1. Greek Drama - Out of Ritual  Greek drama was rooted in religion not entertainment  Greek drama grew out of religious rituals honoring Dionysos God of wine and fertility  Modern public rituals would be the Olympic games, singing the national anthem before sports events graduation ceremonies, weddings, etc

2. Dionysian celebrations  Worshipers would dance around the altar  Worshipers would sing hymns to the wild passionate accompaniment of the flute  During 6 th century BC festivals became annual events

3. Dionysian Celebrations  Became annual festivals held in Athens  Participants began competing for prize – a bull or a goat  Tradition has it that Thespis transformed the hymns into songs that honored Dionysius but also told stories of a hero or another god

4. Thespis  Transformed hymns into songs that honored Dionysos and told story of a famous hero or another god.  Added : a member of the chorus would step out from the others and play the part of the hero or god  Actor wore a mask and talked with the chorus

5. Masks  Actors spoke their lines from behind giant masks  Masks had exaggerated mouthpieces that amplified actor ’ s voice  By switching masks, actors could play several roles

6. Birth of drama  Aeschylus added a second individual actor to the performance  Conflict created

7. Dionysia – the four day celebration  Businesses closed,  Priosoners were released on bail  14,000 or more people gathered to watch competition for best tragedy or comedy

8. Parade before Festival  Competing playwrights, choruses and actors would march in a procession through Athens  A herald would announce the titles of the competing plays  Masked dancers would parade through the streets carrying a statue of Dionysos

9. Daily agenda  Opening day traditional choral singing  Next three days playwrights presented their works  Morning: one would present three tragedies and a satyr  Afternoon – another playwright would present a comedy.

10. Tragedy,  Tragedy –  Had heroic characters and unhappy endings  Serious treatment of religious and mythic questions

11. Satyr  Comic and even lewd treatment of the same themes as tragedy

12. Comedies  Comic  Had ordinary people as characters  Happy ending

13. The Theater of Dionysus  Looked like a semicircular football stadium  Seats carved out of stone on a hillside  Performance area at bottom  Orchestra area – where chorus sang  Platform area – where actors spoke from behind huge masks

14. Actors  All actors were men  Chorus made up of well-trained boys