Introduction To Theatre Lecture “If all the world’s a stage, then you deserve better lighting!”

Cyclorama Floor Plan

Cyclorama Blue/Green Wash

Backdrop

Raked Stage with Backdrop legs and headers

Rigging

The Grid

The Rail

Rail

Parts of the Stage

Proscenium Theatre

Thrust

Thrust Stage

Arena Stage

Arena Theatre

Four types of theatre spaces §Proscenium l audience views the action from one direction l Downey, Music Center §Arena l audience views the action from four directions l Arena Stage, Washington DC

Four types of theatre spaces cont. §Thrust l audience views the action from three direction l Mark Taper Forum §Created & Found Spaces l each audience member views the action from a unique perspective

Proscenium Theatre Space §Other terms: l picture-frame, fourth wall §Introduced in Italy during the Renaissance §90% of all theatres

Proscenium Theatre Space §Advantages l provides for spectacle l focuses audience’s attention most acutely l heightens aesthetic distance §Disadvantages l intimacy more difficult to achieve

Arena Theatre Space §Other terms: l theatre-in-the-round, circle theatre §Oldest arrangement in history

Arena Theatre Space §Advantages l offers greater intimacy l heightens audience’s sense of community l demands economy in design and production §Disadvantages l Plays requiring elaborate scenery suffer

Thrust Stage Space §Other terms: l three-quarter stage §Most widely used in history

Thrust Stage Space §Advantages l a compromise between the proscenium and arena stage some intimacy some spectacle l Western theatre written for this space §Disadvantages l a compromise between the proscenium and arena stage some intimacy some spectacle

Created and Found Spaces (Flexible Theatre) §An attempt to break down audience-actor distance. §Grew out of avant-garde experimentation. §Originated in 1927 by Gilmore Brown §Affect the audience’s experience as strongly as dialogue or staging might. §Non-theatre buildings, street theatre, multifocus environments. §Sandwich and L Shapes Staging

The Found Theatre

Acting Rules §Never Break – Always stay in character §Acting is reacting §Acting is visual and audio §Listen to you costars as if you have never heard them before. §Every movement must be motivated §Never make eye contact with the audience. §Follow the director he/she is in charge!! §Build your emotions within a scene you can only get so angry and loud!!! §Know your character’s motivations

Acting Techniques §Gesture is a hand or arm movement. l Always use your upstage hand or arm. §Enter the stage on your upstage foot §Always turn downstage §Kneel on your downstage knee §The audience will follow your eyes so stay focused in the direction you want the audience to look. §Open up for the audience – ¾ l Open – To turn towards the audience l Close – Turn away from the audience

Bad Actor – Shame!! §Upstaging §Cover §Pick up Cues – too slow!! §Over-riding §Too much back and butt! §Bad diction and projection §Slow Timing

Almost Done §Protagonist §Antagonist §Technique l Forever §Method Acting l Stanislavski Moscow Arts Theatre 1800’s

When the actor doesn’t know their lines §Missed Cues §Ad-lib §Improvisation §Timing §Over-Riding

Three Elements in Collaboration P erformer A udience T ext

Theatre and Other Art Forms 1.Focus on the human experience. 2.“Perpetual Present” l Thornton Wilder 4.“Willing suspension of disbelief” l Samuel Coleridge 5.Immediacy of theatre 6.Collaboration l between the performer and the audience l between the designers, directors, performers, technicians l Theatre is Didactic – It teaches lessons

Basic elements of theatre? §Story §Actors §Audience §Critics and Scholars §Director §Producer §Theatre Space §Designers §Technicians §Managers

Jobs in the Theatre §Director §Designers – Lights – Sound – Scenery - Choreography §Stage Manager §Technical Director §Artistic Director §House Manager §Theatre Manager §Prop Crew §Lighting Technician §Box Office Staff §Concessions Staff §Actors §Singers §Dancers §Marketing Staff - Publicity §Shop Carpenters, Electricians, Machinists §Agents Managers §Public Relations §Booking Agent §Ushers §Musicians §Conductors §Producers §Casting Directors §Accountant §Touring Manager