Theatre is Everywhere
Name a quality unique to theatrical experiences
-Synchronous
-Unique (non-repeatable)
-Engages all 5 senses
What is the name of the invisible wall between the audience and the actors during a performance?
The fourth wall
Define blocking
Blocking is the pattern and arrangment of the performer's movements onstage with respect to each other and to the stage space.
What are some features of a proscenium stage?
Picture-frame structure, raked audience, flyhouse
When did stage lighting begin and why?
When theatre moved indoors during the Renaissance, around the advent of proscenium theaters.
What defines community theatre?
The actors and many of the staff are volunteer.
What is the difference between creators and interpreters in theatre?
Creators devise the script while interpreters take the script and create work based off of it.
Define super objective.
A character's super objective is their main goal that motivates all their actions in the play.
What is the difference between a ground plan and a rendering?
A ground plan is a scale technical drawing, while a rendering is an artistic representation of the look of a set.
Define amplification in sound design?
Amplification is one of the goals of sound design. It involves the use of equipment to enhance live sound.
What is the genre of theatre that is made specifically for children by professional companies?
Theatre for Young Audiences
Define suspension of disbelief.
Suspension of disbelief comes when the audience has a strong desire to believe the "reality" of what is on stage. Logic and practical considerations can be put aside as long as the story holds their attention.
What does a stage manager do in a production?
The stage manager works with the director during the rehearsal process, running the room and coordinating with the whole team. The stage manager calls the technical cues during performances and maintains the integrity of the show after opening.
What are some historical examples of a thrust stage?
Greek, noh, kabuki, Shakespeare's Globe, medieval pageant wagon.
What does the McCandless method refer to and how does it create dimension?
It is a method of lighting design and it created dimension by using 45 degree angled lights in warm and cool tones
What is the definition of immersive theatre?
Immersive theatre is often site-specific and it aims to include the audience more fully than normal by breaking the fourth wall.
What is the main way an audience participates in most theatre performances?
Vicariously
Who is the late 19th century director that devised a system for actors to create believable performances? And what was a key tenet of their system?
Stanislavsky. Tenets included: inner truth, relaxation, emphasis on concrete specifics, circle of attention, psychophysical actions.
Define an arena stage layout and state when these became popular in the US.
An arena stage features the audience on all four sides of the playing space. They became popular in the US after WWII when there was a trend towards naturalism
What is something a costume can communicate about a character nonverbally?
•Time Period/Location
•If they are part of a group
-Class
•Alignment
•Personality
•Emotional State
Define regional theatre.
Permanent, professional, non-profit theatre institutions throughout the US
What is aesthetic distance?
Aesthetic distance refers to the gap between a viewer's conscious reality and the fictional reality presented in a work of art.
How does a director define the spine of the play?
The director can find the spine or main action of the play by analyzing the primary goals of one or more characters.
What are 2 of the goals of a scenic design?
What are 3 design tools a costume designer can use?
•The performers physical bodies
•Symbols/Cultural Literacy
•Knowledge of the history of clothing and accessories
•Fabric
•Knowledge of proper fit and construction techniques