arts

• Ancient Greece


  Birthplace of the European theater
• Dionysus


  God of wine and fertility, honored with a religious festival known as "The Cult of Dionysus"
• Forms of drama in ancient Greece's theater

  • Tragedy
  • Comedy
  • Satyr play
• Tragedy


  Made up of two Greek words: tragos, which means "goat," and (ode), which means "song," and refers to goats sacrificed to Dionysus before performances or goatskins worn by the performers
• Theater buildings


  • Large, open-air structures constructed on the slopes of hills
  • Consisted of three main elements: the orchestra, the Skene, and the audience
• Orchestra


  Large circular or rectangular area at the center part of theater, where play, dance, religious rites, and acting took place
• Theatron


  The viewing place on the slope of the hill
• Skene


  The stage
• Parodos


  The side entrance
• The usual themes for Roman theater plays were chariots races, gladiators, and public execution
• Throughout Europe during the Medieval era, theater performances were not permitted
• Minstrels, despite being condemned by the Church, performed in markets, public places, and festivals to keep the theater alive
• Europe churches started their own theater
• Renaissance Theatre


  Revival of classical theatre
• In history, Renaissance theater arts were classified as the revival of all the classical learnings derived from the arts and culture of Ancient Classical Greek and Roman
• Mystery plays were popular at religious festivals during the Middle Ages
• Drama was created to recreate Athenian tragedy
• Commedia dell'arte


  Italian comedy and a humorous theatrical presentation performed by professional players
• One of the most prominent supporters of the theater was Queen Elizabeth I
• William Shakespeare


  Famous actor and poet who emerged during this period. On April 26, 1564, he was baptized, and on April 23, 1616, he died
• Ballet


  A formalized form of dance that originated from the Italian Renaissance courts. It developed and flourished from Italy to France with the help of Catherine de' Medici, (Queen of France)
• Proscenium


  The area of a theater surrounding the stage opening and dividing the stage from the audience
• Backdrops for scenery were popularized by the art of painting clothes
• Baroque Theater


  The use of technology in current Broadway or commercial plays distinguishes Baroque theater
• Deus ex Machina


  A Latin word meaning "god from the machine" solution
• Neoclassical Theater


  The Neoclassical period was a movement where the styles of Roman and Greek societies influenced the theater arts
• Decorum


  Meaning right and proper audience behavior, which means classical concepts and appropriate social behavior must be observed
• Types of plays officially recognized in the Neoclassical period

  • Tragedy
  • Comedy
• Pierre Cornielle


  Widely regarded as the "Father of French Tragedy," having written scripts for more than four decades
• Jean Baptiste Poquelin, better known as Molière


  A French playwright best known for his comedies, including "Tartuffe and The Missanthrope"
• Jean Racine


  A French tragedian known for his straightforward approach to action as well as the linguistic rhythms and effects he achieved. One of his scripts was "Andromache and Phaedra"
• The first spotlight was used in the U.S. during the Neoclassical period and was called the "Limelight"
• The "Theatre Regulation Act of 1843" banned drinking in legitimate theaters. Many tavern owners took advantage of the situation and renovated their establishments to accommodate live performances
• Romantic Theater


  During the Romantic period, melodrama and ―operas‖ became the most popular theatrical forms
• Melodrama


  Originated from the French word "melodrame", which is derived from Greek "melos", music, and French "drame", which is derived from Greek "dran" to perform
• Victor Marie Hugo


  Born on February 26, 1802, and died on May 22, 1885. He is considered one of the greatest and best-known French writers