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Theatre Arts
History,
Trivia
and Stuff
If you are told that you are
“upstaging” another actor, what
does that exactly mean?
A) You are standing to “upstage” and the
other actor closer to the audience.
B) You are standing to “downstage” and
you are closer to the audience.
C) You are showing off and trying to take
the attention away from the other actor.
If you are told that you are
“upstaging” another actor, what
does that exactly mean?
A) You are standing to “upstage” and the
other actor closer to the audience.
B) You are standing to “downstage” and
you are closer to the audience.
C) You are showing off and trying to take
the attention away from the other actor.
What defines an Arena stage?
The audience is on all sides.
Also, called
“Theatre in the Round”
What defines a proscenium
stage?
Proscenium Stage…
•
•
•
•
Audience on one side only
Most common type of stage
Has a Grand Drape (Main Curtain)
Has an Apron (Area in Front of Grand
Drape
• Has Wings (Sides of Stage)
• Has Proscenium Arch (Makes it look like a
shadowbox)
Proscenium Stage
What defines a Thrust Stage?
A Stage that thrusts into the
audience.
If it isn’t a Proscenium or
Arena then it’s a Thrust
Fresnal Light
Emits a soft light.
Basically, it spills a soft
light across the area.
Used for a diffused light
area.
Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight
Used for a more direct and
focused light. It isn’t a
technical “spotlight”
because it doesn’t move.
It is used to light specific
lighting areas.
We use these lights in the
Keel. And, most theaters
use them for area
lighting. Mainly because it
is more focused and
bright.
Follow Spot
Self Explainarory
Lighting Gels
Plastic film that you put on the light to add
any colors.
Welcome to the
World
of
Theatre History
Egypt
and
First Recorded Play
Abydos Passion Play
2900 B.C.
Staged each Spring while
boating
To Celebrate
Osiris (Wheat God)
Theatre
Classicalism
This is just a fancy word for…
GREEK
and
ROMAN
Theatre
Greek Theatre
Greeks had huge festivals
honoring the God of Theatre
(also, wine and fertility).
They put on days of plays to honor
the God.
Dionysis
First know person to step out of the
chorus and speak alone “First Actor”
Was
Thespis –Thus actors are Thespians
Greek Theaters
The theaters were built on hillsides to
give the audience the best view.
The actual stage was tilted up to the
back, so the audience could see the
chorus in the back….and so rain
water would run off the stage. There
was no cover from the weather. And,
shows could not be done at night
because there was no lighting.
The chorus wore masks so the audience
could see their faces better AND the
masks had megaphones in them so
the audience could hear.
Stage Directions came from
THE GREEKS!
All the directions are from the Actors point of
view facing the audience.
Historically, the back of the stage is higher
so you would walk UPSTAGE.
The front was lower so you would walk
DOWNSTAGE.
Learn these 9 acting areas!
Remember, it is from the actors view so it looks
backwards.
The Stage Directions are
different for an ARENA stage
You would either use Map Directions or Clock
positions. You would set a “North” or a “12:00”
and work from their.
East
NE
Example
South
North
West
If you used an even mixture of red,
blue, and green gels on all of your
lighting instruments, what type of
light would you have on the stage?
A) A spotty colored stage with primary
colors that creates dramatic shadows
B) An rich Amber light that make the actors
skin have a rich-golden glow.
C) All the mixtures will delete each other out
and you will just have a bright white light.
If you used an even mixture of red,
blue, and green gels on all of your
lighting instruments, what type of
light would you have on the stage?
A) A spotty colored stage with primary
colors that creates dramatic shadows
B) An rich Amber light that make the actors
skin have a rich-golden glow.
C) All the mixtures will delete each other out
and you will just have a bright white light.
Aristotle’s (The Philosopher)
Unities of Tragedy
Requirements
• Unity of Time: Story takes place in 24hrs.
• Unity of Place: Only ONE location.
• Unity of Action: ONE Plot & No Comedy
Aristotle’s Other Requirements
• The Tragic Hero (Protagonist) Must
– Be of Nobility
– Have a Tragic Flaw (Such as Pride – Hubris)
– Audience must undergo a Catharsis
• Experience pity and fear by the end.
Aeschylus (Plays)
Agamemnon
Promethius Bound
Sophocles (Plays)
Oedipus Rex (Falls in Love with
Mother)
Antigone
Euripides (Plays)
Medea (Kills Kids)
Electra
Andromeda
Aristophanes (Plays)
The Clouds
The Birds
The Frogs
Lysistrata
If you wanted to light up a
specific, single area on the
stage, which type of lighting
instrument would you use?
A) A Fresnal Light
B) An Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlilght
C) A Follow Spotlight
If you wanted to light up a
specific, single area on the
stage, which type of lighting
instrument would you use?
A) A Fresnal Light
B) An Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlilght
C) A Follow Spotlight
If you want to make natural
looking light on stage, which gel
combination would be the best?
A) Warm colored (pinkish) gels on the lights
facing one direction and cool colored (bluish)
gels on the lights from the opposite direction.
B) Use Warm gels (golden) mixed in with Neutral
gels (pale whites/creams).
C) Use Red, Blue and Green Gels together to
create a natural white light on the actors.
If you want to make natural
looking light on stage, which gel
combination would be the best?
A) Warm colored (pinkish) gels on the lights
facing one direction and cool colored (bluish)
gels on the lights from the opposite direction.
B) Use Warm gels (golden) mixed in with Neutral
gels (pale whites/creams).
C) Use Red, Blue and Green Gels together to
create a natural white light on the actors.
Roman Theatre
They just copied the Greeks.
They did the same plays with mostly
the same names.
They just changed some of the names of the
Gods.
Medieval Period
After Romans, Theatre was banned by
the church. It was EVIL.
Death to Sinners
(also known as Actors)
This ban against Theatre lasted 100’s of years.
Medieval Theatre
The Church banned Theatre for a long
while. Then they allowed religious
plays at the end of the Medieval
Period….but only Religious plays
that glorified the Lord and Jesus.
They Allowed:
- Passion Plays (Crucifixtion of
Jesus)
- Morality Plays (About going to Hell)
- Such as (Everyman)
Beginning of the Renaissance
The Italians began to perform Theatre is wagons that
traveled from town to town.
They performed for tips and donations. They were very
poor and still considered “bad, immoral people. And,
actually they were pretty anti-society. Who else
would choose such a controversial profession.
Since their were no written plays (except Religious
ones) they made plays up as the went along. This is
the start of…
Improvisation
Beginning of the Renaissance
Soon, it wasn’t only Italians…but mainly
Italians.
This style of improvisational Theatre became
known as:
Commedia Del Arte
They always had the same stock “same”
characters. Most notably “Harlequin” who was
the funny, trouble-making slave…he was the
star. He always had triangle like shapes on his
costume.
Some of the other characters were:
The Lovers (played by guys)
And
The Zannies (stupid comic relief…peasants
The wore masks so the characters always
looked the same.
Renaissance Theatre
Also known as Elizabethan Theatre (she loved plays)
Finally, people started to want Theatre more and
Playwrights
emerged.
- Most known for
-
-
Shakespeare
Also, his antagonist
Christopher Marlow.
Shakespeare stole a lot
of his stuff!
As before it, no women
were allowed!
People looked forward
to a play like people
today look forward to
movies. There was
nothing else to do!
Shakespeare
Notable Plays:
Romeo and Juliet
Midsummer’s Night Dream
Macbeth
Hamlet
The Taming of the Shrew
Love’s Labors Lost
As You Like It
The Tempest
The Gentleman of Verona
Christopher Marlow
Shakespeare’s Enemy and Rival…oooh!
Doctor Faustus (about
the devil tempting a
man to sell his soul
and he does!
…copied a lot today
today, and I mean a
lot.
That’s why it’s so
known and popular.
What 20th Century Musical was
inspired by Marlow’s Doctor
Faustus?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
Cole Porter’s Anything Goes
Wicked
The King & I
Damn Yankees
Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun
Rent
Sondheim’s Sweeny Todd
What 20th Century Musical was
inspired by Marlow’s Doctor
Faustus?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
Cole Porter’s Anything Goes
Wicked
The King & I
Damn Yankees
Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun
Rent
Sondheim’s Sweeny Todd
Renaissance
Notable Costume features
• The Ruff
– The Neck
• Pantaloons
– The Pants
Ooh La La!
th
17
Century Theatre
Neo-Classicalism aka Restoration
Women Appear on Stage!!!
And France leads the revolutionary Concept!
But, it takes off everywhere!
Bawdy and controversial Theatre is back!
th
17
Century Theatre
• Opera was born
• Theaters were huge and
elaborate (We base our
Theatres off them today.
Mainly the Proscenium
stage! Think of Bass Hall.
• Only the Rich could afford
to Attend.
• Known as the Period of
Neo-Classicalism and
Restoration because the
adored the Greek and
Roman Theatre. They
performed it more than
anything.
th
17
Century Theatre
Restoration
This is the first time
they used stage
lighting.
They used candles
with foil or mirrors
to reflect the light.
There were lots of
fires!
th
17
Century Theatre
The most famous Playwright
and Actor from this time
was
Moléire
He only wrote comedies.
He died on stage with a
massive heart attack and
the audience thought it
was part of the
performance.
He got a standing Ovation!
th
17
Century Theatre
FARCE
Moliére created the Farce style
of Comedy which is still
hugely popular.
It is a crazy, fast-paced
comedy…and if think about
it too hard, it doesn’t make
any sense.
Examples of modern day
Farce Include:
Rumors by Neil Simon
and Noises Off.
(Sardines!)
th
17
Century Theatre
Moliére’s Plays
(Most Notable)
The Miser (About a Greedy Man)
The Imaginary Invalid (A Man
Faking Sick)
Tartuffe (Man taking advantage of
women with his suave skills
The School for Wives (About
Sexism)
th
17
Century - Costumes
• Men started to wear
wigs and heels.
• Women wore
corsetts.
• It was still
conservative and
not too crazy.
• Think George
Washington!
• Restoration Theatre
18th Century Theatre
Romanticism
• Basically the same as the 17th Century,
but Opera became more popular.
• People went to the Theatre to be “seen”.
• The Rich were extremely vain and
arrogant.
18th Century Theatre
Romanticism
• The costumes are the
most famous part of
this period.
• Dress represented their
vanity
• The men were more
vain than the women
• Women showed lots of
Cleavage… Had ribs
removed!
• A man’s calves were a
sign of “manlyness”…Some actually
had plastic surgery to
make their calves
bigger!
Nothing was happening in
America
during this time.
We were too busy with Independence and
building our new government
And, we were too conservative for
Theatre
On the other side of the world…
During all of the Western World’s periods of
Theatre, the Eastern World was doing
their own thing.
But only really known for two styles of
Theatre.
Kabuki and Noh (Nō)
Eastern Theatre
(Japanese)
During all the
developments of
Western Theatre, the
Asians created their
own style (which is just
as old…or older).
It Was Called:
Noh
( “No” )
Noh Theatre
• Basically, it is very
primitive and stylized.
• They wore masks
• It always centered
around ONE
character
Called
Shite
Kabuki
Created later than Noh.
Very Aggressive
No Masks
Had 3 Qualities
Song
Dance
Skill
What is the purpose of a
costume parade?
A) To see all the actors in costume on stage
together for the first time and a way to
help the actors develop their characters.
B) To see all the actors in costume one at a
time to see if the lights affect or change
the colors and any styling mistakes.
C) Used before a performance to get the
actors into the mood and atmosphere of
the play.
What is the purpose of a
costume parade?
A) To see all the actors in costume on stage
together for the first time and a way to
help the actors develop their characters.
B) To see all the actors in costume one at a
time to see if the lights affect or change
the colors and any styling mistakes.
C) Used before a performance to get the
actors into the mood and atmosphere of
the play.
Now the Russians take control…
And it is very depressing and bleak even
though it is the first “Realism”.
Well, based on their country, maybe the
dark and depressing stuff was REAL.
Realism
(This is what Inspired Modern Drama today)
A Theatre Movement
representing the
general Society.
Always about Social or
Political Events
Realism was about
“Real” and Dramatic
Themes.
Realism
• Anton Chekhov Plays
– The Seagull
– Three Sisters
– The Cherry Orchard
This is the start of Modern
Drama. Theatre that is
Realistic and Represents True
Life. (sorta… I guess the
horrible and depressing
parts).
Realism
Stanislavsky
Presents
The Actor, Director and Theorist
Realism’s
Stanislavsky
He
developed
the most
famous
acting
methods
ever known.
We still use
the methods
today.
Created the Ideas of:
What is your Motivation?
And
Emotional Recall (Remember a time
when…)
And
Sense Memory (Recall the feelings,
tastes, touch, smell, sights, etc.)
Realism
From Norway
Henrik Ibsen:
A Doll’s House
(About a Woman with an Abusive Husband)
Ghosts
(Part 2: About the Effects on Her Family)
Realism
American
Most Famous Authors:
(That you REALLY need to know.)
Arthur Miller
(Married Marilyn Monroe)
Tennessee Williams
Eugene O’Neill
Arthur Miller
Married Marilyn
Works:
All My Sons
Death of a Salesman
The Crucible
Tennessee Williams
Works:
A Street Car Named Desire
The Glass Menagerie
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Eugene O’Neill
Works:
Long Days Journey Into Night
The Hairy Ape (Expressionism)
Beth Henley
(Woman Playwright…went to SMU)
Wrote:
Crimes of the Heart
The Miss Firecracker Contest
Neil Simon
Wrote:
Rumors
The Odd Couple
Lost in Yonkers
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Comedy Writer!
and in Europe in the early 1900’s…
They developed
Comedy of
Manners
Comedy Theatre about the
Rich or Wannabe Rich
Very Stiff and Proper
Example:
The Importance of Being
Earnest
Influences Today’s:
Keeping Up Appearances
Then came these modern styles that we do
today… Mostly really Weird and Strange.
• Naturalism
• Expressionism
• Surrealism
• Absurdism
• And More
Cirque Du Soleil
Called the Period of
“isms”…up to today!
Is
Surrealism
Which of the following would be
the best way to warm the actors
up before a performance?
A) Play music that is in the mood of the play and
let the actors play a game meant to develop
trust, characterization and ensemble.
B) Give a talk to the actors encouraging them
(pep talk) then, have the actors share their
feelings and emotions in a safe group
environment.
C) Do physical and vocal exercises to get the
energy flowing and warming up the body and
voice.
Which of the following would be
the best way to warm the actors
up before a performance?
A) Play music that is in the mood of the play and
let the actors play a game meant to develop
trust, characterization and ensemble.
B) Give a talk to the actors encouraging them
(pep talk) then, have the actors share their
feelings and emotions in a safe group
environment.
C) Do physical and vocal exercises to get the
energy flowing and warming up the body and
voice. (The other answers can be incorporated
too. They are good to build team spirit.)
absurdism
Samuel Beckett is
the best known
Author
Known for:
Waiting for Godot
and
Endgame
the world of musicals…
Introducing
Broadway
Broadway
Before American Musicals…there was
Vaudeville
Started Broadway
Skits, Songs, Dance,
Variety Acts,
Comedians, and
Musicians.
Mom and Pop Theatre
Introduced Showgirls
Slapstick (3 Stooges)
Extremely Popular
Broadway
Beginnings of the Musicals
Gilbert and Sullivan
HMS Pentafor (I’m Called Little
Buttercup)
The Pirates of Penzance
Victor Herbert
Babes in Toyland
Little Johnny Jones (Give My
Regards to Broadway & I’m a
Yankee Doodle Dandy)
Broadway
The Golden Age: Part I (1900-1930)
George and Ira Gershwin
- Funny Face
- Girl Crazy
Cole Porter
- Anything Goes
Broadway
The Golden Age: Part II (1930-1950)
Most Notable:
Rodgers & Hammerstein
- Oklahoma
- Carousel
- South Pacific
- The King and I
- The Sound of Music
- Flower Drum Song
What is the first musical in
history to have all the music
written exclusively for it?
A) West Side Story
B) My Fair Lady
C) Oklahoma
What is the first musical in
history to have all the music
written exclusively for it?
A) West Side Story
B) My Fair Lady
C) Oklahoma
What was the first musical to be
considered a drama? Before they
were all happy, happy, musical
comedies.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
Oklahoma
Fiddler on the Roof
West Side Story
Damn Yankees
The King & I
What was the first musical to be
considered a drama? Before they
were all happy, happy, musical
comedies.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
Oklahoma
Fiddler on the Roof
West Side Story
Damn Yankees
The King & I
Based on Romeo and Juliet
Broadway
American Contemporary Musicals
(1950 to Now)
Most Notable
Early Contemporary
Composer
Stephen
Sondheim
Broadway
American Contemporary Musicals
(1950 to Now)
Most Famous
Sondheim
Musicals:
West Side Story
Company
Sweeny Todd
Into the Woods
Broadway
American Contemporary Musicals
(1950 to Now)
More Notable Modern
American
Musicals:
Little Shop of Horrors
Mel Brooks’ The Producers
Jonathon Larsen’s Rent
Disney’s The Lion King
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Hair
Godspell
Wicked
Hairspray
Elton John’s Aida
Which play is most like the play
Oedipus Rex?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
Hamlett
Doctor Faustus
A Doll’s House
Medea
The Cherry Orchard
Which play is most like the play
Oedipus Rex?
A) Hamlett
B) Doctor Faustus
C) A Doll’s House
D) Medea
E) The Cherry Orchard
They are both Greek
Plays
Meanwhile, in Europe at the same time…
The
West End
The European version of Broadway
The West End
The West End
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Cats
Phantom of the Opera
Jesus Christ Superstar
Joseph…Technicolor…
Evita
Sunset Boulevard
The West End
Boublil & Schonberg
(French)
Les Miserables
Miss Saigon
Martin Guerre
What is considered the first Rock
Opera in history?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
Tommy
Joseph and the Amazing…
Hair
Godspell
Jesus Christ Superstar
La Boheme
Evita
Anything Goes
What is considered the first Rock
Opera in history?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
Tommy
Joseph and the Amazing…
Hair
Godspell
Jesus Christ Superstar
La Boheme
Evita
Anything Goes
Historical Timeline
In Order:
Classicalism (Greeks & Romans)
Medieval
Renaissance
17th Century (1600’s) – Restoration/Neo-Classicalism
18th Century (1700’s) – Romantic
19th Century (1800’s to Now) – Realism
19th Century to Now – The “isms”
Early 20th Century (1880-1930) – Vaudville
Early 20th Century (1906-1930) – Golden Age of Musicals 1
Mid 20th Century (1930-1950) – Golden Age of Musicals 2
1950 to Now – Contemporary Musicals
Other:
Western Theatre - Japanese Kabuki and Noh (Ancient to Now)
The End