The BIG Review Part 1 of 2

Pre-Civilization Hunting tribes showed what happened on their journeys First dramatic play Used animal skins and hides for “costumes” Later used as teaching tool Good luck rituals

Ancient Greece Discovered genres of comedy and tragedy Built first theaters Remember! Theater = space, Theatre = art form Solo male speaker Wore masks to discern different characters Chorus Many speakers moving in unison Stood in orchestra

Ancient Rome Followed Greek theatre Discovered mime Pantomime followed Acting without words Pantomime followed Evolved from mime, uses masks and sound effects Mime spread to Southern Europe (France) Pantomime spread to UK

Middle Ages Medieval Ages or Dark Ages Religious overpowering Theatre thought to be vulgar Became part of church services Tropes (short religious plays) created, then abandoned Moved to outside teams Cart stages = parades

Renaissance Rebirth of music and theatre Italy championed pantomime and commedia dell’arte Many famous playwrights Marlowe Shakespeare Lope de Vega Moliere

Today After Renaissance and Romantic era, many plays are reused in pop culture Broadway becomes home to over 40 major theaters Theatre elements make up many industries Film Video games Dance Television

Blocking Stages used to be slanted Now, audiences are seated at angles Stages divided into sections Upstage Downstage Left Right Center

Characters It’s important to understand characters so you can predict their actions Flat – boring, one or two traits Round – complex, many different traits (that’s you!) Stock – stereotype Static – unchanging Dynamic – changes throughout story

Dramatic Structure How we pace stories Exposition – setting + characters Rising Action – conflict Climax – most intense event Falling Action – leading to end Denouement (Resolution) - ending