Theatre 1 Final Review

Parts of the Stage

The area in which acting/the performance takes place Stage The area in which acting/the performance takes place

STAGE

Proscenium Arch An arch framing the opening between the stage and the auditorium in some theaters

Proscenium Arch STAGE

Grand Drape The curtain that separates the house from the stage, often falls along the proscenium arch

Proscenium Arch Grand Drape STAGE

Apron Any part of the stage that extends past the proscenium arch and into the audience or seating area.

Proscenium Arch Grand Drape STAGE Apron

Wing Area off stage on either side of the performing area where actors and tech crew stay during the performance

Proscenium Arch Grand Drape STAGE Wing Apron

Leg A curtain or set piece that goes off into the wings that hide actors and crew from the audience

Proscenium Arch Leg Grand Drape STAGE Wing Apron

Electric A bar that is used to hang theatrical lights and has plugs for the lights

Electric Proscenium Arch Leg Grand Drape STAGE Wing Apron

Proscenium The traditional stage setting where the performance space is on a raised level directly in front of the audience. The audience is only on one side.

Thrust A stage setting where the audience is on 3 of 4 sides of the performance space.

Arena (theatre in the round) Stage in which actors perform the center point of an audience that is encircling them.

What is a “flexible” stage?

Given Circumstances Any piece of information, either written in the script or decided by the director and/or actor, about a character. Age Where they are from Family life Race Religion Wealth

Objective A character’s goal; what he or she wants. Wants out of life. Wants from a person. Want out of a situation.

Motivation A character’s reason for doing what they do. Why they say what they say. Why they move like they move. Why they dress like they dress. Influenced by their given circumstances.

Tactics The methods that a character uses to meet their objective. How the character interacts with others to get what they want. Can best be understood as an action; to persuade, to guilt, to intimidate, to irritate…

tactics

Blocking Notation Symbols

Pantomime

Accuracy makes the presentation believable and precise communicate your reactions – physical and emotional – to characters, events, objects and environments

Consistency all the items should remain the same size, shape, weight and in the same place

with your face, gestures and movements Exaggeration with your face, gestures and movements This is ok. This is better!

The strength of speaking where the voice is used loudly and clearly Projection The strength of speaking where the voice is used loudly and clearly

Diction The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing or the style of enunciation in speaking or singing

Rate A measure, quantity, or frequency, typically one measured against some other quantity or measure

The overall quality of a musical or vocal sound Tone The overall quality of a musical or vocal sound

Pitch The quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone

Vocal Variety Changes in a speaker's rate, pitch, and volume that give the voice variety and expressiveness.

Musical Theatre

Choreographer : The person in charge of creating and teaching all the dance steps in a musical.

Jukebox Musical: A musical containing musing that existed before the show was written/put together.

The Book: The script for the show. It includes the dialogue and lyrics to the songs (but not sheet music).

Musical Director: The person in charge of teaching the actors how to sing all the songs in the show.

Original Musical: The music in the show is original to the musical; it was written for the show

Vocal Score: All the sheet music (the actual words and notes the actors sing) in the show.

Director: The person who oversees all the different elements of a musical and makes sure they work together.

Contains the dialogue and score for a musical. Libretto: Contains the dialogue and score for a musical.

Ancient Greek Theatre

The Basics Dates: 1000 BC (the first Olympic Games) – 400 BC People: Greeks! Why: To pay tribute to the God Dionysus – the God of wine, drama and fertility.

Great Dionysia Festival Held in Athens Three tragic poets presented three tragedies plus one satyr play (the comic relief). Festival lasted several days Prizes given for best tragedy, comedy, acting, and choral singing

The Theater Business would shut down for days, people would travel from all around to see the drama competitions—even prisoners were temporarily released to see the plays

Play Structure Early Theatre: Chorus of performers sang/ recited the story with music and dance Video Example of a Greek Chorus

THEN, Enter Thespis The 1st actor – Thespis – was the first performer to break away from the chorus to perform a specific part The "inventor of tragedy" was the first prize winner at the Great Dionysia in 534 BC. “Thespian” term comes from his name

THEN, The 1st playwright – Aeschylus – was the first to write a 2 person dialogue.

Eventually, The protagonist took the role of the most important character in the play while the other 2 actors played the lesser roles. Since most plays have more than 2 or 3 characters, all 3 actors played multiple roles. The chorus remained in the orchestra throughout the play and sang and danced choral songs between the episodes.

Acting Style No violence on stage. You had to go off stage to die! Wore masks. Gestures were HUGE. Movements were HUGE and purposeful. Projection was MEGA important! Why do you think this was the case??

Aeschylus (525 B.C. – 456 B.C.) Wrote approximately 92 plays, only a few survived His plays are a primary source for Greek history Introduced concept of second actor Expanded possibilities for plot Considered the first playwright

Sophocles (496 B.C. – 406 B.C.) Most famous and successful Greek playwright Wrote more than 120 plays, only 7 survived Most award-winning playwright for 50 years (out of 30 competitions entered he won 24 and was never below 2nd place) Wrote Oedipus Rex

Euripides (480 B.C. – 406 B.C.) Wrote strong female characters, intelligent slaves, and poked fun at Greek heroes Wrote over 95 plays, 18 survived

Aristophanes (448 B.C. – 380 B.C.) Wrote approximately 45 plays, 11 survived He wrote comedies! Known as the “Father of Comedy”

The Stage Three Main Portions of Greek Theatre: Skene – Portion of stage where actors performed (included 1-3 doors in and out) Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience Theatron – Seating for audience