Introduction to Drama and Values as Literature The Experience of Theater Structure of a Play and Drama Terms

What is theater and what does it do? Theater is … Entertainment Storytelling An art form Focused on human beings A mirror Theater… Transports people to another time and place Examines human nature: asks questions about ourselves and the society we live in Provides thought-provoking ideas and questions

Does theater matter in our contemporary, screen-driven society Does theater matter in our contemporary, screen-driven society? Why is theater important to our society today?

Theater as Experience “Theater is living art. There is no substitute for the experience of a live performance. It is as real as it gets. It will transform you for the better in unexpected ways.” “In modern society, we have precious few opportunities to gather together in a meaningful way; to explore the human condition…theater provides a way to explore issues while bringing people into the same room.” “Theater forces humanity in front of you in real time, in a tangible reality.” “Through theater, you learn more about who you are, who human beings are, and why they act in certain ways.”

The Significance of Theater In some form or another, theater is a part of every society. Why? How is theater important? Expression Creation

Structure of a Play Acts: the main division of the play (it is like how chapters divide a book or how commercials divide a short TV episode) Each act is further broken down into scenes

Structure of a Play

Major Dramatic Question (MDQ) Will the girl get the guy? Who-dun-it? Will the hero reach his/her goal? (+ why? and how?) It is the big question that drives the plot and keeps us reading/watching…it keeps us engaged wondering what will happen next.

Our Town By Thorton WIlder

What is Change?

Make a list of changes you’ve experienced in the last year Make a list of changes you’ve experienced in the last year. These may include physical changes (growth, eyesight), social changes (friends, interests, clubs), internal changes (ideas, atti­tudes), or external changes (new school, move). Select the one change that has had the most significant impact on your life and reflect on it. Include a description of the change, reflections on the impact of the change, the feelings about the change (from your perspective or from others’ perspectives).