Drama 6 - 12 FTCE

Alexander Technique

eliminate tension in neck; energy levels

James-Lange Theory of Emotion

emotions are a result of a physiological response to external stimuli

Cannon-Bard Theory

emotion leads to physiological reaction

Delsarte system of expression

relationship of gesture and poses to human emotion

Auguste character

anarchist, Joker, fool

Contra-Auguste Character

Mediator between the whiteface character and the Auguste character

Human Carnival or Body Puppets

Big Bird, Disney characters at Disney world

6th Grade Drama

theatre vocabulary; writing plays, monologues, etc.; study theatrical traditions on a global level; judge lighting, sets, makeup, and props

7th Grade Drama

identify dramatic elements - inciting incident, etc.; culture specific performance with masks, costumes, set; contrast theatrical styles; add suspense and tension to writing; understand how cultural influences affect the content and meaning of drama

8th Grade Drama

explore figurative language and imagery; act in specific genre of theatre; write reviews of dramatic productions; understand how American history is reflected in various styles of theatre

Beginner's Level

use physical, vocal, emotional, and social elements to portray a character; distinguish between acting styles; how technical elements enhance character development

Intermediate Level

use analytical skills to develop characters from the thoughts and feelings expressed in dialogue

Advanced students

develop, communicate, and sustain a character through a published script; use improvisational skills to develop complex characters; select and apply technical elements to specific characters

Apron or Thrust Stage

Shakespeare's Globe Theater

rendering

free hand drawing of a set based on the director first-hand impressions for design

elevations

scale drawings of sets

Mise-en-scene

everything put on the stage to be filmed or seen as part of the performance; actors, scenery, lighting, costumes; the emotional tone of a film

aria

operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio

array

loud speakers that are used in a performance

artic

a truck used to transport sets, costumes, equipment, from one venue to another

attribute

the parameters of moving light that can be controlled such as pan, tilt, and gobos

avista

scene changes that are done in view of the audience

backing

piece of scenery that hides the technical areas

battens

floodlights set up in compartments allowing the mixing of light colors.

clipping

when the peaks of the output signal from an amplifier are squared off during amplification resulting in distortion

additive color

when two colored beams are focused on one area

subtractive color

occurs when two colors of gels are placed in front of a lantern

IATSE

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

masking

material neutral in color used to both define the performance area and hide technical elements

Prompt Book

keeps blocking notes, lighting and sound cues for a show

traverse theatre

audience is set up on either side of the stage

ALD

Association of Lighting Designers

amplifier

converts low voltage signal into a higher current signal

modeling

the use of highlights and shadows to create a three-dimensional effect

6 lighting qualities

intensity, color, direction, distribution, texture, and movement

intensity

light that is reflected by the performer and the background - affected by costumes, makeup, and props; depends on the size of the beam

color

light that is reflected by the actor and background; controlled through colored gels, light temperatures, and dimmers - affected by costumes, makeup, and props

direction

angel of the light determines the size, direction of shadows

distribution

the part of the stag that will receive the lighting; contolled by the type of lighting, the focus of the light, masking devices, and the direction of the light source

texture

the degree of diffusion or clarity of the light source

movement

changes in color, intensity, direction, texture, and distribution

Profile spot/ellipsoidal reflector spotlight

hard-edged beam of light

Fresnel

soft-edged beam with controllable size

gobos

stencils that create patterns of light and shadow

flat front light

when light is focused directly on an actor's face

classicism theatre

the principles and styles admired in the classics of Greek and Roman literature during the 17th and 18th centuries such as objectivity, sensibility, restraint, and formality; embody Aristotle's unities of time, place, and action

neo-classicism theatre

theatrical style characterized by elaborate costumes and scenery and stories that involve melodrama

Elizabethan Theatre

characterized by a large number of characters, several subplots, and a variety of mixed emotions

Restoration Drama

Comedy of Manners; witty dialogue with themes of virtue and honor and sexual behavior of a sophisticated society

Romanticism Theatre

characterized by man's unfaltering trust in the kindness of nature; logic abandoned for emotion; encouraged the simple life and glorified past civilizations; fused comic and tragic styles together; favored abstraction and idealism

Realism Theatre

truth could be felt by the five senses; in contemporary places

Naturalism Theatre

developed through the work of Charles Darwin; pessimistic attitude with no climax

Expressionism Theatre

goal is to express raw emotion through highly exaggerated movements and voice expression; not to teach or entertain;

Absurdist Theatre

non-realistic characters; ambiguous concept of time and setting

Problem Play

The Doll's House written by Henrik Ibsen

Aristotle's six elements of drama

As you see the 1. spectacle and hear the 2. music (sound) you will listen to the 3. characters and their 4. language (diction) as you watch the 5. plot (action) unfold and perceive the 6. theme (idea)

Aristotle's Sub Elements of Action

At the beginning comes the 1.exposition and then the characters experience a 2.problem through a 3.point of attack that further develops into 4.complications that 5. foreshadow a decision to be made in the 6.climax of the 7.crisis before the 8.denouement or end of the play.

Elements of Plot in Aristotle's Poetics

exposition, complication, reversal, recognition, and resolution

Clowns

Comic performers characterized by colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, & unusually large footwear. A clown acknowledges his audience.

American character clown types

The tramp -migratory & finds work where he travels.

The hobo - migratory, but does not find work where he travels.

The bum - non-migratory and non-working

Mime

An actor who communicates entirely by gesture and facial expression.

Advantages of reading drama as text

Freedom of point of view, Additional information, study & understanding

First grade

Improvisational & pantomime activities. Dramatize fictional and real-life stories to demonstrate plot structure. Understanding geographical origins. Expressing emotional reactions.

second grade

Acting out alternative endings. Perform in groups to build cooperation skills. Pantomime concepts like hunger, anger, friendship, and excitement. Identify stories from different cultures. Identify universal character-types. Critique an actor's performance. Identify the moral of a story.

Third grade

Identify the "five Ws". Work together to write a script. Write a script that uses basic blocking. Perform different versions of similar stories from around the world. Developing & applying criteria judge the success or quality of a performance. Compare the content and messages contained in two separate works.

Fourth grade

Identify character's motives. Changes in voice can be used to convey meaning. Express emotions through gestures. retell stories using various tomes. Create a character using externals. Local theater. Critique performances. Understand audience's impact. View performance & identify methods employed to evoke response from the audience.

Fifth grade

Identify structural elements of plot. Participation in improvisational activities. Understand concepts of blocking. Participate in an actual performance. Make costumes, sets, and props for a cultural celebration. examine cultural traditions & beliefs as they are reflected in plays. Evaluate methods used by actors to convey meaning in their performances.

Benefits of a theater a program in schools

Increases critical & creative thinking. Develops problem-solving skills. Develops effective communicators. Learn to collaborate with others & coordinate individual skills within a group. planning and implementation skills. Learn how to research. Gain greater understanding of cultural & historical events & beliefs. Develop high level of self awareness & self-confidence. more socially aware.

Teaching character acting

Teach students how to develop, communicate, and sustain characters in various performances.

Acting process

Methods & materials from which an actor draws the ability to perform.

Affective memory

An actor reactivates a past experience to gain the emotional and psychological feelings associated with those events and then transfer them to a performance.

Atmosphere

Michael Chekhov. Inherent energy with a specific place.

Character acting

An actor must make a change to their physical person in order to perform a role.

Catharsis

the purging of an emotion.

Emotional memory

a tool used by actors in which they use their own specific memories of events in which they reacted emotionally to understand the emotions of the character they are portraying.

Dramaturg

Specialist in theater who may advise actors, directors, and producers, in certain aspects of theatrical productions.

Level

The height of an actor's head in a performance while carrying out certain actions.

Flood light

Flood area with light. Evenly spread, bottom concentration, battens.

Flat field

the light is evenly distributed throughout the beam.

Peak

Higher concentration of light at the center of the beam.

Chronical plays

Historical dramas based upon English history during Elizabethan & Jacobean periods.

Mystery plays

Based upon the bible.

Passion plays

Mystery plays based upon the passion of Christ.

Heroic dramas

Heroes of epic deeds. Restoration time period.

Interludes

very short musical or dramatic entertainment. 16th century England.

Nos

Traditional Japanese theater that uses music, dance, & poetry. Reflecting Hinduism & Buddhism. William Butler Yeats adapted No for western audiences.

Problem plays

Focus on social problems & movements. Alexander Dumas - series of short plays attacking the ills of society. 19th century peak. Henrik Ibensen - most celebrated playwright of problem plays - Women's rights in "The Doll House". Lillian Hellman & Arthur Miller wrote in 20th century.

Problem plays Shakespearean scholars

plays that have caused interpretation problems for audiences such as: All's Well That Ends Well, Troilus & Cressida, Measure for Measure.

Farce

Dramatic comedy that is full of action. Theater of the absurd - chaos of life. Tragic farce. Silent films - Charlie Chaplin, the Keystone Cops & other slapstick comedians.

Bedroom Farce

Comedy based on the foibles of attempted seductions. Alan Ayckbourn.

Apostrophe

When a character addresses an abstract idea or persona not present in the scene.

Soliloquy

Character seems to be speaking to himself, or thinking out loud. only occurs when there is only one character on the stage.

Antistrophe

Greek drama - where the chorus responds to a previous stanza of verse.

Agony

Greek word for struggle or conflict. Classical Greek drama - indicates portion of play in which two characters engage in a heated argument or debate. Both comedies & tragedies.

Chorus

Greek drama - group of actors who furnish a commentary on the play as it unfolds. Chorus - speaks for society. Shakespeare used in Henry V & Romeo & Juliet. Modern Drama - T.S. Eliot's play "Murder in the Cathedral".

Children's literature

Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" & Johanna Spyri's Heidi. Mark Twain & Robert Louis Stevenson. Modern - realistic but tragic providing catharsis for young readers. William Armstrong's "Sounder".

Sociolingustics

Relationship between language and the structure of society.

Aesthetics

The study of sensori-emotional values, called judgments of sentiment & taste. Immanuel Kant & David Hume.

Egyptian passion plays

stone tablet 2000 BCE. Roles played by the Egyptian king Ikhernofret. Communicated the suffering and successes of a particular deity. Passion plays depicting the life of the god Osiris occurred annually in the cities of Abydos & Heliopolis.

Origin of comedy

First introduced in a performance or festival called komos. First comic poet Susarion - Megaris.