What is Theatre?
Theater- Physical location or occupation, study,
or discipline
Ancient origin- Greek: Theatron seeing place
Today's meaning of theatre Place, Company,
Occupation (Art Performance)
Video 1 Notes: Epidorus 500 BCE
advanced acoustics (perfect), 14,000,55 rows,
origin in medicine, Art was medicine (music),
money for building come from the hospital,
Gazing Place
Video 2 Notes: Reconstructed Globe TheatreAudience Engaged by Actors, Acoustics
important, door "heaven” descended.
Galleries $ bc acoustics Groundlings-cheaper, not
great seats.
Theatre as a Place- Vary in Size, decoration, functionality
Two requirements- empty space to act & watch
1. Proscenium Proskene - in front of the scene-orchestra,
Mezzanine, Balcony
2. Thrust- ¾ of audience wraps around the stage.
3. Arena Stadium-"in the round” audience on all sides
4. Black Box-Flexible Space, any configuration
5. Found Space-any nontraditional space used for theatre
Theatre as a Company- collaborative art, shared vision, broader
scale- Theatre can refer to a category (Avant Garde,
Shakespeare, classical, American, Restoration Theatre
Theatre as an Occupation
•Works in 2 senses
As labor: it demands physical exertions many ppl play
multiple roles
As distinct from “play” Theatre, unlike play, is calculated
Theatre as Art- involves impersonation, differentiates
b/w actor & character, curtain call- demasking,
connection b/w audience & actors as people rather
than the character
involves paradox- we Know it’s not real. but we still
feel emotion. The actor must disappear behind the
character (Heath Ledger)
Theatre as Performance- We all perform (waitress,
family, friends), theatre is formal
Two types of performance- Presentational
Acknowledges the audience, stand-up
Representational does not acknowledge the audience,
most common.
Theatre is live!
Three fundamental forces- rapport b/w the
audience& actor, relationship among the audience,
immediacy "Anything can happen”, Greek dran - "to
do", happens right now in front of you
o What is a Play?
Basic unit of theatre- it is an event not a thing, dran something done, event of the play is action surrounding
the conflict
Can refer to literature-Written plays - 2500 years
Catharsis purging of emotions through death
Understanding Plays- Genre, what type of play is it
(Tragedy & Comedy)
Structure-what pattern does the action follow?
-exposition, conflict, climax, denouement
Aristotle 384-322 BC
Made the first genre classification
Poetics (335 BC)
divided plays into Tragedy & Comedy
• Most influential work of theatre criticism in Western
History
Principles remain core building blocks in uniting Theatre
and Film
Plot, Character, Thought, Diction, Music, Spectacle
• bake a cake before you decorate it
Play Structure
Dramaturgy. how the action of a play is structured
Pre Play
transitions into the play attracts the audience the
theatre
Go to the bathroom.
babysitter
eat
arrive early
sleep
preshow music
turn of phone
forming community
Post Play
ending of an agreement b/w audience & performer
Curtain call
post-play analysis.
Actors 3-legged Stool
The Actor
What is Acting?
Far more complex than it seems
external - acting from the outside vocal physical training
Internal- acting from the inside. attaining actual emotions and
resonance with the audience. Merging these leads to a
paradox: the actor must be emotionally involved but in
technically in control.
Acting from the inside out: Konstantin Stanislavsky
most influential acting theorist in the west & developed
acting
To replicate the complexity of inner life.
Actor breaks down a character in terms of motivation,
objectives, Actions, Beats, Given Circumstances, Obstacles.
Most Critical notion: Emotion Memory
the recollection by an actor of actual emotions to create the
emotions of the role
Inspired American artists to develop the "Method"
Lee Strasburg, Stella Adler, Stanford Meisner
An actor’s instrument is the self; its trainings integrates
both inside outside techniques
Apprenticeship, Conservatory, Experience
Major stages: The attainment, preparation, and
performance of a role.
Attainment- audition, cold readings, or prepared pieces.
Preparation- rehearsals, investigation of Characters life,
memorization of Lines & Blocking
Performance
The final shift
introduces an audience to the process
Video Notes:
You are in control of your environment on stage
opposite in film
filmed in segments – director yells cut
observed in small parts rather than the whole
No overviews vs finished work
body language - Camera vs. stage
The Playwright
vision of / Reality- their unique perspective of the work.
The Role of the Playwright
The playwright is the most important the theatrical process
Yet they are always the most peripheral
Uninvolved with final product.
Both literary and unliterary core is not description but action
Playwriting is event writing
The qualities of a good play
Credibility and Intrigue Staged world is internally consistent
and compelling
Speak ability, Stage ability, and Flow Words and actions have
maximum impact when staged
Richness Depth in language adds authority
Depth of Characterization Characters are differentiated and
made compassionately
Gravity and Pertinence Relevance of theme to concerns of
audience and current events
Compression, Economy, and Intensity Condensation of story,
consolidation of event, and uniqueness of moments
Celebration Theatre blends art and life
Designers & Technicians
Design never exists in isolation
•Different types of design away interact with each otter
Design process
The first step is conceptual- designer reads script and finds
terms that can be communicated, creates are Shared vocab.
The design team creates a comprehensive design to create
emotional landscape
Consider the space you are working in in design.
Stage Directions- from the perspective of the actor
The Designer uses a wide arsenal of materials- Platforms, Flats, Stairs,
Drapery/Soft Goods, Props Table
Costume Design
Began with ritualistic vestments but began to aim for Renaissance
Accuracy. accurately capture a character and the world of the play
Serve 4 major functions
Retaining Sense of sense of ceremonial origins, Reflecting the world of
the Play, Individualizing the character, Acting as wearable clothes.
Costume Designer makes notes and sketches and oversees selection of
materials
Make up Design
Versatile
Phycological Stage, Age the character, Simplify actors’ features
Susan Hilferty
-Costume Designer Wicked Madam Morrible
Firsthand
Cutter
Draper
Stitcher
Ground plan
1. Looks like Blueprint
Revolve stage
Light Design Originated w/ Natural light in ancient times.
1500 & 1600 uses candles, torches
19th century used gaslight- Allowed for flexibility,
Pertained to more specific action
Now we use electric or LED lights
• Goals: Visibility, focus, atmosphere,
Light designer prepares 2 things
• Light Plot- layout of all the instruments in the given
space
• Cue sheet-when the lights need to activate
Keneth Posner- light designer for Wicked 650 instruments
Sound Design- Has always important component of
theatre, but recent innovations have led to new
critical role in process
• Enhancing or altering voices, Amplification of music,
Sound effects, can be live or recorded, can be stylized
or realistic
Tony Meola Sound Designer for Wicked
Jordan Panken- Sound Mixer for wicked
Puppetry a Projection
Dear Evan Hansen- projection of social media
War Horse & Lion King
Puppets & Masks
Elaine McCarthy - Projection in Wicked
Technical Stage Pro
Manager
Technical Director
Shop Supervisor
Assistant Managers
Scenic Design
• First major trend in indoor European theatres
exists to try to replicate reality (realism)
illusion painting on flats (back drops)
Can be metaphorical rather than realistic
Eugene Lee Stage director of Wicked