Introduction To Theatre

Introduction to Theatre Theatre: Dramatic literature or its performance; drama While elements of theatre date back thousands of years, the Greeks truly established theatre and drama as we know it today.

Intro to Theatre Why would theatre begin? Preservation of culture Payment to the gods/God Entertainment

Preservation of culture Initially rituals and celebrations were developed to honor the gods. The rituals included: song, dance, sacrifice, and prayer Through these traditions, a people’s culture and tradition could easily be preserved

Payment to the Gods/God The Greeks had a festival known as the City of Dionysia to honor the god Dionysus Dionysus – the Greek god of wine and fertility Rituals, songs, and sacrifices began to take shape in to standard story lines and developed in to what we now see as theatre

Ancient Greece Eventually the Greeks assembled a massive theatres to honor the gods and traditions of theater One such theatre is the Theatre at Mt. Parnassus or The Theatre of Dionysisus in athens

Theatre of Dionysius - Athens

Ancient Greek Theatre The theatres were built in to hillsides and designed so everyone could hear and see the play Ancient Theatres sat roughly 12,000 – 14,000 spectators (The United Center seats 22,00)

Greek Drama Greek Drama fit in to 2 main concepts Tragedy – a play that ends in a funeral Comedy – a play that ends in a wedding

Greek Drama Aristotle wrote a piece known as Aristotle’s Poetics In his writing he identified the six elements of Theatre that are still applied today

6 elements of theatre Plot Character Thought Diction Music Spectacle

Plot Def: The pattern of events or main story in a narrative or drama There are seven elements to a plot line

Elements of Plot Exposition – when the audience learns any new information about character, setting, or plot Exposition can take place at any point throughout the story. EXPOSTION IS NOT ONLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY!!! Setting: Any information about time, location, and any other information about where the story takes place.

Elements of Plot Inciting Incident - point in the story that sets all the events of plot in to motion Think of the inciting incident like lighting the wick of a giant firework or knocking over the first domino in a pattern

Elements of Plot Rising action – builds up the tension and eventually leads the story in to the climax Includes complications, and plot twists, betrayals, etc.

Plot Elements Climax – The peak, or turning point, in a a plot dramatic or dramatic action If the story is a tragedy, this where everything turns ugly and goes wrong for the protagonist If the story is a comedy, this where the protagonist begins to do well.

Plot Elements Falling Action – The decline of action in a plot line immediately following the climax Denouement - the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work Translation: An untying

The Performance Space

Types of Stages Proscenium Stage: Like a picture frame. The audience sits on one side to watch the action through the frame (also known as the fourth wall). Often, curtains hide the scenery until the play begins.

Continued… Arena or In-the-round Stage: The audience sits all around it. The actors enter and exit from the aisles or sometimes from tunnels under the audience.

Continued… Thrust Stage: A combination of the arena and proscenium stages. The audience sits on two or three sides of the acting area, which projects, or thrusts, into the audience area from a rear wall, which has some kind of scenery. The actors enter and exit through the audience as in an arena stage and also through doors in the rear-wall scenery as in a proscenium stage.

Theatre Layout Terms The Lobby: The area where the audience gathers before, during intermission, and after performances. Restrooms, concession stands, and the ticket booth/box office are located in the lobby. The House: The area where the audience sits. Light and Sound Booth: Where the lighting and sound control boards are located. Located above the audience in the rear of the house.

Continued… The Stage House: The area including the stage and the fly space above (where scenery and lights are suspended on ropes or “flown”). Proscenium Arch: The picture frame through which the scenery and action are viewed. Grand drape: The front curtain, which is typically made of luxurious fabric in deep colors.

Continued… Apron: An acting area than extends forward beyond the arch on a proscenium stage. Back wall: Separates the stage house from the backstage area. Backstage: All areas other than the stage, house, and lobby in a theatre. The dressing rooms, make up rooms, and green room are backstage.

Continued… Green Room: A lounge area in which actors may wait while not onstage or greet audience members after the performance. Call Board: A bulletin board where rehearsal times, performance changes, and special notices are posted.

Stage and Body Positions

STAGE POSITIONS ARE FROM THE ACTOR’S POINT OF VIEW!!! THE AUDIENCE The Stage

THE STAGE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE AREAS ACROSS. THE AUDIENCE Left Right Center

THE STAGE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE AREAS FROM FRONT TO BACK THE STAGE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE AREAS FROM FRONT TO BACK. UPSTAGE IS AWAY FROM THE AUDIENCE AND DOWNSTAGE IS TOWARD THE AUDIENCE. “THE ACTOR COMES DOWN TO THE AUDIENCE.” THE AUDIENCE Up Center Down

THE ACTING AREA BECOMES A GRID OF 9 AREAS. THE AUDIENCE Up Right Up Center Up Left Right Center Center Left Center Down Right Down Center Down Left

So why is down stage down and up stage up???

In the Renaissance, stages were RAKED In the Renaissance, stages were RAKED. They actually sloped down toward the audience to allow audience members to see the action. Audience Stage

Actor’s Body Positions Full Front Full Back Profile Left Profile Right ¼ Right ¾ Right ¾ Left ¼ Left