Arts

• Elements of Theater Arts

  • Music
  • Line
  • Color
  • Dialogue
  • Plot
  • Theme
  • Character
• Elements of Artistic Expression

  • Movement
  • Emotion
  • Dialogue
  • Line
  • Rhythm
  • Sound
  • Color
  • Texture
  • Space
• Theater Arts


  Collaborative art form which combines words, voice, movement and visual elements to express meaning
• History of the Theatrical Forms and Their Evolution

  • Ancient Theater
  • Medieval Theater
  • Renaissance Theater
  • Baroque Theater
  • Neoclassical Theater
• Ancient Theater (700 BCE - 410 CE)


  • European Theater began in Ancient Greece around 700 B.C. with festivals honoring their many gods
  • Consisted of three types of drama: Tragedy, Comedy, and the Satyr play
• Tragedy


  Most admired type of play, dealt with tragic events and have unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character
• Thespis


  First actor, introduced the use of masks and was called "Father of Tragedy"
• Greek Theater


  • Actors, directors, and dramatist were all the same person
  • Only three actors were allowed to perform on-stage, the chorus played an active part
  • Music was often played during chorus, men performed songs to welcome Dionysus and women were not allowed to perform
• Comedy


  Plays were derived from imitation, Aristophanes wrote most of the comedy plays
• Types of Ancient Theater

  • Tragedy
  • Comedy
  • Satyr play
• The actors, directors, and dramatist were all the same person in ancient Greek theater
• After some time, only three actors were allowed to perform on-stage, the chorus played into very active part of the Greek theatre
• Music was often played during chorus. Men performed songs to welcome Dionysus and women were not allowed to perform
• Comedy


  • Plays were derived from imitation; there were no traces of their origin
• Satyr Plays


  Contains comic element to lighten overall mood or a serious play with a happy ending. Featured choruses of satyrs based on Greek mythology, and with pretend drunkenness, bold sexuality, tricks, and sight jokes
• Oedipus Rex


  • Genre: Tragedy
  • Number of Characters per Play: 1 to 3 characters only, but they can portray other characters
  • Chorus consists of 12 members, all of whom wore identical masks
  • Use of masks to advance the universality of the themes and the dramatic impact of the events and to keep the audience from being distracted by the actual, physical attributes of the actors
  • Facial expression was of no importance to Greek actors, since they were always masked
  • Sophocles used the chorus at the beginning of the play to tell the audience the given circumstances of the play
  • Costume: Men wear loose floor length poncho with pleated shoulder while females wore draped robes
• Ancient Theater Terms


  • Theatron – Viewing place on the slopes of hills
  • Skene – stage
  • Orchestra – A large circular or rectangular area at the center part of the theatre, where the play, dance, religious rites, and acting took place
  • Parados – side entrance
• Roman Theater


  • Started in the 3rd century BC, had varied and interesting artforms such as festival performances of street theater, acrobatics, the staging of comedies of Plautus, and high-verbally elaborate tragedies of Seneca
  • Greek theaters had a great influence on the Roman's theater too. The Triumvir Pompey was one of the first permanent (non-wooden) theatres in Rome, whose structure was somewhat similar to the Theatron of Athens
  • The usual themes for Roman theater play were chariot races, gladiators, and public executions. The Romans loved a good spectacle. They loved to watch combat and admired blood sports and gladiator competition. The more realistic the violence, the more it pleased the Roman audiences
• Medieval Theater


  • During the Medieval Era, theater performances were not allowed throughout Europe. Minstrels, though denounced by the Church, performed in markets, public places, and festivals. Churches in Europe started staging their own theater performances during Easter Sundays with biblical stories and events. Eventually, some plays were brought outside the church due to their portrayal of devil and hell
• Renaissance Theater


  • Characterized by a return of Classical Greek and Roman arts and culture. Mystery plays formed a part of religious festivals in England and other parts of Europe. Morality plays and University of drama were formed to recreate Athenian tragedy. Public theatres were developed like the Commedia dell'arte and the elaborate masques that were usually presented in court. Queen Elizabeth I was one of the most prominent supporters of theater. Ballet was performed in public for the first time during this period
• Innovations of the Renaissance Stage

  • Proscenium – Area of a theater surrounding the stage opening. Arches frame and divide the stage from the audience
  • Backdrops for scenery were popularized by the art of painting clothes
  • Commedia dell'arte or "Comedy of the Profession" was developed. It was quick-witted performance of the characters/players
• William Shakespeare


  • An English poet, playwright, and actor who was regarded as the greatest writer and dramatist in the world. He was often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His works consist about 38 plays, mostly about the lives of kings
• Romeo and Juliet


  • Genre: Tragedy
  • Staging: the stage itself was divided into three levels - main stage area, upper canopied "heaven", and area under the stage called "hell"
  • Costumes: based on style and design of dresses worn during the Renaissance period
• Baroque Theater


  • Marked by the use of technology in current broadways or commercial plays. The theater crew uses machines for special effects and scene changes which may be changed in a matter of seconds with the use of rope in pulleys. The theater was richly decorated, with a multiplicity of plot turns and a variety of situations characteristics and Mannerism were succeeded by opera
• The use of theatrical technologies in the Baroque period may be seen in the films "Vatel" (2000) and "Fainelli" (1999) and in the different stage productions of "Orpheus" by Claudio Monteverdi
• Juliet


  Genre: Tragedy
• Staging of Juliet


  • Main stage area
  • Upper, canopied called "heaven"
  • Area under the stage called "hell"
• Renaissance Theater


  1400 - 1600
• Romeo and Juliet


  Costumes based on style and design of dresses worn during the Renaissance period
• Baroque Theater


  1600 - 1750
• Baroque Theater


  • Use of technology in current broadways or commercial plays
  • Theater crew uses machines for special effects and scene changes which may be changed in a matter of seconds with the use of rope in pulleys
• Baroque Theater


  • Richly decorated
  • Multiplicity of plot turns and a variety of situations characteristics
  • Mannerism succeeded by opera
• Baroque Theater


  • Vatel (2000)
  • Fainelli (1999)
  • Different stage productions of "Orpheus" by Claudio Monteverdi
• Neoclassical Theater


  1800 - 1900
• Neoclassical Theater


  • Styles of Roman and Greek societies influenced the theater arts
  • Characterized by grandiosity
  • Costumes and sceneries were highly elaborate
  • Main concepts were to entertain and teach lesson
  • Stages were restyled with dramatic arches to highlight scenes
• Neoclassical Theater


  • Multiple entry points on stages
  • Lighting and sound effects intensified the mood and message of each scene, enhancing dramatic experience
  • Changing scenery and backdrops became more noticeable, particularly with the invention of pulley systems that allowed parts to move more quickly across stage
• Neoclassical Theater


  • Officially established just two types of plays – tragedy and comedy
  • Never mixed tragedy and comedy together
  • Use of the now well-known pair of happy and sad masks that symbolizes the theatrical arts
• Limelight


  First "spotlight" used in U.S. during Neoclassical Theater period
• The theater 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
• Elements of Theater Arts

  • Music
  • Line
  • Color
  • Dialogue
  • Plot
  • Theme
  • Character