1. Development of Scenic Design From the Renaissance to contemporary times, devoted theater technicians and designers have striven to improve scenery and light design in an effort to more intensely convey meanings through visual sensations

2. Greek Theaters  Theater of Dionysus - where theater began. Open air theater.

3. Greek Theaters  Over many centuries during the Greek era, the structure of theater was seeing a change. During Sophocles’ time, the stage may have looked something like this, with actual painted backdrops.

4. Greek Theaters  During the Theater of Dionysus, temporary wooden skene were built

5. Greek Theaters  The theater was further excavated to make a more secure foundation for the wooden seats

6. Greek Theaters  The theater was broken up into 10 different wedges, or sections, allowing one section to be females only

7. Greek Theaters  The Odeion was built adjacent to the Theater of Dionysus. The Odeion, or Music Hall, was built soon after Pericles had got rid of his opponent Thucydides (BC442) and was able to indulge more freely his wish to spend public money on splendid structures.

8. Greek Theaters  Using existing archeology, one could suggest that the roof would have been supported with a forest of columns resulting in a sight-line disaster for at least 40% of the audience

9. Greek Theaters  Not until the 4th century BC was the Theater of Dionysus rebuilt with stone under the statesman Lycurgus (Ligurgis)

10. Alexander the Great  By the time Alexander the Great took over the reign of all city states, plays were no longer performed exclusively at Theater of Dionysian festivals

11. Hellenistic Theaters

13.  All of these so-called Hellenistic theaters were not built in the classical style of the Dionysian theater of Athens

14. Alexander the Great

15. Hellenistic Theaters  The most important renovation of Hellenistic theater was the addition of the raised stage (Lo-hi-in)

16. Hellenistic Theaters  It’s not sure how this heightened space was used as an acting space

17. Hellenistic Theaters

18. Roman Theaters  And then the Romans came…

19. Roman Theaters  For the third time, the Dionysus theater was fundamentally renovated by Roman emperor Nero is 61 AD

20. Roman Theaters  Striking differences from the Hellenistic style was the lowered stage with an enlarged surface…

21. Roman Theaters  …and a heightened Skene

22. Roman Theaters  The stage was protected by a stone barricade in order to protect the spectators

23. Roman Theaters  It was built in 75 BC by colonist because they were out of direct reach of the Roman senate, who were opposed to theaters. Theater was deemed a threat to Roman morality.

24. Roman Theaters  The architecture of Pompey was copied for nearly all future Roman theaters and amphitheaters

25. Roman Theaters  A huge piece of fabric was stretched over the hole of the auditorium to cover spectators from the sun and rain

26. Roman Theaters  This first Roman theater was also for centuries the greatest theater in Europe with a seating capacity of 28,000 spectators

27. Roman Theaters  This lead to a rivalry between military members of Rome. Theaters were now the “in” thing to build…

33. Medieval  After the Roman era, no permanent theaters were built…

34. Medieval  …but, the show must go on, right? Pageant Wagons were used for traveling shows performed by guilds. Pageant wagons were wheeled vehicles used in the processional staging of medieval vernacular cycle plays.

35. Medieval

36. Renaissance Theaters  Mathematical perspective, which was just discovered in those days, was applied in the scenery in order to enlarge the theatrical illusion.

37. Renaissance Theaters  How to create this false perspective and depth?

38. Renaissance Theaters

39.  The perspective was constructed from the seat of the monarch

40. Renaissance Theaters  The oldest and still remaining building after the Roman era is the Teatro Olimpico, built by

41. Renaissance Theaters

42.  It is miniature Roman theater, brought indoors. Behind the three gates, a permanent false perspective is erected. The rising and narrowing streets create depth. Of course, in these perspective streets, acting is impossible.

44. Renaissance Theaters  Before the discovery of gas light, the auditorium and scenery was illuminated by torches and hundreds of oil lamps.

45. Renaissance Theaters

46.  Consequently, many theaters were destroyed by fire.

47. Restoration, 18th, 19th, and 20th Century Theaters  Started to look like what we think of when we see contemporary plays…