The document discusses the history of theater from ancient times through the present. It notes key developments such as the introduction of the proscenium arch and thrust stage in ancient Greece and Italy/England. The eras of mystery, miracle, and morality plays are highlighted from the Medieval period. Important modern playwrights like Ibsen, Shaw, and Chekhov emerged in the 19th century. Musical theater greats like Gershwin, Sondheim, and Lloyd Webber influenced Broadway in the 20th century. Improvisational forms developed connections to jazz.

5. Before recorded
history – ongoing in
indigenous tribal
cultures

6. 600 BCE – 250 BCE

7. ANTIGONE
Look—what’s Creon doing with our two brothers?
He’s honouring one with a full funeral
and treating the other one disgracefully!
Eteocles, they say, has had his burial
according to our customary rites,
to win him honour with the dead below. 30
But as for Polyneices, who perished
so miserably, an order has gone out
throughout the city—that’s what people say.
He’s to have no funeral or lament,
but to be left unburied and unwept,
a sweet treasure for the birds to look at,
for them to feed on to their heart’s content. [30]
That’s what people say the noble Creon
has announced to you and me—I mean to me—
and now he’s coming to proclaim the fact, 40
to state it clearly to those who have not heard.
For Creon this matter’s really serious.
Anyone who acts against the order
will be stoned to death before the city.
Now you know, and you’ll quickly demonstrate
whether you are nobly born, or else
a girl unworthy of her splendid ancestors.

8. 925 CE –
1500 CE
Three Categories:
•Mystery
•Miracle
•Morality

9. The Play of the Shepards, from the Chester Cycle
of Mystery Plays
For with walkynge werye I have mee rought;
besydes the suche my sheepe I sought.
My taytfull tuppes are in my thought,
them to save and heale
from the shrewde scabbe yt sought,
or the rotte, yf yt were wrought.
If the cough had them caught
of hyt I could them heale.
Loe, here bee my herbes safe and sownde,
wysely wrought for everye wounde--
the woulde a whole man bringe to grownde
within a little whyle--
of henbane and horehounde,
tybbe, radishe, and egermonde,
which bee my herbes save and sounde,
medled on a rowe.

10. 1603-1868;
ongoing
Kabuki Video
on YouTube

11. 1570’s - 1642
Notable
Introductions:
•The Proscenium Arch
stage (Italy)
•The Thrust Stage
(England)
•Creation of the theater
company with a home
theater building
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KkZCq2A5LI

12. Opera Masters:
Mozart (18th C.)
Wagner (19th C.)
Verdi (19th C.)
Puccini (20th C.)
Amadeus, 1:45. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kGtmHGu9O8

13. 1801 – 1900
Major
Players:
Ibsen
Shaw
Chekov

14. THE FLOWER GIRL. I want to be a lady in a flower shop stead of selling at the corner of
Tottenham Court Road. But they won't take me unless I can talk more genteel. He said he could
teach me. Well, here I am ready to pay him--not asking any favor--and he treats me as if I was
dirt.
MRS. PEARCE. How can you be such a foolish ignorant girl as to think you could afford to pay Mr.
Higgins?
THE FLOWER GIRL. Why shouldn't I? I know what lessons cost as well as you do; and I'm ready
to pay.
HIGGINS. How much?
THE FLOWER GIRL [coming back to him, triumphant] Now you're talking! I thought you'd come
off it when you saw a chance of getting back a bit of what you chucked at me last night.
[Confidentially] You'd had a drop in, hadn't you?
HIGGINS [peremptorily] Sit down.
THE FLOWER GIRL. Oh, if you're going to make a compliment of it--
HIGGINS [thundering at her] Sit down.

15. 1840-1934

16. 1901- ongoing

17. A country road. A tree.
Evening.
Estragon, sitting on a low mound, is trying to take off his boot. He pulls at it
with both hands, panting. He gives up, exhausted, rests, tries again. As before.
Enter Vladimir.
ESTRAGON (giving up again): Nothing to be done.
VLADIMIR (advancing with short, stiff strides, legs wide apart): I'm beginning
to come round to that opinion. All my life I've tried to put it from me, saying
Vladimir, be reasonable, you haven't yet tried everything. And I resumed the
struggle. (He broods, musing on the struggle. Turning to Estragon.)
So there you are again.
ESTRAGON: Am I?
VLADIMIR: I'm glad to see you back.
I thought you were gone forever.
ESTRAGON: Me too.

18. 1857 - ongoing
Broadway
Superstars:
George and Ira
Gershwin
Stephen
Sondheim
Andrew Lloyd
Webber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejGLmx7ZH0c

19. •Improvise:
to compose, play, recite, or sing (
verse, music, etc.) on the
spur of the moment.
•Related to Jazz - riff, make it
up, and change based on impulse
•Saturday Night Live, Second
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-
City, The Groundlings night-live/video/lunch-
lady/1354913