This document discusses the history and types of theatre. It begins by exploring the origins of theatre in ancient Greek festivals celebrating Dionysus. Thespis is credited as the first actor for playing a character other than himself. Theatre serves various purposes in society from entertainment to education to political propaganda. There are many types of modern North American theatre beyond Broadway, including nonprofit, regional, community, and educational theatres. Theatre continues to both challenge social norms and bring people together.

1. CHAPTER ONE

2. AUDIENCE RELATIONSHIP

3. AUDIENCE RELATIONSHIP
“Theatre is human beings coming together at a
particular time and place for no other reason
than to practice being human, perhaps with a
shared but unspoken hope that someday we
will get it right!”

4. WHAT IS THEATRE?
•A place of performance. “Theater”
•Process where actors perform live for an
audience in the same place at the same time.
“Theatre”

5. ENTERTAINMENT
•Theatre that is meant strictly for entertainment
will not likely seek to challenge the norms of
society.
•It serves as a means of escape from reality.
•This type of theatre will not push audience
members beyond their comfort zone.

6. EXAMPLES
Mama Mia The Odd Couple Spamalot

7. THEATRE AS ART
•Confronts uncomfortable truths about
society’s norms, mores and folkways.
•Entertaining but challenging
•Provides a more focused venue in which to
explore the human condition.
•Meant to be life altering and will invoke a state
of deeper thought.

8. THOUGH IT IS PRESENTED IN MANY VARIATIONS,
CHALLENGING CONVENTION IS NOT AN ORIGINAL
THOUGHT. IN FACT, THE ANCIENT GREEKS LOVED TO
DISARM AND CHALLENGE AUDIENCES.
Oedipus Rex (the King) Hamlet

9. THEATRE IN RELIGION
•The earliest known theatrical practices are
thought to have evolved from religious ritual
and dance.
•Performance was often rooted in
impersonations, song, dance and spiritual
response.

10. EARLIEST THEATRE
COLLABORATION
. . .MAYBE?

11. Historians hold the belief
that western theatre has
evolved from ancient
Greek festivals celebrating
the god Dionysus.

12. Dionysus is known to be the
god of Food and Wine

13. also associated with, fertility, madness and ecstasy

14. DIONYSIA
•The central event was the pompe. (parade)
•Followed by Dithyramb competition
(an ancient Greek hymn sung and danced in
honor of Dionysus) Think music festival.
•A second procession, the kōmos, occurred
afterwards, which was most likely a
drunken revelry through the streets.

15. •Finally Tragedy and Comedy competitions.

16. THESPIS
•Was recorded as the first to
stage a tragedy.
•Thespis was the first to use tragic
dialogue when he exchanged
words with the leader of the
chorus.
•First “Actor” as he played a
character other than himself.

17. THESPIS
•This is where the term Thespian
comes from.
•Adjective: of or relating to
drama and the theater.
"thespian talents"
•Noun: an actor or actress.

18. THEATRE AND SOCIOLOGY
The Roman poet Horace explained that the
main functions are to teach and to
please. What are some reasons theatre is
necessary to society.

19. THEATRE AND SOCIOLOGY
•Education
•The passing down of tradition between
generations
•Preserving a society’s value structure
•To reinforce or challenge the structure roles
among a people (i.e. gender, class, race etc.)

20. EXAMPLES
• The Lion King • Avenue Q

21. THE POLITICAL STAGE
•Support the status quo, build support for the
ruling government.
• Contain specific propaganda which is
designed to advocate for a specific point of
view.
• May also seek to challenge leadership.
• Examples: Mother Courage, The Sound of
Music, The Accidental Death of an Anarchist.

22. THEATRE AS COERCION
•Recognizing the powerful nature of theatre,
many governments have sought to control it.
•Natzi Germany - 1930’s
•China during the Cultural Revolution - 1966-
80’S (and today with internet)
•The Soviet Union
•America during the period of McCarthyism

23. HEALING POWER OF THEATRE
•Empowerment
•Self expression
•Drama Therapy
•Psychodrama
•Experimentation and exploration onstage

24. CULTURAL EXPLORATION
•Dramatic practice allows both those involved
with a production, as well as the audience
member to explore various cultural elements in
depth.
•Whether it is a new culture entirely or a
subculture, the participant is afforded a
glimpse into undiscovered territory.

25. KABUKI THEATRE - JAPAN

26. BREAKING THE CONVENTION
•The art of theatre is known for pushing the
envelope in certain areas. Some instances
include:
•Nontraditional or Color Blind Casting
•Gender role reversal
•Alteration of setting to more accurately reflect
the current social circumstance.

27. NON TRADITIONAL CASTING
•Role reversal (Female in Male role)
•Color Blind Casting (Casting a role with an
actor of different ethnicity than the character)
•When is this O.K. and when is it not?

28. FEMALE ODD COUPLE

29. FEMALE ODD COUPLE

30. CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

31. CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

32. BLACK FACE

33. BLACK FACE

34. BLACK FACE
Previewed and Okayed by
N.A.A.C.P.

35. WHITE CHICKS

36. WHITE CHICKS

37. STORM TROOPER

38. STORM TROOPER

39. JANGO FETT
New Zealand actor
Temuera Morrison

40. TODAYS NORTH AMERICAN
THEATRE
•While we often associate theatre with the well
known, Broadway, there are a variety of
theatre types in North America today.
•This assortment makes the art of theatre more
accessible to a wide public and serves a vast
array of functions among today’s society.

41. THEATRE TYPES
1. Professional Theatre
2. Commercial Theatre
3. Nonprofit Theatre
4. Not For Profit theatre
5. Regional Theatre
6. Amateur Theatre
7. Educational Theatre
8. Community Theatre

42. THEATRE TYPES - PROFESSIONAL
1. Commercial theatre: meant to earn $ for
investors.
A. Broadway: particular area of New York
and the size of the house (1,800)
B. Off Broadway (500) and in Manhattan
but not the Broadway district.
C. Touring shows

43. THEATRE TYPES – NON PROFIT
2. Non profit: any money taken in is used for the arts organization.
A. Most resident or regional theatres: maintain a constant
presence in a community and produce a season of plays.
B. Amateur theatre: residents don’t rely on theatre to make
money.
1. Educational theatre: used in any stage of education.
2. Community theatre: community members come
together to create theatre.

44. THEATRE TYPES - HYBRID
3. Hybrid theatres: theatres that don’t fit just
one scenario.
A. Resident theatre that has a contract with
actors equity.
B. Off Off Broadway: experimental and
rejected the establishment. Low budget
(100)