20 TH CENTURY THEATRE THEATRE HISTORY

THE NEW CENTURY Absurdism: states that the efforts of humanity to find inherent meaning in the universe will ultimately fail (and hence are absurd), because no such meaning exists, at least in relation to the individual. Epic Theatre -wanted to break the idea of theatrical illusion- Impressionism- reminds the audience that human dramas are but brief episodes on a vast stage which will survive us all. Regional Theatre-not just Broadway, encourages new talent; famous regional theatre=Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis

STAGE TECHNOLOGY Revolutionized Theatre design Adolph Appia- Switzerland Gordon Craig- English -used color and line to create mood -used revolving stages -used projected scenery -amazing light effects

E UROPEAN T HEATRE Germany: - Bertholt Brecht : - epic theatre -wanted audiences to think more critically -promoted social reform in plays -addressed poverty, war, and social struggle -wanted to break the idea of theatrical illusion- 1. inserted narration and songs between scenes 2. made no effort to hide lighting from audience and used sparse props and set 3. alienate audience-actors should not become the character completely 4. influenced by Asian theatre Famous Plays: The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Mother Courage

E UROPEAN T HEATRE France- Jean Giraudoux Madwoman of Chaillot- theatre of absurd - groups of poor people of the streets with a self- appointed queen of the beggars Post- WWII: Absurdist movement grows among playwrights - group known as “angry young men” Avante-garde theatre: ALL LIFE IS MEANINGLESS became their theme Actors speak and act with no regard for rules of theatre

E UROPEAN T HEATRE Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco theatre of the absurd -loneliness and isolation; alienation -rejected traditional plots and characters -comic plays about the meaninglessness of life -life ruled by chance Plays : Rhinoceros; The Chairs; Waiting for Godot

A MERICAN T HEATRE Major influence: Professor George Baker; Harvard: Students: Eugene O'Neill (1888 –1953) was an American playwright, and Nobel laureate in Literature. His plays are among the first to introduce into American drama the techniques of realism. Dealt with psychological issues. Plays- Morning Becomes Electra; Long Days Journey Into Night Lillian Hellman: Plays- The Little Foxes; The Children’s Hour Stanley McCandless ( ) is considered to be the father of modern lighting design. He paved the way for future lighting designers by playing a role in all aspects of theatrical lighting. Thomas Clayton Wolfe (1900 –1938) was a major American novelist and playwright of the early 20th century. Plays: Look Homeward Angel

A MERICAN T HEATRE GREAT PLAYWRIGHTS: Thorton Wilder Tennessee Williams Arthur Miller Neil Simon Lorraine Hansberry

T HORTON W ILDER OUR TOWN -American life in a small town in the early 20 th Century -minimal set - the eternal patterns of human existence; life and death

T ENNESSEE W ILLIAMS The Glass Menagerie; A Streetcar Named Desire - Southern settings and characters -neurotic characters -universal truths about people

A RTHUR M ILLER The Crucible; Death of a Salesman; All My Sons - the dilemma of American families - the tragedies of common people - how society affects the individual

N EIL S IMON The Odd Couple; The Last of the Red Hot Lovers; Brighton Beach Memoirs - comic genius combined with realism and serious themes

L ORRAINE H ANSBERRY A Raisin in the Sun- The story is based upon a black family's experiences in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood. A Raisin in the Sun was the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, as well as the first play with a black director (Lloyd Richards) on Broadway

T HEATRE TODAY Theatre continues to grow across the country. Theatre continues to change and experiment. Theatre continues to revisit former styles and eras of theatre from Ancient Greece to more recent styles. Theatre will always be a reflection of the human experience.