Explore Theatre: A Backstage Pass Michael M. O’Hara & Judith A. Sebesta PowerPoints prepared by the authors This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Geography, Architecture, and Technology. Chapter 4 Geography, Architecture, and Technology.

Geography, Text, and "reading" Culture Where Theatre takes place is important. The plays are influenced by the context in which it is performed. The contexts that surround theatre are the clues that we “read” to ascertain what our behavior should be, what our expectations are, and how we might mediate (assess) the experience.

Geography Where theatre is tells us clues about the nature of theatre--past and present. Where theatre is tells us clues about our behavior and expectations. For the follow examples, note the location and its relationship to architecture, audience,

Local Theatres Talk about your local theatres Civic Theatre The University’s mainstage theatre The University’s studio theatre The University’s experimental theatre Found Spaces

Clicker Question How many of you have been to: A. One of our local theatres B. Some of our local theatres C. All of our local theatres D. None of our local theatres

Regional Theatres List your local or closest Regional Theatres Link to and/or copy and past pictures from their web sites here. Assess student interest in attending a show during the semester.

Clicker Question How many of you have been to: A. Our regional theatre once B. Our regional theatre more than once C. Our regional theatre many times D. Never been to our regional theatre

Broadway Theatres Pick a few Broadway Theatres That currently have a show you’d like to talk about one big and one small house, explore with the class why the different shows appear in the different theatres (big musicals in big houses, plays in smaller houses, typically)

Architecture Theatre isn’t always in a building. Bread and Puppet How a theatre is built is a reflection of the expectations that culture has for that theatre. Use a local example (ornate or plain, warehouse or downtown)

Technology Different theatres possess different technological capabilities. The technological capabilities should influence our expectations.

Theatrical Language These words can inform us and our preparation: theatron (theatre) - "seeing place" ornynai (orchestra) - "to rise ... as from the dead" rehercier (rehearse) - "to harrow ... descend into Hades to return with spirits that reside there"

The Gods Dionysus (theatre of Dionysus) - Greek God of wine, fertility, rebirth; and the patron of theatre folk. Thespian (Thespis) - 1st Actor "possessed by the Gods"

What happens? Theatre is a place to see actors descend into an “other world” to become possessed by the (characters) in the spirit of celebration to illuminate their audiences.

Summary Theatre is influenced by where it is, how it is built, and what monies the builders had to outfit their theatre. Inside such places, something nearly mystical happens. "The great dramatist has something better to do than to amuse either himself or his audience. He has to interpret life.” G.B. Shaw Need to split for next year.