Introduction to Theatre Study Guide

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Elinor French
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1 1 Introduction to Theatre Study Guide Lesson 1 Elements of Theatre Art Forms: Literary- Visual- Performing- * Art is selective by the forms and also is distinguished by means of and Visual Art occupies Performing Art: Music occupies Theatre (dance and opera) occupies * One of the most important characteristics in the performing arts is the need for and major elements needed for theatre: *All of these elements are essential for theatre to occur. This makes theatre the most because : The Director stages the play written by the Playwright. The director also works with the Performers and with the Designer of scenery, lighting, and costumes. During performances the performers work along with people in charge of the technical aspect to change scenes, shift lights, and sound cues. These people are joined by collaborators: Stage Manager, Stage Carpenters, Make-up Artists, Seamstresses, and Lighting Artists. Other collaborators are the business and administrators. Producers and Managers for press, PR, scheduling, fund raising, work to keep the theatre going. Others working in Ticket sales, ushering, and ticket taking- also known as Front of House. All boils down to the audience- for it all must come before spectators.

2 2 Flow Chart I I - - I I I I I I I I I I *The Director and Designers make up the. Types of Stages * : A place where performers and audience come together. Proscenium: 3 facts: Advantages to proscenium stages: Disadvantages of proscenium stages: History of proscenium stages: Thrust : Advantages: History of a thrust stage:

3 3 Arena : Advantages to Arena: Disadvantages of Arena: History of Arena stages: Created of Found Stage: Advantages: Disadvantages: -. History of Found Stage: The Physical Theatre Apron- Backstage- Border- Catwalk- Cyclorama- Electrics- Fly Loft- Front of House- Grande Drape- Grand Valance- House- Legs- Light Booth- *Offstage- *Onstage- Orchestra- *Plaster line- Proscenium- Soft Goods- Sound Booth-

4 4 *Stage Directions- make chart Teasers- Travelers- Wings- The Playwright Playwright- Also known, as the - is responsible for creating the script. Playwright is responsible for 5 aspects: -Focus: -Purpose: -Point of View: Tragedy: Genre: Two oldest and most common genres: 3 Characteristics of tragedy Comedy:. 3 Characteristics of Comedy:

5 5 Forms of Comedy - Farce- - Satire- - Domestic Comedy- - Comedy of Manners- Playwrights of Tragedy: Playwights of Comedy: Other Genres: - Heroic Drama- - Domestic Drama- - - Melodrama- - - Tragicomedy- Playwrights of Heroic Drama: Playwrights of Domestic Drama: Playwrights of Tragicomedy: -Dramatic Structure: Plot- Conflict- Obstacle- Resolution- -Dramatic Character: - Extraordinary Characters: - Typical Characters: - Stock Characters:

6 6 - Juxtaposing Characters - Major Characters vs. Minor Characters Styles: Realism Characteristics: Naturalism Characteristics: Expressionism- Absurdism- The Producer What is the function of the Producer? What is the title of the head producer? What is the first step in raising money? Who are Commercial Investors? What does it mean to be Not- For- Profit? What are the financial requirements one must meet in order to be eligible to invest in a Broadway show as stated by the US government? What is a preview period? What is referred to when producers talk about the weekly advance? Fill in the chart:

7 7 Production (Theatre) Anything Goes (Sondheim) Billy Elliot (Imperial) Bonnie and Clyde (Schoenfeld) Chicago (Ambassador) Chinglish (Longacre) Gross Gross Attendance Perf. Seats Avg. Paid Admission $697,441 6, ,026 $ % Cap. $720,737 8, , % $265,147 4,431 8 $ % $457, ,080 $ % 4, ,077 $ % The show Chinglish is new. It is a 5.5 million dollar production. There is one Executive Producer and two other producers that receive 5 percent of the weekly gross. The weekly advance is $125, How long will they have to play at their current capacity to make a return on their investment? How do producers go about getting permission to produce a specific script?

Words and terms you should know

Words and terms you should know TheatER: The structure within which theatrical performances are given. TheatRE: A collaborative art form including the composition, enactment, and interpretation of dramatic