1. An introduction to the beginnings of theater.
Ancient Greek Theater

2. Aristotle’s 6 Elements of Theater
(In this order:)
1. Plot- The arrangement of events on stage
2. Character- The agents of the plot
3. Theme- The reason the playwright wrote the play
4. Language- Dramatic language is both dramatic and narrative
5. Rhythm- Every aspect has a rhythm and together they create the mood of the play
6. Spectacle- Everything seen or heard on stage
1. The plot is composed of “clearly defined problems for characters to solve.” Plot is to be differentiated from Story which is a chronological detailing of events that happened on and off stage. Events happening off stage are introduced through exposition (narrative dialogue). The playwright must create a plot that is both credible and astonishing.
2.Characters provide the motivations (reasons) for the events of the plot. “Vivid characters” face and overcome “obstacles that we can recognize.” They provide the vehicle for conflict.
3.The reason the playwright wrote the play. The examination of “patterns of life” can be didactic or just a slice of life.
4.“Vivid characters” facing and overcoming recognizable obstacles need to express themselves in “heightened language.” Dramatic dialogue consists of two parts: narrative and dramatic.
5.The heart of the play. Plot, character, language, and spectacle all have their individual rhythms in time.The combination of all these rhythms create the impelling force of the play leading to a final climax and Denouement. Rhythm creates mood.
6. Everything that is seen or heard on stage. Actors, sets, costumes, lights and sound. NOTE: All plays have spectacle—some emphasize spectacle more than others.

3. Grecian Theater 550 BC-220 BC Athens was the center of the action
Every year there was a festival called Dionysia (like an Aquatennial or Town & Country Days) where they honored the god, Dionysus (god of harvest & wine)
Greeks used to perform plays at festivals to honor their gods

4. Where did they perform?
Amphitheaters were built so that the shows could be seen by the masses as well as accommodate a large cast on stage.
12+ actors
14,000+ viewers
They used the uneven landscape as a resource to set these huge arenas.
Eventually, a wall or backdrop was added to the set as the theater productions grew.

8. What about the acting?
Dudes only. Women did not act. Typically they were not in the audience either.
Three genres: Tragedy, Comedy, & Satyr (Tragicomedy)
The festivals were also competitions.
There was typically a “chorus” of about actors. (They didn’t really sing)
They would also wear masks as a way to exaggerate their faces to the crowds and to appear as one person

9. A little more about the acting
Actors would wear metal on the bottom of their shoes to create a louder sound from their dance steps (thus is born, the first tap shoe)
The lead roles went to high society members.
People would go all out on their acting.
If the character gets stabbed--the actor actually gets stabbed.
Or dies. (They would use prisoners for actors)

10. Who writes the plays?
4 dudes to know: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes

11. Aeschylus Father of Tragedy Most famous play The Persians
It’s about how the Persians won a battle and killed all but one dude.
And The Suppliants
These like 50 sisters have to marry their cousins.
They flee and ask a king for help. He does.
The cousins come & he shoos them away.

12. Sophocles Wrote over 123 plays...only 7 survived Oedipus Trilogy
Kills his dad. He marries his mom. They have kids. She realizes he is her son. Kills herself. He pokes his eyes out. He’s exiled.
Antigone
She wants to bury her brothers.
Her fiance dies.

13. Euripides Wrote about 92 plays, about 18 survived Hippolytus
He won’t do it with his step mom.
She kills herself and leaves a note saying that He raped her. His dad reads it. Hipp. gets exiled and then the truth comes out but he’s half dead. He dies.

14. Aristophanes He came in after the other three had died The Frogs
Basically Dante’s Inferno. Dionysus goes down into hell to bring Euripides back from the dead
Lysistrata
Women won’t do it with their husbands because the men make all the decisions and then go to war. The women won the battle

15. References