Theatre HistoryTheatre History

A Study GuideA Study Guide

Greek DramaGreek DramaThespis was first actorThespis was first actorCreated to honor DionysusCreated to honor DionysusDithyrambs: choral chants Dithyrambs: choral chants and songsand songs

Greek (cont.)Greek (cont.)Aeschylus: Aeschylus: The Seven The Seven Against ThebesAgainst Thebes

Sophocles: Sophocles: Antigone, Antigone, Oedipus the KingOedipus the King

Euripides:Euripides: MedeaMedea

Greek (cont.)Greek (cont.)Elaborate masks that Elaborate masks that amplified voicesamplified voices

Cothurnii: tall boots that Cothurnii: tall boots that made actors larger than made actors larger than lifelife

Greek (cont.)Greek (cont.)Drama was a form of Drama was a form of worshipworship

Used to represent large Used to represent large moral concepts and idealsmoral concepts and ideals

English MedievalEnglish MedievalOriginated in the ChurchOriginated in the ChurchWas a way to present the Was a way to present the Bible to the non-Latin Bible to the non-Latin speaking publicspeaking public

English MedievalEnglish MedievalSaint plays—lives of saintsSaint plays—lives of saintsMystery plays—Bible storiesMystery plays—Bible storiesMorality plays—depicted Morality plays—depicted broad Moral conceptsbroad Moral concepts

Medieval (cont.)Medieval (cont.)Performed on platform stages Performed on platform stages

adjacent to the church or on adjacent to the church or on the town square.the town square.

Used movable stages called Used movable stages called pageant wagonspageant wagons

Medieval (cont.)Medieval (cont.)Costuming was simpleCostuming was simpleOnly surviving Morality Only surviving Morality play--play--EverymanEveryman

Italian RenaissanceItalian Renaissance Opera arose from a desire to return to Opera arose from a desire to return to

the choral styles of the Greekthe choral styles of the Greek Main focus was the commedia dell’arteMain focus was the commedia dell’arte

first comedic dramafirst comedic drama Used stock charactersUsed stock characters Most famous stock character: Most famous stock character:

HarlequinHarlequin

Renaissance (cont)Renaissance (cont)

Mime was popularMime was popular Masks were painted directly Masks were painted directly

onto the faceonto the face Italian Renaissance became the Italian Renaissance became the

foundation for Western Drama foundation for Western Drama to the presentto the present

ElizabethanElizabethan Theaters were round, with tiers of Theaters were round, with tiers of

seats.seats. The poorest people stood on the The poorest people stood on the

ground in front of the stage (called ground in front of the stage (called groundlings)groundlings)

Most famous theatre: GlobeMost famous theatre: Globe Considered “Golden Era” of TheatreConsidered “Golden Era” of Theatre

Elizabethan (cont.)Elizabethan (cont.) Moliere—French playwright; wrote farcesMoliere—French playwright; wrote farces Christopher Marlowe—contemporary of Christopher Marlowe—contemporary of

Shakespeare; wrote Shakespeare; wrote Doctor FaustusDoctor Faustus and and Tambourlaine the GreatTambourlaine the Great

William Shakespeare—considered greatest William Shakespeare—considered greatest playwright of all time; wrote playwright of all time; wrote Hamlet, Julius Hamlet, Julius Ceasar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ceasar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

1919thth Century Century Plays enjoyed long runsPlays enjoyed long runs New lighting technology allows night New lighting technology allows night

performancesperformances Elaborate and accurate sets, Elaborate and accurate sets,

costumes, and propscostumes, and props Trapdoors and hydraulic lifts create Trapdoors and hydraulic lifts create

special effectsspecial effects

1919thth Cent. (cont.) Cent. (cont.) Many plays were melodramas—heavy Many plays were melodramas—heavy

on plot; light on character developmenton plot; light on character development Oscar Wilde—Oscar Wilde—The Importance of The Importance of

Being EarnestBeing Earnest Henrik Ibsen—Henrik Ibsen—A Doll’s HouseA Doll’s House Gilbert and Sullivan—wrote comic Gilbert and Sullivan—wrote comic

operettas; operettas; The Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirates of Penzance

2020thth Century Century Many new innovationsMany new innovations Theatre of the Absurd:Theatre of the Absurd: drama that drama that

explored the human psyche in strange, explored the human psyche in strange, abstract waysabstract ways

Musical Theatre: most popular form of Musical Theatre: most popular form of theatre in this centurytheatre in this century Rodgers and Hammerstein innovated the Rodgers and Hammerstein innovated the

modern musical with modern musical with Oklahoma!Oklahoma!

2020thth Cent. (cont.) Cent. (cont.) Film, a new form of drama, arose. Film, a new form of drama, arose.

Film is now the most commonly Film is now the most commonly watched dramatic art.watched dramatic art.

First film with sound—First film with sound—The Jazz The Jazz SingerSinger

Walt Disney—pioneer in animation; Walt Disney—pioneer in animation; Snow White and the Seven DwarfsSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs