UNIT 2

group dynamics

people become less rational and more emotional when in a group, more likely to react with a crowd

house

auditorium, place where audience sits

paper the house

give away tickets to make it seem like the performance is well attended, makes for better reviews

willing suspension of disbelief

we admit what is happening is not real. we suspend our reality and buy into the plays reality

aesthetic distance

audiences ability to remove themselves from a work just far enough to be semi objective but not indifferent

presentational theatre

actors acknowledge the audience, not realistic illusion. ex. rocky horror

representational theatre

actors never acknowledge the audience, most movies and tv shows

realism

attempts to portray life as accurately as possible. ex. a dolls house

fourth wall

imaginary wall between actors and audience, very intentional choice if ‘broken’ or not

road house

theaters where touring companies perform, usually broadway shows

league of resident theaters (LORT)

regional theaters who hire professional actors for their season’s rep

will call

window for those picking up tickets

curtain

time show starts

preview performances

open to public and happens before show officially starts, fixes issues before critics see the show

directors/playwrights note

in program, explains the intention and goals of the show and explains historical contest and stylistic choices

souvenir program

program with other photos and info about the show, for sale

curtain speech

member of the production team/staff will make general announcements before show

talk back

post show discussion with actors/team to ask questions and discuss show’s content

reviews

(aka notices) evaluation of a production

dramatic criticism

scholarly interpretation and analysis of a show

genres

categories that shows are sorted into based on things like subject matter and style

censorship

altering, restricting, or suppressing info in a society

licensing act

1737 England, king censored any plays that talked bad about the royals

bowdlerize

remove any ‘bad’ material from plays before publication