Theatre

by Wainscott, Ronald J; Fletcher, Kathy

• ISBN13: 9780205484782
• ISBN10: 0205484786
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

"Theatre: Collaborative Acts" stimulates creative thinking and discussions of artistic, social, and ethical questions through its interwoven themes of theatre as culture, collaboration, spatial art, and a fusion of the past and present. This text emphasizes the diversity of purpose and effect of theatre and the collaborative nature of the theatrical process. "Exploring Collaboration" boxes include profiles of successful artistic teams and feature a variety of approaches to the artistic process; "Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives" boxes offer a window on specific theatrical events; "Artists of the Theatre" boxes feature colorful and influential theatrical figures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Theatre history, race and gender diversity in theatre, play interpretation, play production, theatre collaboration, analyzing theatre, and the director, actor, playwright, designer. People interested in theatre as a profession or as entertainment.

Table of Contents

Preface	xxiii
ACT ONE Theatre and Its Audience	1	(155)
Cultural Collaboration Theatre and Society	2	(22)
Theatre as Entertainment and Art	4	(13)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: The Lure of Safe Conduct and Invisible Rabbits	5	(2)
The Social Functions of Theatre	7	(1)
Theatre and Religion	7	(1)
Theatre and Socialization	8	(1)
Theatre and Politics	9	(1)
Theatre and Subversion	9	(2)
Theatre and Coercion	11	(1)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Antiwar Plays	12	(1)
Theatre and Empowerment	13	(1)
Exploring Collaboration: Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts	14	(1)
Theatre and Cultural Exploration	15	(2)
Social Control of Theatre	17	(4)
Theatre and the Threat to Morality	17	(1)
Theatre Regulation	18	(1)
Theatre Censorship	19	(1)
Exploring Collaboration: Citizen Play Juries	20	(1)
Cultural Context and Personal Experience	21	(1)
Questions and Activities	22	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	22	(1)
For Further Exploration	23	(1)
Experiencing Theatre Collaboration of Actor, Audience, and Space	24	(30)
The Audience	27	(7)
Empathy and Aesthetic Distance	27	(4)
Exploring Collaboration: Spatial Collaboration: Commune and Pinocchio	31	(1)
Overall Effect on the Audience	32	(1)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Brecht versus Wagner	33	(1)
The Nature of Acting	34	(3)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Hypokrites to Actor	35	(1)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Makeup as Mask: Kathakali	36	(1)
From Play to Production	37	(2)
The Production Collaborators	37	(1)
Front-of-House Personnel	37	(1)
The Rewards of Collaboration	38	(1)
Space	39	(12)
Proscenium Space	39	(3)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Drottningholm Court Theatre	42	(1)
Thrust Space	43	(1)
Arena Space	44	(1)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Stratford Festival Theatre	45	(1)
The Black Box	46	(1)
Found Theatre Spaces	46	(2)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: The Performing Garage	48	(1)
Environmental Theatre	49	(1)
Experimenting with Space	49	(1)
Stage Directions	50	(1)
Theatre and Transformation	51	(1)
Questions and Activities	52	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	53	(1)
For Further Exploration	53	(1)
Analyzing Theatre Thinking and Writing about Live Performance	54	(26)
Theatre, Film, and Television	56	(2)
Active Participation	56	(1)
The Nature of Live Performance	57	(1)
Analyzing Production	58	(1)
Thinking about Actor Performance	59	(3)
Believability	60	(1)
Actor Choices	60	(1)
Character Interaction	61	(1)
Thinking about Space and Design	62	(6)
Seeing in Three Dimensions	62	(1)
Examining Scenery	63	(3)
Examining Costumes	66	(1)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: The Effect of Audience Space on Angels in America	67	(1)
Understanding Style	68	(2)
Evaluating Production	70	(3)
Considering Context and Artistic Intent	70	(1)
Taste	71	(1)
``I Don't Know Why I Like It... I Just Do''	72	(1)
``I Just Don't Like It''	72	(1)
The Role of the Critic	73	(3)
The Critic and the Audience	73	(1)
Exploring Collaboration: Effective Performance Criticism	74	(1)
The Critic and the Artists	75	(1)
The Critic and the Historical Recor	75	(1)
A Second Look at Production	76	(1)
Writing about Production	76	(3)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Theatre or Theater? It Is More Than a Building	78	(1)
When It All Works	79	(1)
Questions and Activities	79	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	79	(1)
For Further Exploration	79	(1)
Understanding the Play A Theatrical Blueprint	80	(28)
Plot	82	(13)
Causal Structure	82	(6)
Variations on Linear, Causal Structure	88	(1)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Elmer Rice's On Trial	89	(1)
Situational Structure	90	(1)
Structure by Idea, Character, and Image	91	(1)
Repetition as Structure	92	(1)
Poststructuralism	93	(1)
Structure in the Twenty-First Century	94	(1)
Character	95	(4)
Character Credibility	95	(1)
Levels of Characterization	96	(3)
Understanding Character Relationships	99	(1)
Thought	99	(2)
Use of Imagery to Create Thought	100	(1)
Contribution of Plot to Thought	101	(1)
Use of Allusion	101	(1)
Language	101	(4)
Contribution to Character	102	(1)
Exploring Collaboration: Improvised Text	103	(1)
Establishing Mood and Environment	104	(1)
Music	105	(1)
Spectacle	106	(1)
Questions and Activities	107	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	107	(1)
For Further Exploration	107	(1)
Interpreting the Play Understanding Genre, Reading, and Writing	108	(22)
Dramatic Genre	110	(12)
Tragedy	110	(3)
Comedy	113	(5)
Tragicomedy	118	(1)
Melodrama	119	(2)
Departures from Traditional Genre	121	(1)
Reading a Play	122	(5)
Visualizing the Action	122	(2)
Understanding Cultural and Historical Differences	124	(1)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: ``Exit, Pursued by a Bear'': Those Problematic Stage Directions	125	(1)
Exploring Collaboration: East and West: Death of a Salesman in China	126	(1)
Research	127	(1)
Writing about a Play	127	(2)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Juliet Was a Guy in Drag? Changing Theatrical Conventions	128	(1)
Questions and Activities	129	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	129	(1)
For Further Exploration	129	(1)
Producing the Play Connecting Theatre and Audience	130	(26)
Theatrical Choice in North America	132	(6)
Professional Theatre	133	(2)
Exploring Collaboration: New Audience Initiatives: The Cleveland Play House	135	(1)
Amateur Theatre	135
Hybrid Theatres	131	(7)
The Role of the Producer	138	(3)
Producing in Commercial Theatre	138	(1)
Producing in Nonprofit Theatre	139	(1)
Artists of the Theatre: Harold Prince	140	(1)
Producing in Amateur Theatre	140	(1)
The Economics of Theatre	141	(6)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: The Federal Theatre Project	142	(1)
Production Costs	143	(1)
Effect on Types of Plays Produced	144	(1)
Exploring Collaboration: The New 42nd Street	145	(1)
Theatre Funding	145	(1)
Effect on the Audience	146	(1)
Theatre and the Community	146	(1)
Questions and Activities	147	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	147	(1)
For Further Exploration	147	(9)
Photo Gallery: Theatre of Diversity	148	(8)
ACTTWO Collaboration in Art and Practice	156	(114)
The Director Vision and Leadership	158	(30)
Has Someone Always Been in Charge?	160	(3)
Actor-Playwrights and Company Leaders	160	(1)
Medieval Play Masters	161	(1)
Actor-Managers	161	(1)
The Emergence of the Modern Director	162	(1)
Interpretation	163	(2)
Developing Concept	165	(4)
Artists of the Theatre: Peter Brook	168	(1)
Communicating and Managing the Artistic Vision	169	(2)
Collaborating with the Playwright	171	(4)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Who Owns the Work?	174	(1)
Directors and Absent Playwrights	175	(1)
Collaborating with Designers	176	(1)
Successful Collaborations	176	(1)
Seeing in Three Dimensions	177	(1)
Collaborating with Actors	177	(4)
Casting the Show	177	(1)
Exploring Collaboration: Metamorphoses	178	(1)
Developing Character and Ensemble	179	(1)
Artists of the Theatre: George C. Wolfe	180	(1)
Collaborating with Stage Management	181	(1)
The Rehearsal Process	182	(2)
Read-Through and Analysis	182	(1)
Staging Rehearsals	182	(2)
Development Rehearsals	184	(1)
Technical and Dress Rehearsals	184	(1)
Opening the Production	184	(1)
The Artistic Director	185	(1)
Questions and Activities	186	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	186	(1)
For Further Exploration	187	(1)
The Actor From Mask to Contemporary Performance	188	(22)
Development of the Actor	190	(6)
Masks	191	(1)
The Actor's Face	192	(1)
The Actress Enters	193	(1)
The Tradition of Cross-Dressing	193	(1)
Artists of the Theatre: Bernadette Peters	194	(1)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Women as Ancient Mimes	195	(1)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Contemporary Cross-Dressing	196	(1)
Acting Styles and Methods	196	(7)
The Rhetorical Tradition	197	(1)
Contemporary Realistic Performance	198	(1)
Artists of the Theatre: James Earl Jones	199	(2)
Contemporary Presentational Performance	201	(2)
The Actor's Work	203	(6)
Actor Training	203	(1)
The Actor in Rehearsal	204	(2)
Exploring Collaboration: Actors as Collaborators	206	(1)
Stage versus Film Acting	206	(2)
The Professional Actor	208	(1)
Questions and Activities	209	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	209	(1)
For Further Exploration	209	(1)
The Playwright Imagination and Expression	210	(18)
The Changing Position of the Playwright	213	(4)
Playwriting as Civic Contribution	213	(1)
The Play as Commodity	213	(1)
Artists of the Theatre: Suzan-Lori Parks	214	(1)
Social Position of the Playwright	215	(1)
Copyright Regulations	216	(1)
The Playwright and Production	217	(6)
Writing with Actors in Mind	217	(1)
Writing with a Theatre in the Head	218	(1)
Collaborating with Actors, Directors, and Dramaturgy	219	(1)
Text or Pretext?	219	(1)
Exploring Collaboration: The Sondheim/Lapine Collaboration	220	(1)
Revision in Rehearsal	221	(1)
Artists of the Theatre: Michael Frayn	222	(1)
When the Playwright Is an Actor or Director	223	(1)
Development of New Plays	223	(4)
Nontraditional Play Development	224	(1)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: The Humana Festival of New American Plays, Actors Theatre of Louisville	225	(1)
Issues of Ownership	225	(1)
Exploring Collaboration: The Rent Controversy	226	(1)
Freedom and Limitations	227	(1)
Questions and Activities	227	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	227	(1)
For Further Exploration	227	(1)
The Designer Materializing Conception and the World of the Play	228	(42)
The Development of the Designer	230	(6)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Development of the Revolve	235	(1)
The Designers' Choices	236	(6)
Representational and Presentational	236	(2)
Historical versus Imaginary	238	(1)
Interpreting Space	238	(1)
Artists of the Theatre: Ming Cho Lee	239	(1)
Collaborating with Space	240	(1)
Seeing beyond the Playwright and Director	241	(1)
The Scenic Designer's Work	242	(4)
What Does the Play Demand?	242	(1)
Communicating with the Production Team	242	(2)
Exploring Collaboration: Robert Edmond Jones with Arthur Hopkins	244	(1)
Executing the Scenic Design	245	(1)
The Lighting Designer's Work	246	(7)
Changing Space with Lighting	247	(1)
Creating Movement and Mood with Lighting	247	(1)
Artists of the Theatre: Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer	248	(2)
The Lighting Designer's Tools	250	(1)
Communicating and Executing the Lighting Design	251	(2)
The Costume Designer's Work	253	(5)
The Costume in Space	254	(1)
Communicating and Executing the Costume Design	254	(3)
Artists of the Theatre: William Ivey Long	257	(1)
Meeting the Challenge	257	(1)
The Sound Designer's Work	258	(1)
Integrating All the Designs	259	(2)
Questions and Activities	261	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	261	(1)
For Further Exploration	261	(9)
Photo Gallery: Interpreting Space and Design	262	(8)
ACTTHREE Collaboration in History	270	(87)
Foundations Classical Theatrical Forms	272	(22)
Classical Greece	274	(6)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Rediscovering Menander	278	(2)
Classical Rome	280	(2)
Medieval Europe	282	(4)
Exploring Collaboration: The Community, the Church, and the Feast of Corpus Christi	285	(1)
Classical India	286	(1)
Classical China	287	(2)
Classical Japan	289	(4)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Kabuki Cross-Dressing: The Onnagata	291	(2)
Questions and Activities	293	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	293	(1)
For Further Exploration	293	(1)
Reinterpretations Europe Rediscovers the Western Classics	294	(20)
The Italian Renaissance	296	(4)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Renaissance Court Entertainment	298	(2)
Elizabethan England	300	(4)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Rediscovery of the Rose and Globe Theatres	303	(1)
The Spanish Golden Age	304	(2)
Seventeenth-Century France	306	(1)
Restoration England	307	(3)
Eighteenth-Century Europe and the Americas	310	(2)
Exploring Collaboration: The Hallam Company in the American Colonies: A Family Affair	312	(1)
Questions and Activities	312	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	313	(1)
For Further Exploration	313	(1)
Revolitions Romanticism to Postmodern Experiment	314	(43)
Romanticism	316	(5)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: The Audience Has Its Say: Theatre Riots and Demonstrations	318	(3)
Nineteenth-Century Melodrama	321	(2)
Exploring Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Nineteenth-Century Women Theatre Managers in Britain and the United States	322	(1)
Nineteenth-Century Realism and Naturalism	323	(2)
The Avant-Garde from the Late Nineteenth Century to the 1960s	325	(5)
Exploring Collaboration: Founding an Alternative Theatre: The Provincetown Players	330	(1)
Modern and Contemporary Popular Theatre	330	(4)
The Recent Avant-Garde and Postmodern Experiment	334	(2)
Questions and Activities	336	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	337	(1)
For Further Exploration	337	(20)
Key Theatrical Events	338	(19)
Glossary	357	(10)
Notes	367	(2)
Bibliography	369	(4)
Index	373