Intro to Theatre Test 2

The art of directing

• Director is least visible

• Doesn’t act or write, but must inspire

Production Concept

The idea that drives the whole theatre event

Theatre styles

Realism, romanticism, expressionism

• Naturalism, absurdism, theatre of alienation

Realism

True-to-life

• Audiences understand the limitations

Romanticism

Views life in a grand, poetic, unrealistic manner

Expressionism

Dreams, hallucinations, fantasies, the psychological

• Fought against realism but did not want to hark back to romanticism

Absurdism and Theatre of Alienation

Sociopolitical issues

• Brecht projector guy

First director

Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

• Did not like star system

Nontraditional Casting

Characters are played by actors who do not fit the literal description of the role

• ex. “colorblind” casting

Laura Keene

• Actor turned first big female theatre manager

• Our American Cousin — where Lincoln was shot

Auteur

The director/choreographer has such a distinct style that you can identify their work

• French for author

The most difficult decision a producer makes

Choosing which play or musical to produce and deciding whether it’s worth the financial risk

Aislesitter

Slang for a theatre critic

Angel

Investor in a play; a backer

Turkey

A play that closes quickly and deserves to

Nut

Cost of weekly expenses for a production

• “makes the nut” — profitable

Proscenium Stage

Regular seating

Thrust stage

Sticks out into the audience

• Seating on 3 sides

Arena

360 stage

Sight line

The path of the eye from each seat in the house to the stage

The Globe Theatre

• Shakespeare

  • Groundlings

Fourth wall

The missing side of the stage

Functions of Scenery

Location, mood, practical playing space (3)

Flat

Rectangular piece of scenery that is joined to make structures

Muslin

Stretched over a flat like canvas

Ground Plan

Bird’s-eye view of the playing space

Rendering

Color sketch. Shows scenery from audience POV

Elevation Drawing

Construction plans drawn accurate and to scale

Fly Loft

The space above the stage

Unit set

Flexible set slightly tweaked for different scenes

Stage Costume

Clothes accurate to the time period

Costume Plot

Shows which characters are in which scenes, when costume changes are

Costume Rendering

Color sketches that include hairstyle, accessories

First Hand

Cutter or assistant

Dress Parade

Actors wear costumes under the stage lights, notes are made on possible adjustments

Functions of costume design

• Reveal something about the characters

• Indication of time

• Style of production

Gas Light

Started theatre lighting as we know it

Function and Elements of Theatre Lighting

Primary function: provide focus by lighting what should be seen

• Time of day

• Create mood

• Special effects

Light Plot

Complicated diagram showing each light’s color, type, wattage, etc.

Light Cues

Exactly what lights (and at what intensity) are used at specific points in the production

The Color of Lights

Gels

Acoustics

The study of sound movement within theatre/concert hall