Theater Midterm notes

Immediacy

The quality of being immediate or instant; in theater, it refers to the direct connection between actors and the audience.

Engagement

The act of involving the audience in the performance or the themes being portrayed.

Theater vs. Theatre

'Theater' refers to the craft of performing arts while 'theatre' often refers to the space where performances occur.

Performance

An activity where some people perform while others watch, applicable beyond just the arts.

Shared traits of performances

Elements that include performers (actors), actions (speech or rituals), audience (spectators), and a performance space.

Art is artificial

Art is created by artists, does not require a practical purpose, and aims to produce an aesthetic response.

Proscenium Stage

A type of stage that features a 'proscenium arch,' framing the action of the play.

Thrust Stage

A stage that extends into the audience on three sides, allowing for more immediate engagement without a proscenium arch.

Blackbox Theater

A versatile performance space painted black, where the audience can be arranged in any configuration.

Audience Interaction in Theater

In theater, the relationship between performers and the audience is typically more formal than in sports or casual performances.

Playwright

A person who writes plays, creating dialogue that reveals character and advances the plot.

Method Acting

An acting technique that aims to connect actors to their characters through personal experiences and emotions.

Actor Equity Association (AEA)

A union representing actors and stage managers, ensuring fair treatment and working conditions.

Blocking

The process of staging a play, where actors' movements and positions are determined in collaboration with the director.

Strike

The process of taking down the set or removing props after a play's run ends.

Avant-Garde Theatre

Experimental theater that may challenge traditional conventions and explore new forms of expression.

Given Circumstances

The elements in a play that delineate the world of the characters, including time, place, and environment.

Dramatic Action

Conflict in theater that propels the narrative and develops characters.

Polar Attitudes

Beliefs held by a character that create conflict, essential for dramatic storytelling.

Broadway Theater

The highest level of American theater, defined by seating capacity of 500 or more and recognized for its professional quality.

Off-Broadway Theater

Theaters located off the main Broadway, seating between 100 to 499, often showcasing new talent.

Off-Off Broadway Theater

Experimental theater with seating for 99 or fewer, often performing in unconventional spaces.

Community Theater

Local theater productions that involve community members, typically low-budget and volunteer-driven.

Theatrical Production Process

The series of steps from writing a play to its production, involving many roles such as playwright, director, and designers.

Headshots

Professional photographs representing an actor, typically needed for auditions and castings.

Casting Director

A professional who works with directors to find suitable actors for roles in a production.

Technical Rehearsal

A rehearsal that combines all technical elements of a play, ensuring that lighting, sound, and set changes are integrated successfully.

Opening Night

The first performance of a play in front of an audience, often attended by critics.

Pantomime

A form of performance that uses gestures and movements to convey a story without speech.

Commedia dell’arte

An early form of Italian theater characterized by stock characters and improvisation.

Playwright Training

Formal education or workshops that help aspiring playwrights develop their skills in writing for theater.

Aesthetic Response

The emotional or intellectual reaction elicited from an audience by a work of art.