The History of TheaterThe History of Theater

Play ProductionPlay Production

Mrs. GugelMrs. Gugel

Theater or Drama is one of the oldest Theater or Drama is one of the oldest art forms known to humans!art forms known to humans!

Drama tells a story through the Drama tells a story through the speech and actions of characters in speech and actions of characters in a story.a story.

It is a form of literature - it expresses It is a form of literature - it expresses thoughts in a creative way.thoughts in a creative way.

Drama is effective because of its Drama is effective because of its ability to give clarity to the human ability to give clarity to the human experience.experience.

4 Major Elements of Drama4 Major Elements of Drama

FeelingsFeelings DesiresDesires ConflictsConflicts ReconciliationsReconciliations

…….are the major ingredients of .are the major ingredients of the human experience...the human experience...

Early Types of DramaEarly Types of Drama

ShamanismShamanism

– priestly figure communicates with gods through priestly figure communicates with gods through ritualritual

– Employed elements of performance such as Employed elements of performance such as characterization, dialogue, music, dance, characterization, dialogue, music, dance, illusion, clowning, ventriloquism, and hypnotismillusion, clowning, ventriloquism, and hypnotism

– Linked to origins of Western theater because of Linked to origins of Western theater because of connection with the worship of the Greek god connection with the worship of the Greek god DionysusDionysus

DanceDance

– Expresses rhythms of life common to Expresses rhythms of life common to all humanityall humanity

– Included animal imitation, pantomime, Included animal imitation, pantomime, gymnastics, and rhythmic movement gymnastics, and rhythmic movement

– Masks, costume, and sound Masks, costume, and sound heightened impact of danceheightened impact of dance

RitualRitual

Through the repeated, unvarying, and Through the repeated, unvarying, and symbolic actions of ritual, early symbolic actions of ritual, early humans:humans:– sought to achieve success in battle sought to achieve success in battle

and huntingand hunting; ;

– were able to ensure adequate rain were able to ensure adequate rain and sunand sun

– expressed their duty to the expressed their duty to the community and the godscommunity and the gods

StorytellingStorytelling

Myth and StoriesMyth and Stories– Have entertained and educated Have entertained and educated

human beings since the beginnings of human beings since the beginnings of languagelanguage

– The IlliadThe Illiad and and The OdysseyThe Odyssey Greek epics by the poet HomerGreek epics by the poet Homer

Forms of DramaForms of Drama

TragedyTragedy Serious DramaSerious Drama MelodramaMelodrama ComedyComedy

TragedyTragedy

Mood that emphasizes serious Mood that emphasizes serious intentionintention

Tragic heroTragic hero– Exceptional yet flawed individual brought Exceptional yet flawed individual brought

to disaster and usually deathto disaster and usually death Hero’s fate raises questions about Hero’s fate raises questions about

meaning of existence, nature of fate, meaning of existence, nature of fate, morality, social/psychological morality, social/psychological relationshipsrelationships

Example of TragedyExample of Tragedy

Romeo & JulietRomeo & Juliet

Serious DramaSerious Drama

Developed out of tragedyDeveloped out of tragedy Serious tone and serious purposeSerious tone and serious purpose Concentrates on unhappy eventsConcentrates on unhappy events HeroesHeroes

– More ordinary than tragic heroMore ordinary than tragic hero

MelodramaMelodrama

Involves a villain who initiates Involves a villain who initiates actions that threaten characters with actions that threaten characters with whom the audience is sympatheticwhom the audience is sympathetic

Situations are extreme and often Situations are extreme and often violentviolent

Endings are frequently happyEndings are frequently happy Good and evil are clearly Good and evil are clearly

distinguisheddistinguished

Example of MelodramaExample of Melodrama

An Eye for an EyeAn Eye for an Eye

ComedyComedy

Tries to evoke laughterTries to evoke laughter Usually ends happilyUsually ends happily Can raise surprisingly serious Can raise surprisingly serious

questionsquestions

FarceFarce

A form of comedyA form of comedy Sometimes considered a distinct Sometimes considered a distinct

dramatic formdramatic form Uses ridiculous situations and Uses ridiculous situations and

broad physical clowning for broad physical clowning for humorous effecthumorous effect

Some Examples of FarceSome Examples of Farce

Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live

Austin PowersAustin Powers

The Structure The Structure ofof DramaDrama

6 Fundamental Elements6 Fundamental Elements

AristotleAristotle Poetics (300s B.C.)Poetics (300s B.C.)

– Identified elements of a tragedy to be:Identified elements of a tragedy to be: plotplot charactercharacter thoughtthought dictiondiction musicmusic spectaclespectacle

PlotPlot

Summary of play’s story; overall Summary of play’s story; overall structure of the playstructure of the play

Most important element of dramaMost important element of drama Includes expositionIncludes exposition

– gives audience information about gives audience information about early events, present situation, early events, present situation, characterscharacters

Plot (continued)Plot (continued)

Early in plot of most plays, author Early in plot of most plays, author focuses on a question or a focuses on a question or a potential conflictpotential conflict– Inciting incident sets the actions in Inciting incident sets the actions in

motionmotion makes audience aware of a major makes audience aware of a major

dramatic questiondramatic question

Plot (continued)Plot (continued)

ComplicationsComplications– Discoveries & decisions that change the Discoveries & decisions that change the

course of the actioncourse of the action Complications lead to climaxComplications lead to climax

– Previously concealed info partially revealed Previously concealed info partially revealed & major dramatic question is answered& major dramatic question is answered

ResolutionResolution– Pulls together various parts of action to Pulls together various parts of action to

reach conclusionreach conclusion

CharacterCharacter

Principal material from which a Principal material from which a plot is created.plot is created.

Incidents develop mainly through Incidents develop mainly through speech and behavior of dramatic speech and behavior of dramatic characterscharacters

Must be shaped to fit the needs of Must be shaped to fit the needs of the plot, or plot must be shaped to the plot, or plot must be shaped to fit needs of charactersfit needs of characters

ThoughtThought

Ideas and emotions implied by the Ideas and emotions implied by the words of the characterswords of the characters

Also includes overall meaning of Also includes overall meaning of the play (theme)the play (theme)

DictionDiction

Also referred to as dialogueAlso referred to as dialogue Use of language to create thought, Use of language to create thought,

character, and incidentcharacter, and incident

MusicMusic

Musical accompaniment or Musical accompaniment or arranged pattern of sound that arranged pattern of sound that makes up human speechmakes up human speech

SpectacleSpectacle

Visual aspects of the playVisual aspects of the play SceneryScenery CostumesCostumes MakeupMakeup Stage lightingStage lighting PropsProps