Key Concepts in Theatre and Performance Studies

Adaptation vs. Simulation Hypothesis

Adaptation transforms a source into a new medium; simulation suggests experiences or realities can be replicated convincingly, raising questions about authenticity.

Safe Distance Hypothesis

The idea that audiences can experience intense emotions through art because they know they are not in actual danger.

Willing Suspension of Disbelief

Audience's conscious decision to accept the fictional world of a play as real for the sake of enjoyment.

Presentational vs. Representational

Presentational breaks the fourth wall, while representational mimics reality without acknowledging the audience.

Representation

The depiction of characters, events, and ideas, often shaped by cultural and social contexts.

Plato's Allegory of the Cave

A metaphor for ignorance; theatre is seen as a false imitation of reality.

Apollonian versus Dionysian

Apollonian is logical and ordered; Dionysian is chaotic and emotional — both drive classical drama.

Reason versus Chaos

A thematic duality in theatre representing the struggle between logic and emotion.

508 BC. Democracy

The birth of Athenian democracy, which influenced the civic function of Greek theatre.

Audience

An essential component of theatre; their reactions influence and complete the performance.

Thespis

Credited as the first actor in Greek drama, introducing spoken dialogue.

Orchestra

Circular space in ancient Greek theatres where chorus performed; central to early staging.

Aristotle: Two types Drama

Tragedy (serious, cathartic) and Comedy (amusing, corrective).

Aristophanes

Greek playwright known for satirical comedies like 'Lysistrata'.

Peripeteia

A sudden reversal of fortune in a dramatic plot.

Anagnorisis

A character's critical discovery or recognition moment.

Hamartia

A protagonist's tragic flaw leading to downfall.

Hubris

Excessive pride that brings about the fall of a hero.

Katharsis

Emotional purging experienced by the audience, especially in tragedy.

Object violence Children

Concerns around violent imagery in media and its psychological effects on youth.

Homicide rates US vs. Japan

Used in discussions of societal violence; Japan's rates are much lower despite exposure to violent media.

Contemporary Entertainment and violence

Explores how modern media depicts violence and its effects on viewers.

Battle of Corinth 146BC

Marked the fall of Greece to Rome; symbolic of shifting theatrical traditions.

Venus

Roman goddess of love and fertility; symbol of theatrical eroticism.

Cost

Refers to economic and physical investments in Roman entertainment.

Opening of Colosseum

In 80 AD, signaled the scale and spectacle of Roman performance.

Circus Maximus

Roman arena for chariot races; large-scale public entertainment.

Gladius

Sword used by Roman gladiators; became symbolic of the blood sport.

Wealthy Supporters

Roman elite who funded games for political favor and public approval.

Gladiatrix

Female gladiators in ancient Rome; rare but notable for gender dynamics.

Stage shape

Roman theatres had semicircular stages; differed from Greek open-air designs.

Velarium

Awnings used in Roman theatres to shade spectators.

Wetwang

Site of archaeological discovery related to female warrior burial; theatrical and ritual interpretations.

Bellows Organ

Wind instrument used in Roman entertainment venues.

Naumachia

Staged naval battles, often in flooded arenas; extreme Roman spectacle.

Venatoria

Animal hunts staged in Roman amphitheaters.

Edict of Milan

Issued in 313 AD, legalized Christianity and altered Roman entertainment values.

Constantine

Roman emperor who embraced Christianity, reducing pagan entertainments.

Demographics/cost

Statistics about who attends theatre and what they can afford; used to shape productions.

Most likely Attendee of Broadway

Typically affluent, educated, middle-aged women.

New Trend in Theme Parks

Immersive, narrative-driven attractions based on theatrical storytelling.

Great White Way

Nickname for Broadway, referencing its brightly lit signs and centrality to American theatre.

Vaudeville

Variety entertainment popular in the early 20th century; precursor to modern musical theatre.

How/Why does vaudeville change?

Changed due to film competition, shifts in taste, and evolving racial politics.

Libretto/ Book: Functions

Script of a musical; unites songs, dance, and dialogue into a coherent story.

Called to Song

When a character's emotions are too intense for speech, they sing.

Called to Dance

When emotion or plot drives a transition from song into movement.

Oklahoma

Landmark musical blending narrative, song, and dance; realistic themes.

Showboat-themes/story/cast

Explores race and social issues; mixed-race cast; early example of integrated musical.

Paul Robeson

Iconic African American actor/singer; notable for roles in 'Showboat' and political activism.

Etymology

Study of word origins; relevant to understanding theatre's linguistic evolution.

Goal of Acting

To truthfully embody character and intention within given circumstances.

Pope Innocent III

His reforms influenced medieval theatre by condemning secular drama.

Papal Edict 1210

Banned clergy from acting; shifted drama from church to public spaces.

Space and performance style

Theatre architecture influences acting style (intimate vs. epic, realistic vs. stylized).

Hamlet 'Advice to the Players'

Shakespeare's statement on realistic acting — avoid exaggeration, act with purpose.

Histrionic

Over-the-top, melodramatic acting; often contrasted with realism.

The Booth Family

Famous American acting family; included Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth.

Verisimilitude

The appearance of being true or real on stage; a goal of realist theatre.

Duke Saxe Meiningen

Pioneering director of realism; emphasized ensemble acting, historical accuracy.

Elements of the Duke's method

Detailed staging, long rehearsals, unified production design.

Stanislavski - The Method - 4 key terms

Given Circumstances, Objectives, Super-Objective, Emotional Memory — core of actor training.

3 Categories of Diversions (examples) Context

Religious, Work-related, and Entertainment-based diversions; frame how theatre is consumed.

Discretionary $ & %

The portion of income people choose to spend on non-essentials like theatre.

Passive and Active Models of Diversions

Passive (watching) and Active (participating); distinguish audience engagement.

Expenditures for Recreation Globally

Economic stats on how different cultures invest in leisure and theatre.

Freud - Psychobiology

The idea that unconscious desires influence entertainment choices.

Entertainment & Novelty

Humans seek novel stimuli; theatre offers a controlled form of new experiences.

High vs. Low Sensation Seekers

Psychological types; high seekers crave intense stimulation, low prefer calmness.

Media Sensation Seekers

Audiences attracted to high-stimulus media like action or horror; impacts theatre design.

Butoh

Japanese avant-garde dance theatre; slow, expressive, emotionally intense.

Kabuki

Classical Japanese theatre with stylized acting, makeup, and dramatic storytelling.

Onnagata

Male actors who specialize in playing female roles in Kabuki.

Bando

Kabuki actor lineage; represents tradition and familial performance training.

Avant Garde

Experimental, boundary-pushing theatre rejecting conventions and realism.

Reactions against realism

Movements like absurdism or performance art challenged theatrical norms.

Death of A Salesman

Arthur Miller's tragic critique of the American Dream; example of modern realism.

John Cage - 4' 33"

A silent composition; performance rooted in the ambient environment.

Merce Cunningham

Dancer/choreographer known for chance-based and abstract performances.

Abramovic - Rhythm O

Performance art where the audience had control; explored vulnerability and limits.

God of Vengeance

Controversial Yiddish play; challenged religious norms and censorship laws.

Sarah Kane

British playwright known for brutal, poetic depictions of trauma and mental illness.

MOCA

Museum of Contemporary Art; often houses provocative performance pieces.

Censere

Latin root of censorship; means 'to judge.'

Ekkyklema

Ancient Greek wheeled platform used to reveal offstage action (e.g., violence).

Ob Skene

Behind the stage building; where unseen violent acts occurred in Greek drama.

Lysistrata-Aristophanes

Comedy where women withhold sex to stop war; early feminist protest play.

Jeremy Collier - Poetic Justice

Advocated for moral messages in theatre; criticized Restoration drama.

A Vision of the Golden Rump

Satirical play that triggered Britain's 1737 Licensing Act.

Theatrical Licensing Act 1737

British law requiring scripts to be approved before staging.

Lord Chamberlain

Censor responsible for approving British theatre content until 1968.

Limits to 1st Amendment

Not all speech is protected; obscenity and incitement can be censored.

Hays Code

Hollywood censorship code from 1930s-60s; restricted film content.

Father Daniel Lord

Helped write the Hays Code; Catholic moral influence on media.

The Laramie Project

Verbatim play documenting reactions to Matthew Shepard's murder.

Verbatim Theatre

Uses real interview transcripts to create documentary-style plays.

Cohen v. California

1971 case affirming the right to use provocative language in protest; tested artistic expression limits.

The 3 signifiers of a Hero prop

Detailed, used by main character, tells story.

The 3 components of color

Hue, Saturation, Lightness.

The 3 benefits of stunt casting

Increased ticket sales, more diverse audience, younger attendees.