The Theater Experience

by WILSON EDWIN

• ISBN13: 9780073125558
• ISBN10: 0073125555
• Edition: 10th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-05
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages

Summary

The ideal theater appreciation text for courses focusing on theater elements,The Theater Experienceencourages students to be active theater-goers as they learn about the fundamentals of a production. By addressing the importance of the audience, Wilson brings the art of performance to life for students who may have little experience with the medium.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
Introduction	1	(3)
Theater: The Art Form	4	(2)
The Focus of Theater: Human Beings	6	(1)
Ceremonies and Rituals: The Impulse toward Theater	7	(2)
Theater as a Transitory Art	9	(2)
The Elements of Theater	11	(1)
Summary	12	(3)
Part 1 The Audience	15	(86)
The Audience: Its Role and Imagination	21	(24)
The Relationship between Performer and Audience	22	(2)
The Special Nature of Theater: A Contrast with Film	22	(1)
The Chemistry of Performer-Audience Contact	23	(1)
Theater as a Group Experience	24	(3)
Psychology of Groups	25	(1)
How Audience Makeup Affects the Theater Experience	26	(1)
The Separate Roles of Performers and Spectators	27	(4)
How Should the Audience Be Involved?	28	(1)
Audience Participation through Direct Action	28	(3)
The Imagination of the Audience	31	(4)
Tools of the Imagination: Symbol and Metaphor	33	(1)
The ``Reality'' of the Imagination	34	(1)
The Imaginary Worlds of Theater	35	(7)
Realism and Nonrealism	35	(4)
Distinguishing Stage Reality from Fact	39	(3)
Summary	42	(3)
Background and Expectations of the Audience	45	(22)
Background of Individual Spectators	46	(2)
Background of the Period	48	(5)
Theater and Society	48	(1)
Greek Theater and Culture	49	(1)
Elizabethan Theater and Culture	50	(1)
Modern Theater and Culture	50	(3)
Background Information on the Play or Playwright	53	(1)
Expectations: The Variety of Experiences in Modern Theater	54	(11)
Broadway and Touring Theater	54	(2)
Resident Professional Theaters	56	(1)
Alternative Theaters: Off-Broadway and Elsewhere	56	(2)
Children's Theater	58	(1)
College and University Theaters	58	(1)
Multiethnic, Multicultural, and Gender Theaters	59	(6)
Summary	65	(2)
The Critic and the Audience	67	(12)
Theatrical Criticism	68	(4)
What Is Criticism?	68	(1)
Preparation for Criticism	69	(1)
Critical Criteria	69	(2)
Descriptive and Prescriptive Criticism	71	(1)
Getting Started in Theater---Mel Gussow, Critic	72	(3)
Fact and Opinion in Criticism	72	(2)
The Reviewer and the Critic	74	(1)
The Dramaturg or Literary Manager	75	(1)
The Audience's Relationship to Criticism	75	(2)
The Audience's Independent Judgment	75	(1)
Analysis and Overanalysis	76	(1)
Summary	77	(2)
Stage Spaces	79	(22)
Creating the Environment	80	(1)
Theater Spaces	81	(17)
Proscenium Stage	81	(4)
Arena Stage	85	(3)
Thrust Stage	88	(4)
Created and Found Spaces	92	(5)
All-Purpose Theater Spaces: The Black Box	97	(1)
Special Requirements of Theater Environments	98	(1)
Summary	99	(2)
Part 2 The Performers and the Director	101	(72)
Acting: Offstage and in the Past	107	(14)
Examples of Acting in Everyday Life	108	(1)
Social Roles	108	(1)
Personal Roles	108	(1)
Acting in Life versus Acting Onstage	108	(4)
Stage Acting: A Historical Perspective	112	(5)
Physical Demands of Classical Acting	112	(3)
Vocal Demands of Classical Acting	115	(2)
Performing in Classics Today	117	(2)
Summary	119	(2)
Stage Acting Today	121	(24)
The Acting Experience	122	(2)
Challenges of Acting Today	124	(2)
The Development of Realistic Acting	125	(1)
Photo Essay: Performers Play Different Parts	126	(2)
Getting Started in Theater: Cherry Jones: Actress	128	(14)
Performers' Training Today	134	(6)
Synthesis and Integration	140	(2)
Judging Performances	142	(1)
Summary	143	(2)
The Director and the Producer	145	(28)
The Theater Director	146	(2)
Evolution of the Director: A Historical Perspective	146	(2)
Photo Essay: The Director at Work	148	(14)
The Director and the Script	150	(6)
The Director and the Production	156	(6)
Photo Essay: Putting a Production Together---Dido, Queen of Carthage, A.R.T.	162	(2)
The Director's Power and Responsibility	164	(1)
The Producer or Manager	164	(4)
The Commercial Producer	164	(2)
Noncommercial Theaters	166	(2)
Completing the Picture: Playwright, Director, and Producer	168	(3)
Summary	171	(2)
Part 3 The Playwright: Creating the Play	173	(98)
Creating the World of the Play	179	(22)
The Subject and Verb of Drama: People and Action	181	(1)
Structural Conventions: The Rules of the Game	182	(4)
Limited Space	182	(1)
Limited Time	183	(1)
Strongly Opposed Forces	184	(2)
A Balance of Forces	186	(1)
Incentive and Motivation	186	(1)
Essentials of Dramatic Structure	186	(2)
The Form of Drama: Plot versus Story	186	(2)
Dramatic Characters	188	(1)
Creating a Dramatic Structure	188	(3)
The Opening Scene	189	(1)
Obstacles and Complications	189	(1)
Crisis and Climax	190	(1)
Getting Started in Theater: Susan-Lori Parks: Playwright	191	(7)
Point of View	191	(1)
The Dramatist's Point of View	192	(2)
Society's Point of View	194	(2)
A Cautionary Word about Genre	196	(2)
Summary	198	(3)
Dramatic Forms: Climactic, Episodic, and Others	201	(20)
Climactic Structure	202	(2)
Characteristics of Climactic Structure	202	(2)
Significant Periods of Climactic Structure	204	(1)
Episodic Structure	204	(7)
Characteristics of Episodic Structure	204	(7)
Significant Periods of Episodic Structure	211	(1)
Combinations of Climactic and Episodic Form	211	(1)
Ritual and Pattern as Dramatic Structure	212	(2)
Rituals	212	(2)
Patterns	214	(1)
Serial Structure	214	(1)
Getting Started in Theater: Richard Foreman: Director, Playwright, and Designer	215	(1)
Experimental and Avant-Garde Theater	215	(2)
Special Structures	215	(2)
Segments and Tableaux as Structure	217	(1)
Structure in Musical Theater	217	(2)
Summary	219	(2)
Dramatic Characters	221	(14)
Types of Characters	222	(1)
Extraordinary Characters	222	(1)
Photo Essay: Extraordinary Characters	223	(8)
Representative or Quintessential Characters	224	(1)
Stock Characters	225	(2)
Characters with a Dominant Trait	227	(1)
Minor Characters and Major Characters	228	(1)
A Narrator or Chorus	229	(2)
Nonhuman Characters	231	(1)
Using Dramatic Characters Effectively: Juxtaposition and Interaction	231	(2)
Juxtaposition of Characters	231	(1)
Orchestration of Characters	232	(1)
Summary	233	(2)
Tragedy and Other Serious Drama	235	(16)
Tragedy	236	(4)
Traditional Tragedy	236	(3)
Modern Tragedy	239	(1)
Heroic Drama	240	(2)
Photo Essay: Modern Domestic Drama	242	(2)
Bourgeois or Domestic Drama	244	(1)
Melodrama	245	(1)
Getting Started in Theater: Emily Mann: Playwright-Director	246	(3)
Summary	249	(2)
Comedy and Tragicomedy	251	(20)
Comedy	252	(7)
Characteristics of Comedy	252	(3)
Techniques of Comedy	255	(3)
Forms of Comedy	258	(1)
Tragicomedy	259	(1)
What Is Tragicomedy?	259	(1)
Photo Essay: Forms of Comedy	260	(4)
Getting Started in Theater: Nicky Silver: Playwright	264	(1)
Modern Tragicomedy	264	(1)
Theater of the Absurd	265	(4)
Absurdist Plots: Illogicality	266	(1)
Absurdist Language: Nonsense and Non Sequitur	267	(1)
Absurdist Characters: Existential Beings	268	(1)
Summary	269	(2)
Part 4 The Designers	271	(76)
Scenery	279	(26)
A Brief History of Stage Design	280	(1)
Scenic Design Today	280	(1)
Objectives of Scene Design	281	(1)
Aesthetic Aspects of Scene Design	281	(9)
The Scenic Environment	281	(2)
Mood and Style	283	(3)
Realistic and Nonrealistic Scenery	286	(2)
Locale and Period	288	(1)
The Design Concept	288	(2)
The Central Image or Metaphor	290	(1)
Coordination of the Whole	290	(1)
Scene Design and Popular Entertainment	290	(1)
Practical Aspects of Scene Design	291	(6)
The Physical Layout	291	(1)
Materials of Scene Design	292	(4)
Special Effects	296	(1)
Getting Started in Theater: Robin Wagner: Scene Designer	297	(1)
The Process of Scene Design	297	(6)
Elements of Design	297	(1)
Steps in the Design Process	298	(1)
The Scene Designer's Collaborators	299	(3)
Designing a Total Environment	302	(1)
Summary	303	(2)
Stage Costumes	305	(22)
Costumes for the Stage	306	(7)
Objectives of Costume Design	306	(1)
The Process of Costume Design	306	(7)
Photo Essay: The Designer---Jane Greenwood	313	(1)
Getting Started in Theater: Jess Goldstein: Costume Designer	314	(4)
The Costume Designer at Work	315	(3)
Other Elements	318	(3)
Makeup	318	(2)
Hairstyles and Wigs	320	(1)
Masks	320	(1)
Coordination of the Whole	321	(1)
Photo Essay: Masks---An Ancient Theatrical Device	322	(3)
Summary	325	(2)
Lighting and Sound	327	(20)
Stage Lighting	328	(5)
A Brief History of Stage Lighting	328	(1)
Objectives and Functions of Lighting Design	329	(3)
The Lighting Designer	332	(1)
Getting Started in Theater: Peggy Eisenhauer: Lighting Designer	333	(1)
Photo Essay: The Many Uses of Stage Lighting	334	(7)
Sound in the Theater	341	(4)
Sound Reproduction: Advantages and Disadvantages	341	(1)
The Sound Designer	342	(1)
Sound Reproduction and Sound Reinforcement	342	(1)
Sound Technology	343	(2)
Summary	345	(2)
Part 5 The Theater Landscape Today	347	(66)
Contemporary American Theater	353	(26)
Traditional and Avant-Garde Theater	355	(4)
Theater of Diversity	359	(13)
African American Theater	359	(5)
Asian American Theater	364	(1)
Hispanic Theater	365	(2)
Native American Theater	367	(1)
Feminist Theater	368	(2)
Gay and Lesbian Theater	370	(2)
Political Theater	372	(2)
Performance Art	374	(2)
Postmodernism	376	(1)
Summary	377	(2)
Musical Theater	379	(20)
Background	380	(2)
Drama and Music	380	(1)
The Appeal of Music and Dance	380	(1)
Opera	381	(1)
Types of Musical Theater	382	(1)
A Brief History of the American Musical	382	(8)
Antecedents	382	(3)
The 1920s and 1930s: Musical Comedies	385	(1)
The 1920s and 1930s: Advances in Musicals	385	(3)
Musical Theater of the 1940s and 1950s	388	(2)
Getting Started in Theater: Nathan Lane: Actor	390	(2)
Musicals from the 1960s through the 1980s	391	(1)
Photo Essay: The Diverse American Musical	392	(5)
Musicals from 1990 to the Present	395	(2)
Summary	397	(2)
Contemporary World Theater	399	(14)
Europe	400	(4)
European National Theaters	400	(2)
European Alternative Theater	402	(2)
African Theater and Drama	404	(1)
Latin American Theater	405	(1)
Theater in the Middle East	406	(2)
Asia	408	(3)
Japanese Theater	409	(1)
Indian Theater	410	(1)
Summary	411	(2)
Epilogue: Integrating the Elements and Predicting the Future	413
The Audience: Integrating the Elements	414	(1)
Observation and Assimilation	414	(1)
Observing the Elements as Parts of a Whole	414	(1)
The Overall Effect: What Does Theater ``Mean''?	415	(2)
Modern Theater: Different Purposes, Different Experiences	417	(2)
The Future: What Lies Ahead?	419	(2)
Summary	421
Appendixes
Appendix A Synopses of Plays	1	(11)
King Oedipus, Sophocles	2	(1)
Tartuffe, Moliere	3	(1)
A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen	4	(1)
The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov	5	(1)
Mother Courage, Bertolt Brecht	6	(1)
A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams	7	(1)
Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller	8	(1)
Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett	9	(1)
A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry	10	(1)
Fences, August Wilson	11	(1)
Appendix B Historical Outlines	12	(15)
Appendix C Major Theatrical Forms and Movements	27	(8)
Appendix D Glossary	35
Notes	1	(1)
Select Bibliography	1	(1)
Index	1