History of Theater Drama Unit Mrs. Bartel The Acropolis in Athens, Greece The Theater of Dionysus

What is Drama? Drama is an art form in which a story dealing with human conflict is acted out on stage. Drama is an art form in which a story dealing with human conflict is acted out on stage. Formal theater: actors follow script Formal theater: actors follow script (school play) (school play) Informal theater: actors rely on their imaginations Informal theater: actors rely on their imaginations (mimes) (mimes)

Greek Theater Began as a religious celebration associated with the worship of Dionysus, god of wine Began as a religious celebration associated with the worship of Dionysus, god of wine Festivals lasted 5-6 days Festivals lasted 5-6 days 534 B.C.-Thespis won first contest 534 B.C.-Thespis won first contest Word “thespian” comes from his name, meaning “actor.” Word “thespian” comes from his name, meaning “actor.” Presented in an amphitheater setting Presented in an amphitheater setting

Reove frae Reove frae

Greek amphitheater at Ephesus

Principles of Greek Drama Catharsis: release of emotions in the audience Catharsis: release of emotions in the audience Main character: noble birth Main character: noble birth Main character: suffers fall from grace Main character: suffers fall from grace Written in poetic language Written in poetic language Shakespeare follows all these principles. Shakespeare follows all these principles.

Roman Theater 200 B.C. Rome overtook Athens as the cultural center for drama 200 B.C. Rome overtook Athens as the cultural center for drama Imitated Greek dramas-so considered inferior Imitated Greek dramas-so considered inferior Major contribution: modern elevated stage Major contribution: modern elevated stage

Middle Ages Formal theater disappeared for ages Formal theater disappeared for ages 10 th century-church took over 10 th century-church took over Presentations dealt with biblical events and parables (A simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson) Presentations dealt with biblical events and parables (A simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson) Continued until 16 th century Continued until 16 th century Pageant wagons used (movable stages to act out biblical stories) Pageant wagons used (movable stages to act out biblical stories)

Middle Ages Miracle plays: dramatized events from the bible Miracle plays: dramatized events from the bible Mystery plays: presented events from the saints’ lives Mystery plays: presented events from the saints’ lives Morality plays: presented allegorical stories in which characters personified religious or moral abstractions (Seven Deadly Sins) saved by Mercy, Justice, Temperance, and Truth Morality plays: presented allegorical stories in which characters personified religious or moral abstractions (Seven Deadly Sins) saved by Mercy, Justice, Temperance, and TruthSeven Deadly SinsSeven Deadly Sins

Gluttony

Mystery/Miracle Mystery/Miracle

Renaissance Theater “rebirth”-renewed interest in Greek and Roman tragedies “rebirth”-renewed interest in Greek and Roman tragedies Original comedies, tragedies, and pastoral plays were created and performed Original comedies, tragedies, and pastoral plays were created and performed Commedia dell’ arte-popular comedy in which professional actors improvised Commedia dell’ arte-popular comedy in which professional actors improvised Shakespeare-YEA!-Scavenger Hunt Shakespeare-YEA!-Scavenger Hunt

Renaissance Theater Three important developments Secular themes (nonreligious) Secular themes (nonreligious) Rise of professionalism in acting and play writing Rise of professionalism in acting and play writing Plays preformed in English rather than Latin Plays preformed in English rather than Latin

French Theater-Renaissance Moliere ( ) Moliere ( ) Considered comic genius Considered comic genius Plays ridiculed people, ideas, medicine, forced marriage Plays ridiculed people, ideas, medicine, forced marriage Raised status of comedy to level of tragedy Raised status of comedy to level of tragedy Quote: “The duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them.” Quote: “The duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them.”

Restoration Theater Restoration of Royal family of Stuart to throne ( ) Restoration of Royal family of Stuart to throne ( ) Comedy of manners-satirizes social customs. Comedy of manners-satirizes social customs. Women were allowed to act for the first time in England! Women were allowed to act for the first time in England!

Nineteenth Century Theater Romanticism-the belief that humans should be guided by feelings and emotions Romanticism-the belief that humans should be guided by feelings and emotions Freed artist from rules, lots of special effects Freed artist from rules, lots of special effects Experimentation in theater! Experimentation in theater! operas operas

Romanticism Three Main Types of American Romantic Dramas Three Main Types of American Romantic Dramas 1. Quasi-historical characters interacting in a scenically romantic distant locale (affection, sorrow, and romantic longing) 2. Plays dealing with historical figures 3. Sinister gothic performances of mysterious and supernatural adventures (horrify and amaze) 4. modern horror novels and women's romance novels are both descendants of the Gothic romance

Romanticism Common Themes Common Themes Libertarianism: free from convention and tyranny, the Democratic spirit Libertarianism: free from convention and tyranny, the Democratic spirit Nature: unspoiled scenery Nature: unspoiled scenery Lure of the Exotic: picturesque, romanticized view of the past, mystery, superstition Lure of the Exotic: picturesque, romanticized view of the past, mystery, superstition The Supernatural: folktales, connection of identity of self The Supernatural: folktales, connection of identity of self

Nineteenth Century Theater Late 19 th century, modern drama was born Late 19 th century, modern drama was born Henrick Ibsen (Norway) Henrick Ibsen (Norway) August Strindberg (Sweden) August Strindberg (Sweden) Anton Chekhov (Russia) Anton Chekhov (Russia) John Galsworthy (Great Britain) John Galsworthy (Great Britain) Bernard Shaw (Great Britain) Bernard Shaw (Great Britain) Realism-portray people and situations as they really are in everyday life Realism-portray people and situations as they really are in everyday life

Contemporary Theater Experimented with many styles (not one style exists today) Experimented with many styles (not one style exists today) Theater of the absurd-life viewed as meaningless and people’s strivings as absurd, since they cannot do anything to improve the human lot Theater of the absurd-life viewed as meaningless and people’s strivings as absurd, since they cannot do anything to improve the human lot

Theater of the Absurd Samuel Beckett-Waiting for Godot (1953) Samuel Beckett-Waiting for Godot (1953)

Two types of Drama Comedy-happy ending, exaggerated or eccentric behavior, goal to entertain, to make people laugh, or to be scornful Comedy-happy ending, exaggerated or eccentric behavior, goal to entertain, to make people laugh, or to be scornful Tragedy-sad or disastrous ending, serious story Tragedy-sad or disastrous ending, serious story