Types of Theater and Spring Awakening Case Study

Flashcards reviewing lecture notes on professional, amateur, commercial, nonprofit, educational, and community theaters, alongside a case study on the musical Spring Awakening.

What is the primary difference between professional theater and amateur theater?

In professional theater, the actors and designers are trained and theater is their job, whereas in amateur theater, participants do not rely on theater for their livelihood.

What is the main goal of commercial theater?

To earn profit for its investors and producers by making more money than the show's initial investment costs.

How do nonprofit professional theaters handle the revenue they generate?

Money made goes directly back into the theater to break even and fund the next production rather than paying back investors.

What is the primary purpose of educational theater, such as the program at the University of Mount Union?

To offer training to students in acting, design, and technical roles so they can prepare to transition into the professional theater world.

What defines community theater?

It consists of people who come together simply because they love theater as an art form, ranging from near-professional work to ragtag groups putting on a show.

When did the musical adaptation of Spring Awakening premiere, and what was the original play it was based on?

The musical premiered in $2006$ and was based on an $1891$ German play set in a late nineteenth-century boarding school.

Why was the original $1891$ German play of Spring Awakening banned by the German government?

It was banned because it directly presented topics such as masturbation, rape, and suicide.

What musical genre did the creators of the $2006$ adaptation of Spring Awakening use to express the inner angst of the teenage characters?

Alternative rock music.

At which theater did Spring Awakening begin its Off-Broadway run in $2006$?

The Atlantic Theatre Company.

What type of stage setup was used in the Off-Broadway production of Spring Awakening?

A thrust style stage, where the audience is seated on three sides of the stage.

In December $2006$, Spring Awakening moved to Broadway at which venue?

The Eugene O'Neill Theater.

How did the Broadway production of Spring Awakening adapt its proscenium space to maintain the intimate energy of its original thrust stage?

They brought in bleachers and seated audience members directly on the sides of the stage.

How were the unique ensemble dance moves for Spring Awakening developed by the choreographer?

They originated from rehearsal exercises where actors translated internal feelings of confusion and frustration into physical movements.

How long did the original Broadway run of Spring Awakening last, and approximately how many performances did it have?

It ran for almost $3$ years and had almost $900$ performances.

What is the mission and staging approach of Deaf West, the regional theater that revived Spring Awakening?

They combine hearing-capable and deaf actors, as well as actors of different physical abilities, using sign language as a central way to express the story.

Which Academy Award-winning actress was featured during Deaf West's Spring Awakening performance on Late Night with Seth Meyers?

Marley Madness.