History and Impact of theatre

For Praxis 5641

Egyptian Passion plays

were dramatic performances that reenacted the resurrection of Osiris, reflecting themes of death and rebirth in ancient Egyptian culture.

Origin of Comedy

traced back to ancient Greek theatre, where it developed from festive performances and satirical plays, focusing on humor and social critique.

Origin of Tragedy

originated in ancient Greek theatre, evolving from hymns sung in honor of Dionysus, and often explored serious themes, human suffering, and moral dilemmas.

William Ridgeway's theory

the theory that tragedy originated not from the worship of the god Dionysus but from the worship of the dead

Elements of a tragedy

typically include a tragic hero, a conflict, and a cathartic resolution, often leading to the hero's downfall.

old greek comedy

a form of theatrical performance that emerged in ancient Greece, characterized by its satirical and humorous portrayal of everyday life, often including political commentary and fantastical elements.

middle greek comedy

a style of comedy that developed in ancient Greece, which focused on more refined themes and less exaggerated humor compared to Old Comedy, emphasizing character development and social commentary.

new greek comedy

a genre that emerged after Middle Comedy, characterized by its focus on domestic and romantic situations, and often featuring stock characters and more realistic dialogue.

ancient athenian drama

a theatrical tradition flourishing in ancient Athens, encompassing both tragic and comedic performances, often linked to religious festivals and competitions.

Origins of satire

traced back to ancient Greek comedy, particularly in works that used humor to critique politics and society. Invented by the Romans

Satyr plays of the early greeks

a form of ancient Greek drama that parodied the serious themes of tragedy, often featuring a chorus of satyrs and humorous situations, blending elements of comedy and mythology.

Preservation of Greek plays

involves the careful recording and transmission of ancient Greek theatrical works, ensuring their survival through manuscripts, performances, and scholarly study over the centuries. were preserved for medieval education and stored in places like the Library of Alexandria.

Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides

were three prominent playwrights of ancient Greece, known for their contributions to the development of tragedy. Their works explored complex themes of fate, morality, and human emotion. Father of Greek tragedy, wrote The Oresteia trilogy Wrote Oedipus the King, Wrote The Bacchae and Medea

Adolphe Appia

is said to have given rise to modern lighting theory. Described three types of lighting in one of his plays: diffused light, creative light and painted light. identified four lighting cues: dazzling sunlight, the blood-red light of sunset, twilight and hazy darkness

Norman Bel Geddes

Theatrical designer who advanced modern lighting by building a model theatre with electric lighting, experimenting with light sources and angles to find optimal setups.

Robert Edmond Jones

Father of American scene design. Known for minimal sets and dramatic lighting—famously staged Macbeth on a bare stage with three giant witch masks and spotlight isolation.

Abe Feder

Coined the term "lighting designer." Designed lighting for over 300 Broadway shows and notable architectural projects like the Empire State Building and the United Nations building.

Jean Rosenthal

Known for lighting design in 1950s-60s musicals. Credited with inventing dance lighting

Peggy Clark

First female president of the United Scenic Artist organization. Assisted in scene design and was a Broadway lighting designer.

Lope De Vega

16th-17th century Spanish dramatist. Wrote over 2,200 plays in four styles: chivalrous, historical heroic, social, and sacred. Ignored classical tradition and created Spanish romantic drama.

Calderon De La barca

Spanish playwright skilled in tragedy and comedy; wrote 181 authentic plays; used native stories; known for supernatural themes, grim humor, and innovative plots; deeply Catholic and medieval in beliefs.

Jean Baptiste Poquelin De Molier

French comic dramatist; wrote famous satires like Tartuffe, Don Juan, The Misanthrope; faced censorship; died during a stage performance.

Voltaire

Enlightenment French playwright; rebelled against intolerance; jailed and exiled; famous works: Oedipe, Brutus, Zaire; used exotic foreign plots; also wrote poetry and prose.

Willem Halem

London actor-manager; sent Robert Upton to prepare American theatres (Upton failed); still formed a theatre company in America; helped establish permanent American theatre with diverse productions.

Lewis Halem

Brought his acting company to America in 1753. Staged performances in New York and Philadelphia despite initial resistance. Helped solidify American theatre.

Henrik Ibsen

Norwegian dramatist and theatre manager. Wrote plays challenging societal norms and promoting individualism. Known for An Enemy of the People and other realist works.

George II, Duke of Saxe-meiningen

Regarded as the first modern director. Designed sets, trained actors, and controlled rehearsals. Known for realism and meticulous stage design.

Lewis Carroll

Known in theatre for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," which became the basis for many theatrical adaptations.

Louisa May Alcott

Her novel "Little Women" has inspired numerous theatrical and musical adaptations.

Mark Twain

"Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn" have been adapted for stage numerous times. Known for vivid characters and social themes

Thomas Hardy

His novels, including "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" and "Far from the Madding Crowd," have been adapted for the stage.

Richard D'oyly Carte

English theatre manager and founder of English comic opera. Produced Gilbert and Sullivan works and built several prominent theatres.

Robert Lewis Stevenson

His works like "Treasure Island" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" have been widely adapted for the stage and are staples in theatrical storytelling.

David Bolassco

Playwright, director, and producer who advanced theatrical naturalism using real scents, food, and appliances. Developed lighting techniques to create mood and setting.

George Bernard Shaw

Irish-born playwright known for socially and politically charged comedies promoting socialism and equality. Influenced by Henrik Ibsen, Shaw was also a literary critic and public speaker.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Creator of Sherlock Holmes, the iconic detective known for deductive reasoning. Also wrote popular historical romances.

Adolphe Appia

Pioneered modern stagecraft with theories on staging, lighting, and dynamic use of space. Advocated for steps, ramps, and lighting to unify actors and set for realism.

Konstantin Stanislavsky

Developed the Stanislavsky System, emphasizing psychological and emotional realism in acting. His "Method" encourages actors to use their own memories and emotions to create believable performances.

Gordon Craig

Revolutionized theatre directing by asserting the director's role as the primary creator, surpassing both playwright and actor. He believed theatre could function independently of scripts, relying on the vision of the director and performers.

Vsevolod Emilevich Meyerhold

Russian actor, director, and producer known for experimental staging and symbolism. Opposed Stanislavski's method by emphasizing practiced physical gestures over emotional memory. Reinvented Commedia dell'arte in a modern style.

Freie Buhne

German theatre society in Berlin that sponsored censored plays, promoting naturalism. Key figures included Otto Brahm. Notable productions were Ibsen's Ghosts and Hauptmann's Vor Sonnenaufgang. Operated from 1889 to 1893.

Antonin Artaud

a French poet, playwright, actor, and director known for his Theatre of Cruelty concept. He aimed to awaken audiences to suppressed truths by using actors to reveal raw reality beyond traditional storytelling.

Eugene Ionesco

Romanian-born playwright, created the Theatre of the Absurd, rejecting logical plots and traditional character development. His comic plays highlighted the absurdity of human existence and revitalized language in drama.

Gao Xingjian

Chinese-born dramatist, created plays influenced by Beckett, Artaud, and Brecht, earning the label "Chinese Theatre of the Absurd." His controversial works challenged political norms and were first performed in 1981.