ITT - Introduction to Theatre Module Overview

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Introduction to Theatre

Introduction

"In is down, down is front. Out is up, up is back. Off is out, on is in. And of course, left is right, and right is left. A drop shouldn't and a 'block and fall' does neither. A prop doesn't and a cove has no water. Tripping is okay. A running crew rarely gets anywhere. A purchase line buys you nothing. A trap will not catch anything. A gridiron has nothing to do with football. Strike is work (in fact, a lot of work). And a green room, thank God, usually isn't. Now that you're fully versed in theatrical terms, break a leg. But not really."  -Author unknown

In this module, you will learn how to identify the basic, essential elements of theatre, the similarities between theatre and ritual, as well as theatre and games, and traditional and non-traditional theatrical events. You will also explore the origins of theatre from a variety of cultures around the world, and how to use the Aristotelian elements of tragedy for descriptive theatrical criticism.

Key Terms

    1. Audience: The people attending the theatrical event watching the performer(s).
    2. Performer(s): The person or people presenting the theatrical event.
    3. Performance Space: The stage area and live audience seating where the theatrical event occurs.
    4. Essential Elements: Performer, audience, common (performance) space.
    5. Plot: Events that occur over time, related to the conflict.
    6. Character(s): The agents of the plot.
    7. Theme: The subject, purpose, focus, and perspective of the theatrical event.
    8. Lexicon: The word choice found in dramatic dialogue.
    9. Music: Everything that is heard on stage. This includes not only actual music and planned sound effects, but also the sounds of the actor's voices and dialects.
    10. Spectacle: Everything that is seen on stage: sets, costumes, and lights.
    11. Ritual: A circumscribed and repeated activity (“twice done”) that often has aspects of performance.
    12. Non-Traditional Theatre: Events with clear performers and audience in a live interactive space that do not meet the commonly expected norms of a theatrical play and are not set on a formal theatrical stage.

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

  • The Basic Essential Elements of Theatre: Exploring the essential elements that define a theatrical event and the dynamic relationship between audience and performer that makes theatrical experiences unique.
  • Multicultural Origins of Theatre: Introducing theatrical traditions and origins from around the world.
  • Aristotle's Elements: Using the categories from Aristotle’s Poetics to engage in descriptive theatre criticism to connect theatre to societal, historical, and cultural contexts.

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