedia Dell’arte
Combine (classical style) Greek & Roman plays + (burlesque style) Medieval period = NEW, UNIQUE comedies
Made up of lazzi and slapstick (physical)

5. Commedia Dell’arte Characters
Pantalone – the old man, a fool

6. Commedia Dell’arte Characters
Dottore – the doctor, a drunk or glutton

7. Commedia Dell’arte Characters
Capitano –
braggart soldier

8. Commedia Dell’arte Characters
"zanni" -- foolish servants was the most popular

9. Commedia Dell’arte Characters
Inamorati
–the young lovers
– the only "normal" characters

10. Location
˙The Renaissance started in Florence Italy, a self-governed, independent city-state with a population of 60,000

11. Location
˙Which was made as a center city for painter sculptors, Architects and writers

12. Famous Authors/ Playwrights
Christopher Marlowe
Ben Jonson
William Shakespeare

13. Christopher Marlowe Wrote mostly tragic subject about heroes
Uses plays as means of political activism
Plays contains great prose and poetry

14. Christopher Marlowe
˙ Got arrested 10 days for rumor, after jail, he was mysteriously stabbed to death

15. Ben Jonson Best known comedian writer of the time
Wrote comical “Every Man in His Humor”
Often arrested or threatened by officials
Often wrote about royal court when James I was on the throne in England 1603

16. William Shakespeare Most Famous of the Renaissance playwrights
Wrote about in all genres
Comedy: Love’s Labors Lost
Tragedy: Hamlet , Macbeth

17. William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet was one of the most famous play written
made the genres tragicomedy and romance popular

18. Theatre house or Stage Area
˙Portable stages became necessary for traveling acts
˙New types of theater houses were built to resemble ancient Roman theaters
˙The scenery was painted very colorfully

19. Theatre House or Stage Area
Proscenium arches were incorporated in designs

20. Costumes Styles
Commedia Dell’arte performers wore brightly colored diamond patterns
The minor characters became known as “Masks” because they always wore masks

21. Costumes Styles
In other types of theatre actors wore contemporary clothing
Leading actors would wear costumes more true to the time period of the play

22. Play Written in the Renaissance
Tamburlaine, The Jew Of Malta, and The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (by Christopher Marlowe)
Every Man in His Humor (by Ben Jonson )
Romeo and Juliet, Love’s Labors Lost, Hamlet , Macbeth (by William Shakespeare)

23. The End By
Claudia Chao
Betty Chen
Kailin Doucette