1. Elizabethan Theater

2. Elizabeth I encouraged the growth of theater due to her Renaissance Education. Elizabeth I encouraged the growth of theater due to her Renaissance Education. Prior to her reign, theater Prior to her reign, theater theater companies traveled from town to town theater companies traveled from town to town The audience booed, cheered, hissed, and threw rotten vegetables at the actors The audience booed, cheered, hissed, and threw rotten vegetables at the actors

3. The Globe Theater 2,000 people 2,000 people 800 “groundlings” – 800 “groundlings” – paid 1 cent to stand in paid 1 cent to stand in open air court in center open air court in center 3 stories high 3 stories high octagonal octagonal tiers of seats w/ roof for upper and middle class tiers of seats w/ roof for upper and middle class

4. rectangular, wooden stage rectangular, wooden stage 2 doors at back of stage – dressing rooms 2 doors at back of stage – dressing rooms trap door trap door curtain behind mainstage curtain behind mainstage “the heavens” “the heavens” open to the elements open to the elements

5. elaborate & expensive for the elaborate & expensive for the time period time period special effects to please the special effects to please the audience audience all male actors all male actors

6. William Shakespeare 1564-1616

7. born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon greatest English writer greatest English writer understood human nature understood human nature compassionate towards all types/classes of people compassionate towards all types/classes of people used powerful language skills used powerful language skills quit school at age 13 quit school at age 13 married Anne Hathaway at age 18 married Anne Hathaway at age 18 Susanna Susanna Hamnet & Judith (twins) Hamnet & Judith (twins) left family and hometown for London at age 23 left family and hometown for London at age 23

8. 1 st entered the theater as an actor 1 st entered the theater as an actor began success as playwright by age 27 began success as playwright by age 27 Joined Lord Chamberlain’s men Joined Lord Chamberlain’s men Lord Chamberlain’s Med built Globe Theater in 1599 Lord Chamberlain’s Med built Globe Theater in 1599 The King’s Men The King’s Men retired in 1610 at the age of 46 retired in 1610 at the age of 46