1. THEATRE HISTORY GREEK – MIDDLE AGE

2. What do you do when you want to tell someone something exciting? Facial Expressions Facial Expressions Body Language Body Language

3. Dramatic Tradition began over 3,000 years ago with primitive people. “acted out” things they thought were important

4. QUICK FACTS DRAMA= “TO ACT” or “TO DO” DRAMA= “TO ACT” or “TO DO” THEATRE= “A PLACE OF SEEING” = THEATRE THEATRE= “A PLACE OF SEEING” = THEATRE THESPIAN =THESPIS (Rebel) THESPIAN =THESPIS (Rebel) THEATRE ARTS= ALL parts of training or instruction in the field THEATRE ARTS= ALL parts of training or instruction in the field

5. KNOWN TODAY RITUALS RITUALS SHAMAN (priest) SHAMAN (priest) SYMBOLIC CLOTHING SYMBOLIC CLOTHING CAMPFIRE CAMPFIRE SET ORDER of EVENTS SET ORDER of EVENTS PLAYS PLAYS ACTOR ACTOR COSTUMES COSTUMES STAGE STAGE PLOT of EVENTS PLOT of EVENTS

6. PRIMITIVE PEOPLE Believed that acting out something would make it happen. Their actions repeated over and over until a pattern or RITUAL was developed. RITUALS possibly grew out of dances they developed after observing animals.

7. STORYTELLER STORYTELLING came from hunters reenacting the “kill” for tribe members not STORYTELLING came from hunters reenacting the “kill” for tribe members not present during the hunt. present during the hunt.

8. GREEK THEATRE Religious Festivals honoring the God Dionysius Religious Festivals honoring the God Dionysius Dionysius = Wine & Fertility Dionysius = Wine & Fertility Bless the people Bless the people Many children Many children Rich land Rich land Abundant crops Abundant crops

9. DRAMATIC CONTEST – 534 B.C. DRAMA came first DRAMA came first COMEDY came later COMEDY came later THESPIS was first winner THESPIS was first winner

10. FAMOUS WINNERS AESYCHYLUS AESYCHYLUS EURIPEDES EURIPEDES SOPHOCLES SOPHOCLES ARISTOPHANES ARISTOPHANES = DRAMA = COMEDY

11. Only 40 some plays remain today Oedipus the King – Sophocles Oedipus the King – Sophocles Considered one of finest dramas Considered one of finest dramas Lysistrata – Aristophanes Lysistrata – Aristophanes Best known Greek comedy Best known Greek comedy

12. ATHENS Greek Theatre was built Greek Theatre was built 14,000-17,000 people possibly attended each production 14,000-17,000 people possibly attended each production Theatre built on hillside so audience could see Theatre built on hillside so audience could see

13. ORCHESTRA Performances took place on ground level of the circular floor. Performances took place on ground level of the circular floor.

14. NO electricity or sound Plays began early in the morning and lasted until sunset. Plays began early in the morning and lasted until sunset.

15. MASKS People wore lightweight masks People wore lightweight masks Change characters quickly Change characters quickly Female roles became more believable Female roles became more believable ALL men ALL men

16. CHORUS Men Men Boys Boys No women No women Singing and Dancing Singing and Dancing

17. Greeks Originated: Theatre Theatre Drama Drama Tragedy Tragedy Comedy Comedy

18. ROMAN THEATRE 146 B.C. Rome conquered Greece 146 B.C. Rome conquered Greece Roman people were wealthy and had much free time and loved entertainment. Roman people were wealthy and had much free time and loved entertainment. Liked short comedies = sitcoms today Liked short comedies = sitcoms today

19. ROMAN Few plays have survived Few plays have survived Most based on plots of Greek plays Most based on plots of Greek plays Seneca (5 B.C.- 64 A.D.) had 9 plays survive Seneca (5 B.C.- 64 A.D.) had 9 plays survive BEST KNOWN: BEST KNOWN: The Trojan Women, Medea, Oedipus, Agamemnon = based on Greek plays The Trojan Women, Medea, Oedipus, Agamemnon = based on Greek plays

20. ROMAN COMEDY Comedies were much more popular than tragedies. Comedies were much more popular than tragedies. Scripts that have survived are either by Titus Plautus (254 B.C.–184 B.C.) or Publius Terentius (190 B.C.–184 B.C.) a.k.a. known today as Terence. Scripts that have survived are either by Titus Plautus (254 B.C.–184 B.C.) or Publius Terentius (190 B.C.–184 B.C.) a.k.a. known today as Terence.

21. ROMANS Romans DID not limit the number of actors on stage like the Greeks. Romans DID not limit the number of actors on stage like the Greeks. Stage setting is always the same street, regardless of play being produced. Stage setting is always the same street, regardless of play being produced. Backdrop – permanent stone structure known as Scaenae frons. Backdrop – permanent stone structure known as Scaenae frons.

22. Scanae Frons Represented front of many houses in which there were doorways. Doorways = houses for main characters which served as the entrance & exits for the actors. The scanae frons served as the place or temple if a tragedy was being performed.

23. “BORROWING” The practice of “borrowing” previously written ideas and characters is seen repeated throughout history. Even today we are still using the same characters and plots that have been used for thousands of years. The practice of “borrowing” previously written ideas and characters is seen repeated throughout history. Even today we are still using the same characters and plots that have been used for thousands of years. The Roman Menaechmi was Shakespeare’s source for The Comedy of Errors, one of his most popular scripts today. The Roman Menaechmi was Shakespeare’s source for The Comedy of Errors, one of his most popular scripts today.

24. ROMANS REMEMBERED Great engineers. Great engineers. Great architects. Great architects. Theatre buildings were unified, free standing and several stories high. Theatre buildings were unified, free standing and several stories high.