Download Theatre History

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Theatre History:
Greek to Roman
Greek Era of Theatre
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The plays in the ancient greek era were generally written
about the Greek gods, godesses and heroes.
Greek Era of Theatre
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Every Spring, the Greeks gather to perform their plays at
what is called the Dionysian Festival.
Greek Era of Theatre
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The Skene was a changing house that was also used in
plays to represent the home of a King or a ruler.
Greek Era of Theatre
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Gruesomeness had no place in the Greek Theatre, so murdered
characters would be wheeled out on an Eccyclema.
Greek Era of Theatre
There was no set scenery!
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Greek Era of Theatre
Women were not allowed to act.
Men played those parts wearing Masks.
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Greek Era of Theatre
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As for costuming, the bigger the costume meant the bigger the
part. i.e. large masks, long robes, stilts, elevated boots, etc.
Greek Era of Theatre
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Thespis, in 534 BC, stepped out from the chorus and uttered the
first words of dialogue. I guess that makes him the first actor.
Greek Era of Theatre
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525-456 BC
Aeschylus was a playwright that acted and directed in all of his
own plays. He wrote tragedies.
Greek Era of Theatre
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497-406 BC
Perhaps the best playwright of all time, Sophocles had the perfect
blend of content and form in his plays. He wrote Antigone.
Greek Era of Theatre
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485-406 BC
A rebel writer, Euripides was the most modern of the Greek
playwrights, writing about real men and real deeds.
Greek Era of Theatre
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450-380 BC
Aristophanes was a writer of comedies.
Greek Era of Theatre
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384-322 BC
Having really no connection to the theatre, Aristotle was a poet
and a philosopher. He wrote “Poetics” that somehow became a
definition of tragedy that is still observed today.
Roman Era of Theatre
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Roman Theatre at its birth: 1- mimes and dancers, 2- stereotypical characters and 3- wandering performers.
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Roman Era of Theatre
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The Romans raised their acting area and called it Pulpitum. This is
where the church term pulpit comes from. They would also add other
adaptations to the Greek Theatre, but never really improved anything.
Roman Era of Theatre
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Roman adaptations of the Greek theatre: 1- Addition of a front
curtain, 2- changed from wood to stone, 3- reduced the acting
area to a semi-circle, et. al.
Roman Era of Theatre
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Plautus was the top Roman writer of comedy, whose style
influenced Modern American comic actors such as Danny Kaye
and Jerry Lewis.
254-184 BC
Roman Era of Theatre
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4 BC- 69 AD
William Shakespeare was influenced by the writing style of the Roman
playwright Seneca, whose plays were closet dramas, meaning they
were good reading material, but not good enough to perform in public.
Roman Era of Theatre
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Rome falls in 476 AD but prior to that, entertainment changed to
the following: 1- Christians being fed to lions, 2- mimes doing
vulgar pantomimes and 3- Gladiator/Slave battles to the death.
Roman Era of Theatre
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In 476 AD, the church takes over, closing all the theatres, labeling
them “dens of iniquity.”
Theatre is dead. Or is it?
Review Greek/ Roman
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Theatre History:
Medieval to Restoration
“Are we having fun yet?”
Medieval Era of Theatre
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Ways theatre continued to live during the Dark (Medieval) Ages:
1- wandering performers, 2- Jesters, 3- Mimes and acrobats, 4The church’s continual condemnation of theatre
Medieval Era of Theatre
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Ironically, the same church that killed theatre in the Roman era, brings it
back to life again, due to the illiteracy of the church goers. Priests
started acting out scriptures, so the people could understand.
Medieval Era of Theatre
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Ecclesiastical Dramas:
1- Mystery Plays (Bible Stories), 2- Miracle Plays (lives of
martyred saints) and 3- Morality Plays (good vs. evil)
Medieval Era of Theatre
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Passion Play
An elaborate, well-done play portraying the life and crucifixion of
the Christ.
Medieval Era of Theatre
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1494-1576
Hans Sachs
German poet, teacher and playwright who used drama and many
other forms of literature to get the most out of his students.
Medieval Era of Theatre
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Renaissance
Going back to the ground roots of something for renewal and
rebirth.
Medieval Era of Theatre
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1474-1533
1492-1556
Ludovico Ariosto and Pietro Aretino
Two comic playwrights, whose material was funny and amusing,
but also very lewd and immoral.
Medieval Era of Theatre
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Commedia dell ‘Arte
1- Improvised comedy, 2- Women on stage, 3- where the term
“villain” comes from, 4- Charlie Chaplin was a student of this.
Elizabethan Era of Theatre
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Queen Elizabeth I
This era is named after her. She was a very staunch supporter of
the theatre.
Elizabethan Era of Theatre
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John Heywood, Nicholas Udall, Sackville and Norton
Most of the greatness would come later in the era, but the
foundation was laid by these 4 playwrights
Elizabethan Era of Theatre
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1576
James Burbage
Built the first indoor playhouse called simply “the Theatre.” It had
a 2-level stage, sat 1500 and was loved by the Queen.
Elizabethan Era of Theatre
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1564-1616
William Shakespeare
Supreme writer of tragedy for all time. His plays contained the
most important ingredient of any play, action.
Elizabethan Era of Theatre
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1564-1593
Christopher Marlowe
Could have been possibly better than Shakespeare, but we’ll
never know. He died in a street brawl while still in his twenties.
Elizabethan Era of Theatre
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Oliver Cromwell
In 1642, led the puritans in a Civil War against the English Nobility, who
all fled to France. Theatres closed up again. Marked the end of the era.
The Restoration Era of Theatre
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1622-1673
Moliere
Master playwright of the Restoration England period.
The Restoration Era of Theatre
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Characteristics of the plays of the Restoration Period
1- polished and sophisticated, 2- “New Morality,” 3- city
brilliant/country boring, and 4- light, cheery tone
The Restoration Era of Theatre
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Rev. Jeremy Collier
Delivered the death blow, once again, to the theatre. Wrote “A Short View,” in
1693, angrily condemning the immoralities that were taking place on stages.
Restoration Era of Theatre
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English Theatrical “Licensing Act of 1737”
Censorship of plays- the Lord Chamberlain had complete control
over whether a play could be performed in public or not.
Review Elizabethan
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Theatre History:
Europe in Transition to Modern
American
Transition Era of Theatre
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1694-1778
Voltaire
Known for: 1- Removing spectators from the stage, and
2- Raising acting standards through the use of criticism.
Transition Era of Theatre
French
Revolution???
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1732-1799
Beaumarchais
Wrote plays that expressed ideas of democracy and freedom,
planting seeds, in peoples minds, to revolt against the govt..
Transition Era of Theatre
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1802-1885
Victor Hugo
First writer of Romanticism. He wrote Hernani in 1830.
Transition Era of Theatre
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1828-1906
Henrick Ibsen
Greatest writer of Realism ever. Wrote on issues such as women
in society, VD, Hypocricy, Do-Gooders, etc..
Transition Era of Theatre
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1863-1938
Constantin Stanislavski
Russian playwright. Developed “Method Acting*”
Opened the Moscow Art Theatre in 1936.
Transition Era of Theatre
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1862-1928
Adolphe Appia
Swiss Architect and Theorist of stage lighting and de’cor.
His lighting concept is still in use today- “Father of Theatre Lighting”
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Century England Era
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Characteristics:
Straight-laced, proper, tearful comedy, righteous melodrama.
It was the “Age of the Actor”
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Century England Era
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1856-1900
Oscar Wilde
Comic playwright with a flair for the unexpected.
He was the most famous playwright of this era.
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Century England Era
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1838-1905
Sir Henry Irving
A very respectable actor of the time period.
He was the first ever actor to be knighted.
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Century England Era
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1856-1950
George Bernard Shaw
Most important playwright of this era.
England’s greatest playwright since Shakespeare.
Early American (Pre WW I) Era
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1598
An explorer named Onate presents the very first play in America.
Early American (Pre WW I) Era
“Ye Bare and Ye Cubb:
1665
The first play is presented in English in America.
Title- “Ye Bare and Ye Cubb”
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Early American (Pre WW I) Era
Minstrel Shows
Variety shows, racist.
Thomas Rice responsible for their popularity.
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Early American (Pre WW I) Era
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Vaudeville
These were variety shows with stand-up routines.
Tony Pastor cleaned them up and made them worth watching.
Early American (Pre WW I) Era
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Vaudeville died out because:
1- People got tired of watching the same acts over and over.
2- Radio/TV came along and stole all the big-named performers.
Early American (Pre WW I) Era
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1865-1934
Clyde Fitch
1- Writer of social comedy.
2- Best known for introducing the cowboy into the theatre.
Modern American (Post WW II) Era
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1888-1953
Eugene O’Neill
Greatest American playwright of all time. *“isms”
4 Pulitzer Prizes, the last one 4 years after his death.
Modern American (Post WW II) Era
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1897-1975
Thornton Wilder
Wrote “Our Town” and “Matchmaker” (“Hello Dolly”) and others.
Won 3 Pulitzer Prizes for Literature.
Modern American (Post WW II) Era
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1911-1983
Tennessee Williams
Wrote “Streetcar Named Desire,” “The Glass Menagerie,” et. al.
“Streetcar…” won him a Pulitzer Prize
Modern American (Post WW II) Era
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1913-1973
William Inge
Considered the playwright of the 1950’s
Wrote “Picnic” and “Busstop”
Modern American (Post WW II) Era
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1928-
Edward Albee
The playwright of the 1960’s
Wrote “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
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Theatre History:
The End
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Theatre History:
Review Early/ Modern American