Comprehensive Study Guide for Theatre Exam

Adaptation hypothesis

evolution -> human populations have

Simulation hypothesis

Humans "test-drive" potential life or death, prepare ourselves for the actuality of simulated occurrences

Safe Distance Hypothesis

Sufficient identification with the characters and action that previously unresolved emotions are aroused; Sufficient cues that the present situation is safe (the reassurance that 'it is only a play')

Willing Suspension of Disbelief

willingly suspend your disbelief when you walk into the theater, the actors pretend the audience doesn't exist, willingness to ignore limitations of Medium

Presentational vs. Representational

We are all pretending: breaking the fourth wall (talking to the audience) vs. No 4th wall, playing to the audience

Movement towards the fourth wall

more representational = bigger wall between the actors and audience

Representation

Capture something that is fleeting

Plato's Allegory of the Cave

People only understand a small portion of reality and they perceive the world through shadows rather than true forms

Apollonian versus Dionysian

Apollo: Harmony, order, reason; Dionysus: Chaos and disorder; All Greek art seeks a balance between chaos and reason

508 BC. Democracy

World's first "Democracy" 508 B.C.E.; Slaves and women couldn't vote

Audience

Built to advantages of sunlight; Nobility sits next to the orchestra; No women allowed in theaters

Thespis

First Western Actor (first actor in Greek drama) → Thespis: Thespians; Called the "Inventor of Tragedy"

Orchestra

Center point: The orchestra (the dancing space); Circular flat surface in the middle of the seats

Aristotle: Two types of Drama

Simple: A unified construct of necessary and probable actions accompanied by Peripeteia - a change of fortune; Complex: accompanied by Peripeteia or reversal of fortune, and Anagnorisis, or recognition

Aristophanes

Greek playwright; Known as the great comic dramatist of Ancient Greece

Peripeteia

A change of fortune

Anagnorisis

Recognition that the victim of a change in fortune has no one to blame but themselves

Hamartia

A fatal flaw of a hero in a Greek Tragedy

Hubris

Pride = hubris = arrogance

Katharsis

Occurs through profound pity; Realize our own deficits in what is being seen on stage; Going to a play is a purge or a cleanse

Object violence Children

Objects in theater are often symbolic, carrying deeper meaning beyond their literal function; Violence is a recurring theme in both comedic and tragic plays, often exploring human conflict, morality, or societal breakdowns

Homicide rates US vs. Japan

Japan also has one of the lowest crime rates in the world → especially homicide; US has higher homicide vs. Japan

Contemporary Entertainment and violence

Battle of Corinth 146BC; Defeat the greeks

Venus

Theatres were dedicated to her; Patron of beauty and prostitutes

Cost

Free! Sponsors paid large sums to buy out seats/host events in order to gain social/political favor

Opening of Colosseum 80AD

Floors in the Colosseum were wooden to make an area underneath for slaves, animals, and gladiators; It could also be flooded to host ship battles

Circus Maximus

Ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and entertainment venue; One of the largest and most iconic structures in Rome

Gladius

Latin for Sword, so Gladiatori meant swordsman; Gladiator games were rooted in human sacrifice

Wealthy Supporters

Most gladiators were slaves with a wealthy sponsor

Gladiatrix

Female Gladiator; Their matches often fought by torchlight outside arenas against unusual enemies (dwarves for example)

Stage shape

The stage shape in ancient Roman theaters greatly influenced performances. Key features included a raised stage (pulpitum) for visibility, a semi-circular orchestra for VIP seating, and the scaenae frons, a grand, decorated backdrop that enhanced spectacle

Velarium

Sunshade/roof

Wetwang

Female gladiator; Excavation team found a female skeleton buried in a chariot/wagon; Guessed that she was a warrior because she was also buried with weapons she could have used

Bellows Organ

Played often at Naumachia (Naval Battles); Music played during the event, along with drums and other wind instruments

Naumachia

Naval battles

Venatoria

Wild beast fighters

Edict of Milan

Declaration in 313 A.D.; Legalized Christianity in Rome after it had been illegal and scrutinized for so many years

Constantine

Ruler of Rome when it began its decline; Administered the Edict of Milan; Didn't enjoy theatre because he was Christian and theatre was pagan, contained sex, and made fun of Christians

Demographics/cost

45-year-old white woman with a 250k income; Musical theater is expensive

Great White Way

The nickname for Broadway in New York City, especially associated with its bright, illuminated theater district

Broadway Lights

First electric signs in New York, known as 'white way'.

Vaudeville

Popular entertainment featuring short, unrelated acts.

Vaudeville Decline

Declined due to movies and radio's lower costs.

Musical Theater Influence

Incorporated vaudeville's variety and pacing into performances.

Libretto

The script of a musical, including dialogue and lyrics.

Called to Song

Characters sing to express emotions or advance the story.

Called to Dance

Characters dance to express emotions or celebrate events.

Showboat

First book musical featuring a multiracial cast.

Paul Robeson

First black actor to play Othello in the US.

Realism in Acting

Focus on authentic representation of life in performances.

Goal of Acting

Contemporary acting aims for believability in performances.

Pope Innocent III

Most powerful pope, issued rules affecting theater.

Papal Edict 1210

Forbade clergy from performing on stage.

Performance Space

Space size dictates acting style and expression level.

Hamlet's Advice

Shakespeare's reflection on acting and theater's role.

Histrionic

Describes over-the-top acting styles, like Jim Carrey.

Verisimilitude

Truthful representation of life on stage in realism.

Duke Saxe Meiningen

Father of modern stage direction, emphasized ensemble acting.

Stanislavski - The Method

System for realistic acting through emotional character connection.

Discretionary Income

Income left after essentials for non-essential spending.

Escapism Model

Seeks diversion to escape routine and stress.

Engagement Model

Seeks meaningful engagement through intellectual fulfillment.

Recreation Expenditures

Average $250/month, $3,000 annually on entertainment.

Freud's Psychobiology

Behavior influenced by unconscious drives and instincts.

Entertainment Novelty

Maximal pleasure lies between familiarity and novelty.

High Sensation Seekers

Prefer thrilling, intense, and novel entertainment experiences.

Low Sensation Seekers

Opt for familiar, calming, and predictable entertainment.

Media Sensation Seekers

Excitement from media-shared events and topics.

Butoh

Japanese dance theater focusing on slow, controlled movements.

Kabuki

Traditional Japanese theater with stylized performance and costumes.

Onnagata

Male actors in Kabuki performing female roles.

Avant-Garde

Experimental art challenging conventional norms and forms.

Bando

Prestigious family of Kabuki actors influencing avant-garde theater.

Reactions against realism

Movements rejecting truthful life representation for abstraction.

Death of A Salesman

1949 play critiquing capitalist society by Arthur Miller.

John Cage - 4' 33"

1952 silent composition challenging music's definition.

Merce Cunningham

Choreographer emphasizing movement without narrative in dance.

Abramovic - Rhythm O

1974 performance art exploring audience interaction and control.

Tamar Gendler

Philosopher intersecting cognitive science with avant-garde themes.

Censorship

Suppression of speech or public communication in art.

God of Vengeance

Yiddish play arrested for indecency in 1923.

Sarah Kane

Playwright known for controversial and provocative works.

Censere

Latin term meaning to assess or judge.

Ekkyklema

Stage representation used in ancient Greek theater.

Ob Skene

Area behind the backdrop in ancient Greek theater.

Lysistrata

Aristophanes' comedy about women ending war through sex denial.

Jeremy Collier - Poetic Justice

Concept of karma in theatrical narratives and morality.

Theatrical Licensing Act 1737

Required script approval for plays in England.

Lord Chamberlain

Official approving English plays before their premiere.

Hays Code

Self-censorship rules governing American film content.

Father Daniel Lord

Creator of the Hays Code regulations.

The Laramie Project

Frequently banned play addressing LGBTQ+ issues in schools.

Verbatim Theatre

Theater documenting real voices and opinions without bias.

Cohen v. California (1971)

Supreme Court case affirming rights to offensive expression.

Cultural conditioning

Process of absorbing societal norms into behavior.

The 3 signifiers of a Hero prop:

Highly detailed

Main character or "Hero" often uses

Helps tell the story

The 3 components of color are:

Hue

Saturation

Lightness

The 3 benefits of stunt casting are:

Increased ticket sales

Larger more diverse audience

More young people going to shows

The 4 aspects to define when analyzing a play or scene for your character:

Goal

Other

Tactic

Expectation