Introduction
Why study theatre?
1-Theatre explores the human condition and helps us see life differently
2-Through theatre, people develop and grow in seven essential areas:
A- The development of the creative spirit of imagination
B- The ability to think critically
C- Improvement of communication skills
D- Social skills: the ability to work with others
E- Spiritual values: the difference between right and wrong
F- An understanding of diversity
G- The development of one’s self as an individual.
All seven of these elements help to develop the right side of the brain.
3-Since the city-states of ancient Greece, theatre has been a significant part of a fully developed Liberal Arts curriculum.
From The Page To The Stage
1- How to read a play- First reading
2- The script as dramatic lit.-Second Reading
Theatre is a group experience: the script will be read aloud in class, as a play is written to be heard as well as
seen. This gives the reader a chance to experience the language of the playwright and the rhythm of the work
3- Exploration of the Script
A: Aristotle’s Poetics-Six elements of a play
1-Plot
2- Thought or theme
3- Character
4-Diction- language
5-Mood-Music
6-Spectacle- Technical Aspects
B: Play Genre- Type of play
C: The components of a play- Play Structure
1- The Beginning
a-Exposition
b-Point of Attack
c-The inciting incident
d-The major dramatic question
2-The Middle-A series of complications and discoveries
3-The End- The resolution
D: Brief history of theatre
What is theatre? Theatre is live and it happens in the “now”; it is never the same way twice. Theatre is live communication between the actor and the audience in the same space.
4-Dissection of a theatre production
A:The playwright
The word “playwright” comes from the middle- ages and the word “wright”: ‘one who builds.’ A playwright thus builds a plays. In theatre, the playwright is the creative artist. Playwright Moss Hart- “The playwright is the person who was there when the paper was white.”
B: The director
The director is an interpretative artist bringing a creative artistic vision to the playwright’s work. Creativity is the ability to see and hear things that solve problems and is at the heart of the director’s artistic vision.
C: The design staff
The design staff brings the director’s artistic vision to life on stage
D:The actor and the rehearsal and performance process
1- Pursuing the part:- Auditions
2- Perfecting the part-Rehearsals
3- Playing the part- Performance
4- Self reflection- Looking back at the work critically
E: Physical theatre space and how it effects the production
1-Proscenium
2-Thrust
3-Arena
4-Blackbox
6- Research
A: The Playwright
1-The playwright’s body of work
2-Diversity- Example: Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town is a totally different experience when the viewer understands the playwright was gay
3-The playwright’s philosophy
4-Social issues at the time the play was written
B: History of the play
1-Why was the play written?
2-When was the play written?
3-Reviews and articles about the original production
If the play is based upon another art form- the class will also study the original source material. Example: If the class was going to see a production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Dale Wasserman, the class would also study the novel by Ken Kesey upon which the play is based.
C: Cultural, historical background and human diversity
1- Culture is the value, standards and patterns of behavior of a particular group of people expressed in the following:
a- Customs
b- Language
c- Rituals
d- Religion
e- Social and political institutions
f- History
2- Popular Culture are trends related to time and place.
a- Fads
b- Fashions
c- Music
d- The Arts
e- Media
3- Culture Wars-by Richard Balton; “ Many believe that artists are trying to introduce a progressive agenda into society: an agenda based upon multiculturalism, gay and lesbian rights, feminism and sexual liberation that is intended to destroy traditional American values.”
“Theatre of the people” attempts to increase communication by celebrating our differences, by highlighting our similarities and by allowing everyone a voice.
E:History of the producing organization as suggested by Brazilian theatre director Augusto Boal’s work The Theatre of the Oppressed
1- Theatre of Identity: Promoted a particular people’s cultural identity and invites members of that culture and other cultures to experience that culture’s joys, problems, history, traditions, and point of view.
2- Theatre of Protest: Objects to the dominate culture’s control and demands that a minority culture’s voice and political agenda be heard.
3- Cross Cultural theatre: Mixes different cultures in an attempt to find understanding or commonality among them.
F: Background information on the production being viewed
1- Reviews
2- Newspaper articles, Internet
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