Ancient Beginnings
The quintessential storyteller in a galaxy far, far away
Who is C3PO?
These enhanced the ability for the actor to change characters, emotions and to project to be heard by thousands in an audience.
What were masks?
His martyrdom in 309 AD exemplified the decay of Roman theatre and eventually the fall of Rome.
Who was Genesius?
First used in 452, this invention insured the success of both the Reformation and the Renaissance.
What was the Gutenberg printing press?
The name of the first play performed in English in the Americas in 1665.
What is "Ye Bear and Ye Cub"?
It was the first performance space where stories were told
What is 'around a fire'?
These were the first permanent structures, the center of every community in the ancient Greek/Roman world, where festivals for the Gods involved producing dramatic works.
What was the amphitheater?
Movable platform stages of wheels.
What were the paegant wagons?
Islamic scholars from Istanbul who agreed to safeguard ancient Greek and Roman texts as Rome was being destroyed.
Who were the Ulama?
Thanks to Edison's invention, Broadway has been known by this nickname for over a century.
What is "The Great White Way"?
The two-headed Roman God that offers the choice of comedy or tragedy.
Who was Janus?
It wasn't a band wagon, but nonetheless, he jumped on a wagon and suddenly change theatre by becoming the character in the story - the first actor.
Who was Thespis?
Of Mystery, Miracle, and Morality - this Medieval play dealt with the lives of saints.
What are miracle plays?
Of the three styles of theaters during the Renaissance: Public, Private and Court - the type of theater where Shakespeare's acting troupe premiered his works.
What is a public theater (the Globe)?
An actor and an assassin.
Who was John Wilkes Booth?
Between the storyteller and the actor this group was involved in religious processions, dances, and antiphonal chanting.
Who were the chorus?
A divine entity developed by Euripides that functioned as an epilogue - explaining and tying up and loose ends at the end of a performance.
What was the Dues ex Machina?
This surviving morality play is considered the most important representation of Medieval Theatre.
What is Everyman?
The merry Monarch.
Who was King Charles II?
Originally known as Long Acre, a horse carriage stable, then nicknamed Thieves Lair, it is now one of the most visited destinations in the world, especially on New Year's Eve.
What is Times Square?
Of all the ancient myths, this Egyptian tale is considered where the first structured story was told in a religious festival performance.
What is Isis and Osiris?
It is considered the oldest of the surviving Greek plays first performed in 472 BC and written by Aeschylus.
What is The Persians?
These two women, cloistered nuns in abbeys, where the most prolific and significant playwrights during the early medieval period.
Who were Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim and Hildegard of Bingen?
A Puritan, he ascended to the throne after winning the English Civil war, and by the way, banned theatre for two decades.
Who was Oliver Cromwell?
He wrote "Over There", "Give My Regards to Broadway", "The Yankee Doodle Boy" and "You're a Grand Old Flag" and was known as the "man who owned Broadway" in the early 1900's.
Who was George M. Cohan?