Modern/ Contemporary Theater

Modern Theater 20 th century theater takes all forms previously accepted drama and experiments with them to create new drama 20 th century theater takes all forms previously accepted drama and experiments with them to create new drama Modern Drama genres: Modern Drama genres: “Serious” plays “Serious” plays Musical theater Musical theater Opera Opera Comedies Comedies Others Others Experimentation key word to all Modern Arts Experimentation key word to all Modern Arts

Modern Drama Two American cities central to Drama: Two American cities central to Drama: 1. New York 1. Vaudeville 2. Broadway 2. Los Angeles 1. Hollywood Two key 20 th century playwrights: Two key 20 th century playwrights: 1. Tennessee Williams 2. Arthur Miller

Vaudeville Series of separate, unrelated acts, often including, but not limited to: Series of separate, unrelated acts, often including, but not limited to: Poetry recitation Poetry recitation Dramatic scenes/ Monologues Dramatic scenes/ Monologues Songs Songs Dancers Dancers Comedians Comedians Trained animals Trained animals Magicians Magicians Developed from saloons, bars, concert halls, freak shows, and other public entertainments Developed from saloons, bars, concert halls, freak shows, and other public entertainments

Vaudeville Performers would re-create same act day after day, year after year Performers would re-create same act day after day, year after year Allowed for security of professional actors, but little real money Allowed for security of professional actors, but little real money Perfecting the craft Perfecting the craft Popularity waned, so acts went with “big money” of Hollywood Popularity waned, so acts went with “big money” of Hollywood Made good money for a short time, but left with little to nothing Made good money for a short time, but left with little to nothing No royalties No royalties

Vaudeville stars who “made it big” Charlie Chaplin Charlie Chaplin English Vaudeville “star” English Vaudeville “star” The Tramp The Tramp The Little Dictator The Little Dictator W. C. Fields W. C. Fields “All things considered, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.” “All things considered, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.” “Never work with dogs or children.” “Never work with dogs or children.” Buster Keaton Buster Keaton Old Stone Face Old Stone Face The General The General the Marx Brothers the Marx Brothers Groucho, Harpo, and Zeppo Groucho, Harpo, and Zeppo Duck Soup Duck Soup “Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” “Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” I shot an elephant in my pajamas. What he was doing in my pajamas I’ll never know.” I shot an elephant in my pajamas. What he was doing in my pajamas I’ll never know.”

Vaudeville stars who “made it big” Jack Benny Jack Benny Cheapskate stereotype Cheapskate stereotype Most popular radio/ television show of early media Most popular radio/ television show of early media The Three Stooges The Three Stooges Moe, Larry, and Curly Moe, Larry, and Curly Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck Abbott and Costello Abbott and Costello Who’s on First routine Who’s on First routine Bob Hope Bob Hope Variety shows Variety shows Road movies (with Bing Crosby) Road movies (with Bing Crosby) Thanks for the Memories Thanks for the Memories Judy Garland Judy Garland Wizard of Oz Wizard of Oz Meet me n St. Louis, Louis Meet me n St. Louis, Louis

Vaudeville After invention of radio and popularity of Broadway, Vaudeville became a kind of minor league for Broadway/ Hollywood After invention of radio and popularity of Broadway, Vaudeville became a kind of minor league for Broadway/ Hollywood Many stars moved either to larger venues/ movies/ radio, retired, or went to the “Borscht Belt” Many stars moved either to larger venues/ movies/ radio, retired, or went to the “Borscht Belt”

Effects of Vaudeville Screwball comedies Screwball comedies Stuck on You (Greg Kinnear, Matt Damon) Stuck on You (Greg Kinnear, Matt Damon) There’s Something About Mary (Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz) There’s Something About Mary (Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz) Variety shows Variety shows Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live Late Night with Conan O’Brien Late Night with Conan O’Brien Slapstick Slapstick Liar, Liar (Jim Carrey) Liar, Liar (Jim Carrey) Improvisation comedy Improvisation comedy Who’s Line Is it Anyway? Who’s Line Is it Anyway?

Broadway Most prestigious form of professional theatre in the U.S., as well as the most well known to the general public and most lucrative for the performers, technicians and others involved in putting on the shows Most prestigious form of professional theatre in the U.S., as well as the most well known to the general public and most lucrative for the performers, technicians and others involved in putting on the shows

Broadway Most Broadway shows are commercial productions intended to make a profit for the producers and investors ("backers"), and therefore meant to have open-ended runs, meaning that they may be presented for a varying number of weeks depending on critical response, word of mouth, and the effectiveness of the show's advertising, all of which determine ticket sales Most Broadway shows are commercial productions intended to make a profit for the producers and investors ("backers"), and therefore meant to have open-ended runs, meaning that they may be presented for a varying number of weeks depending on critical response, word of mouth, and the effectiveness of the show's advertising, all of which determine ticket sales

Two genres of plays: Two genres of plays: Musical theater Musical theater “straights” “straights”

“Straights” Serious Drama Serious Drama Tennessee Williams Tennessee Williams Streetcar Named Desire Streetcar Named Desire The Glass Menagerie The Glass Menagerie Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Arthur Miller Arthur Miller The Crucible The Crucible Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman

Tennessee Williams Williams won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for “A Streetcar Named Desire” and for “Cat on a hot tin roof”. Williams won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for “A Streetcar Named Desire” and for “Cat on a hot tin roof”.

Streetcar Named Desire Leading characters/actors: Blanche DuBois (JessicaTandy), Stanley Kowalski (Marlon Brando) Leading characters/actors: Blanche DuBois (JessicaTandy), Stanley Kowalski (Marlon Brando) Marlon Brando is one of the most important and famous actors of Modern Theater. Marlon Brando is one of the most important and famous actors of Modern Theater. Career lasted almost 50 years Career lasted almost 50 years Famous for works like A Streetcar Named Desire, The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and On The Waterfront. Famous for works like A Streetcar Named Desire, The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and On The Waterfront.

Streetcar Named Desire The Plot follows with Blanche DuBois, who has deep family money, arriving at her sister’s house. The Plot follows with Blanche DuBois, who has deep family money, arriving at her sister’s house. Stella, Blanche’s sister, is married to Stanley Kowalski and is carrying his child. Stella, Blanche’s sister, is married to Stanley Kowalski and is carrying his child. Stanley who is physically and emotionally abusive towards Stella turns toward Blanche. Stanley who is physically and emotionally abusive towards Stella turns toward Blanche. In the end Blanche has a nervous breakdown from Stanley rapping her. In the end Blanche has a nervous breakdown from Stanley rapping her.

Death of a Salesman The most important part of the play was the theme of the “American Dream” The most important part of the play was the theme of the “American Dream” Protagonist Willy Loman, who is over the age of 60, puts much of his time into saying how well his natural charm is and his uncanny ability to make friends has made him popular over the years. Protagonist Willy Loman, who is over the age of 60, puts much of his time into saying how well his natural charm is and his uncanny ability to make friends has made him popular over the years. Will’s life slowly spins out of control, and you notice this early through his impaired ability to drive. He soon loses his job (which did not make ends meet as it was). And now is supported on getting loans from his neighbor. Will’s life slowly spins out of control, and you notice this early through his impaired ability to drive. He soon loses his job (which did not make ends meet as it was). And now is supported on getting loans from his neighbor.