1. History of Theatre The High Points

2. First Known Play 3100 BC Memphis, Egypt Presented in honor of dead kings

3. Pyramid Plays Dealt with death, dismemberment, and reassembling by Osiris

4. Ancient Greeks 6 th century BC: festivals honoring Dionysus, god of fertility, started doing plays Tragedies

5. Performed in large outdoor amphitheatre

6. Theatres Festival of Athens turned into a drama competition Outdoors

7. Compensated for Distance with 1. Padded Clothing 2. Big masks with built in megaphones 3. Platform shoes

8. Thespis First actor Invented dialogue Actors today are called “thespians”

9. Major Playwrights Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.) Sophocles (496-c. 406 B.C.) Euripides (c. 485-406 B.C.) Aristophanes (c. 448-385 B.C.)

10. Aeschylus “Father of Tragedy” Added 2 nd actor Oresteia (trilogy)

11. Sophocles Greatest Greek playwright Added 3 rd actor Oedipus Rex Antigone

12. Euripides More concerned with human interest than religious views Medea

13. Aristophanes Started Greek comedy Mocked leaders and gods Lysistrata

14. Roman Theatre Two major influences on Roman theatre: 1. Greek Drama 2. Etruscan influences – emphasized circus-like elements

15. Characteristics of Roman Theatre Short improvised farces Stock characters Similar costumes and masks Based on domestic life or mythology

16. Roman Theatre May have influenced commedia dell ‘Arte

17. Commedia dell’arte Gypsies went around countryside on wagons Would perform stereotyped characters

18. Medieval Theatre 500-1450 A.D.

19. Medieval Theatre After the fall of Rome the 600’s A.D., came a period known to us as the "dark ages." Much political turmoil – no reliable political structure

20. Church Opposition 1. Association with pagan gods 2. Licentiousness (decadence) 3. Ridicule of church by mimes (sacrament and baptism)

21. The Church Only stable "government" Exerted increasing influence. Ended theatre because it was so vulgar Persecuted performers (508 A.D.)

22. Church started theatre again 925 and 975 Drama re-introduced into the church services

23. Church started theatre again Explained Bible stories At first, the church had control of the drama, but then it gradually became more controlled by secular groups.

24. The Guilds (tradesmen or Confraternities) took over in some cities based in some way on the Bible or religious teachings. Did plays on wagons (like floats) that went through

25. Guilds the Bakers’ Guild would control the play about the Last Supper Shipwrights’ Guild would get plays about Noah

26. Two Types of Plays Popular Mystery or Miracle Plays (Bible stories) Morality plays (secular, characters represented human or moral attributes) Everyman

27. Commedia del Arte “Comedy of Artists” (professionals) Popular from 14 th to 16 th century Type of improvisational theatre Stock characters Pantomime

28. Elizabethan Theatre Theatre had a bad reputation City Leaders in London (Puritans) didn’t allow plays within the city limits

29. Elizabethan England Queen Elizabeth liked plays Before 1576, no formal theatre buildings

30. Public Theatre Buildings The Theatre (1576) built by James Burbage (built outside city) Other famous theatres: The Rose, Swan, Hope Most Famous: Globe Theatre (1599-1644)

31. Private Theatres Blackfriars 1576 Indoor performances Lit by Candlelight Small Wealthier audience

32. Shakespeare’s Theatre Shakespeare’s Theatre Men played women Worked in a troupe Shakespeare: actor, writer, director, producer

33. Famous Elizabethan Playwrights William Shakespeare Ben Jonson Christopher Marlowe

34. Masques Extravagant productions for royalty James I

35. Masques Spectacular productions, scenery, costume Purpose was to honor the nobles by comparing them to mythical characters

36. Puritan England Banned plays for 18 years (until 1660) Closed theatres because of religion (moral reasons) Plague may have been a reason

37. Two types of theatres Public theatre (like Elizabethan England) New Proscenium stage (like in Italy for operas): elaborate scenery Proscenium stage created a new job: Stagehand

38. French Neoclassical Theatre 17 th Century Built inside other existing buildings Audience usually sat in balconies Actresses wouldn’t play anyone ugly or old

39. Comedie-Francaise French Academy 1673 Neoclassic plays (revival of the ancient classics) French comedy at its best Italian opera very popular

40. English Restoration Didn’t want to be outdone by the French Started theatre again: 1660 Comedy of Manners (Set among wealthy and sophisticated.)

41. English Restoration Theatre Plays were more explicit comedies Women started acting

42. Famous English Restoration Performers Nell Gwyn (first actress) Elizabeth Barry Thomas Betterton

43. 3 types of Musical Theatre Opera Operetta Musicals

44. Musical Theatre Opera (Classical, usually foreign language) Operetta: 1728 (Easier to understand, more modern, popular music) (Musical theatre didn’t start until after WWI in America)