Greek Theater
A serious drama in which there is a downfall of the primary character.
Greek Tragedy
A festival dedicated to the god Jupiter which was the first major festival to incorporate theater.
Ludi Romani
Early medieval church drama, written in Latin and dealing with biblical stories.
Liturgical Dramas
The first important Greek dramatist and therefore the first important Western dramatist.
Aeschylus
Wealthy person who financed a playwright’s works at an ancient Greek dramatic festival
Choregus
Pokes fun at social, political, or cultural conditions and at particular figures.
Classical Greek Comedy
Originally a Roman entertainment in which a narrative was sung by a chorus while the story was acted out by dancers. Now used loosely to cover any form of presentation that relies on dance, gesture, and physical movement without dialogue or speech.
Pantomime
Drama from the Middle Ages performed in the everyday speech of the people and presented in town squares or other parts of cities.
Vernacular Drama
Sympathetic portrayal of female characters, increased realism, mixture of tragedy with melodrama and comedy, and skeptical treatment of the gods.
Euripedes
Leader of a Roman acting troupe.
Dominus
Instead of the political, social, and cultural satire of Old Comedy, it dealt with romantic and domestic problems.
New Comedy
Stage house in a Roman theater.
Scaena
Also called cycle plays. Short dramas of the Middle Ages based on events of the Old and New Testaments and often organized into historical cycles.
Mystery Plays
Known for his philosophical works, and for his plays, which are all tragedies.
Seneca
During the Middle Ages, one who supervised the mounting of mystery plays.
Pageant Master
One of the three types of classical Greek drama, usually a ribald takeoff on Greek mythology and history that included a chorus of satyrs, mythological creatures who were half-man and half-goat. On festival days in Athens, it was presented as the final play following three tragedies.
Satyr Play
Passageways in Roman theaters that came out from under the seating area, and which led to the orchestra and stage; they could be used by actors for entrances and exits.
Vomitoria
Medieval drama designed to teach a lesson. The characters were often allegorical and represented virtues or faults.
Morality Play
A Roman African playwright during the Roman Republic, his comedies were performed for the first time around 170–160 BC.
Terence
Customarily credited with transforming dithyrambic songs into drama in the sixth century B.C.E. by stepping out of the chorus and becoming an actor.
Thespis