A Survey of Theatre History

An Online Course of Study Prepared by Janet DeJean Newton

A Companion Course to Drama IPlymouth High School, Plymouth, Wisconsin

A Survey of Theatre History?

• Webster’s dictionary defines survey as “to view or consider comprehensively,” or to view or consider “completely or broadly.”

• So, in a survey of Theatre History, students will have the opportunity to completely explore the evolution of theatre, from its very beginning to today!

Learning Goals for StudentsStudents who complete the Survey of Theatre History course will be able to:

identify the key characteristics of historical movements in the history of theatre,

recognize key literature developed, written, and performed during these time periods,

and, identify principal individuals associated with the history of theatre.

Origins of Theatre

Egyptian Theatre

The Birth House at Edfu. This colonnaded structure was the site of the annual Festival of Coronation, which reenacted the divine birth of Horus and the reigning pharaoh. Around the back of the building are reliefs of Horus being suckled by Isis. A Birth House is a Greco-Roman feature that was not part of older pharaonic temples. (http://www.sacred-destinations.com/egypt/edfu-photos/slides/birth-house-cc-saulo)

Early Ritual, Dramatic Dance, and Storytelling

Phoenician patera, from Idalium, showing a religious ritual dance before a goddess in a temple round a sun emblem. (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17289/17289-h/17289-h.htm)

Greek and Roman Theatre

Roman theatre, Kermessos. (http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/drama/classical%20drama/unities.html)

Origins of Pantomime and Early Religious Plays

http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/everyadd.htm

Asian and Middle Eastern Theatre

http://asiasociety.org/arts/performing-arts/theater/taziyeh-performance-conventions-short-sketch

Medieval Theatre

http://medievaltheatre13.blogspot.com/

German Drama

http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/463-5078

The Evolution of English Drama

http://50yearsindance.com/2011/09/09/marius-petipa-and-the-dance-of-death-historical-footnote-to-marius-petipa-i-marius%E2%80%99s-peripatetic-lifestyle-reminds-me-of-early-artistic-life/

Spanish Theatre

http://www.comp.dit.ie/dgordon/Lectures/Hum1/031201/031201hum.htm

Italian Theatre and Commedia dell’arte

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peeter_van_Bredael_Commedia_dell_arte_Szene.jpg

Shakespeare and Elizabethan Theatre

http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/dramavenues.htm

Restoration Theatre

http://cerisia.cerosia.org/ENGL333/Self.Consciousness/introduction.htm

Early American Theatre

Theatre Scene 1794. Washington Enjoyed The Theatre,Inviting Friends To Seats In His Box. (http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamericanimages/scenes2.html)

Turn-of-the Century American Theatre

http://www.andreas-praefcke.de/carthalia/usa/usa_nyc_americantheatre.htm

Vaudeville

http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=%2Fnorris&CISOPTR=1&DMSCALE=100&DMWIDTH=802&DMHEIGHT=650.58072916667&DMMODE=viewer&DMFULL=1&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&DMTHUMB=0&REC=1&DMROTATE=0&x=412&y=328

20th Century Theatre Movements

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2009/may/18/american-theatre-history

Theatre Today

http://backtobacktheatre.com/

A Survey of Theatre History

Break-a-leg!It’s show time!!

Let’s start surveying!!

Some of the image sources:http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/3627

http://www.usu.edu/markdamen/ClasDram/chapters/011intro.htmhttp://www.usu.edu/markdamen/ClasDram/chapters/041gkorig.htm