Theatre, Brief

✍ Scribed by Robert Cohen

• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Higher Education
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 1109
• Edition: 13
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Theatre Brief emphasizes that theatre is a reflection of ourselves because at the core of any great art is a commentary on the human experience. Theatre is not merely entertainment but a way for people to connect with one another and express important ideas about our culture and society. Through coverage of design acting and directing students are given a behind-the-scenes look at professional theatre artists performing their craft.Theatre Brief immerses its readers in the world of professional theatre giving them in-depth descriptions of many job functions and various aspects of a play’s production from beginning to end. Students will enjoy the “Why Study” Spotlight and sidebar features that connect the chapter topics to future careers.

✦ Table of Contents

Title Page
Copyright
Preface
About the Authors
Brief Contents
Contents
Connect
Introduction
Chapter 1 What Is Theatre?
Spotlight: Why Study Theatre?
The Theatre Building
The Theatre Company
The Occupation of Theatre
Work 11
Art 13
Impersonation 13
Performance 13
Live Performance
Scripted and Rehearsed Performance
Spotlight: Film Stars on Stage Acting
Chapter 2 What Is a Play?
The Play: Event and Text
Drama: Recipe and Receipt 21
Dramaturgy: The Conventions and Construction of Play-Texts
Convention 21
Spotlight: Closet Drama
Duration 24
Genre 25
Tragedy
Comedy
Other Genres
Aristotle’s Dramaturgy 28
Plot
Character
Thought
Diction
Music
Spectacle
Plays in Performance: A Timeline
Pre-Play 31
Play 31
The Exposition
The Conflict
The Climax
The Denouement
Post-Play 34
Chapter 3 Acting
Spotlight: Why Study Acting?
Approaches to Acting
Awareness 41
Control 41
Presence and the Paradox of Acting 42
Spotlight: The Method
Stagecraft: Basic Acting Exercises
Becoming an Actor
Creating a Character 47
The Actor’s Discipline 49
The Actor’s Routine
Audition 49
Rehearsal 50
Photo Essay: Actor Sir Patrick Stewart
Performance 54
Chapter 4 Playwriting
Playwriting as Event Writing
Spotlight: Why Study Playwriting?
The Qualities of a Play
Credibility and Intrigue 59
Speakability, Stageability, and Flow 61
Richness 63
Depth of Characterization 63
Gravity and Pertinence 65
Compression and Economy 66
Celebration 66
A Play’s Origins
Dialogue 68
Conflict 69
A Sampling of Current American Playwrights
Young Jean Lee 71
Jackie Sibblies Drury 72
Quiara Alegría Hudes 74
Jeremy O. Harris 76
Lauren Gunderson 77
Photo Essay: Playwright Young Jean Lee
Chapter 5 Design and Technology
Theatre Architecture and Revolving Design
Theatre Architecture 83
Revolving Design for Individual Productions 86
Spotlight: Henslowe’s Diary
Scenery
Scenic Materials 92
The Scenic Designer at Work 95
Stagecraft: Quince’s “Significant” Moon
Photo Essay: Scenic Designer Clint Ramos
Lighting
Contemporary Lighting Design 100
The Lighting Designer at Work 103
Photo Essay: Lighting Designer Don Holder
Costumes
The Functions of Costume 110
The Costume Designer at Work 113
Photo Essay: Costume Designer Catherine Zuber
Makeup
Stagecraft: The Makeup Kit
Sound Design
Photo Essay: Sound Designer Scott Lehrer
Theatrical Technologies and Special Effects
Puppets 126
Projections 127
Special Effects 127
Stagecraft: Why Study Design?
The Technical Production Team
Photo Essay: Broadway Stage Manager Lisa Iacucci
Scenography and Theatrical Design Beyond the Theatre
Chapter 6 Directing
A Historical Overview of Directing in the West
Teacher-Directors 140
Directors of Realism 141
Directors of Antirealism 141
Global Directors 142
Photo Essay: Director Robert O’Hara
The Directing Process: Step by Step
The Pre-Preparation Period 147
The Preparation Period 148
Conceptualizing the Production 149
The Core Concept
The High Concept
Stagecraft: Dramaturgy
Implementation Period 152
Selecting the Team
Collaborating
Casting the Actors
Spotlight: Diversity and Casting
Rehearsals 158
Photo Essay: Casting Director James Calleri
Staging
Collaborating with the Actors
Stagecraft: “This Is How It’s Done!”
Pacing
Coordinating
Ensemble-made Theatre: An Alternative Approach 167
The Training of a Director
Photo Essay: The Tempest
Chapter 7 Theatre Traditions and Histories
Ritual and the Search for the Origins of Theatre
Spotlight: Why Study Tradition?
Traditional Theatres Around the World
Theatre Tradition vs Historical Texts
Spotlight: Did Shakespeare Write Shakespeare?
Chapter 8 The Modern Theatre
Global Modern Drama
Realism
A Laboratory 212
Pioneers of Realism 213
Naturalism 214
Spotlight: Interview with Oskar Eustis
Antirealism
The Symbolist Rebellion 219
The Era of Isms 220
Stylized Theatre
Expressionism: Machinal 222
Socialist Realism: The Young Generation 223
Theatre of the Ridiculous: Bluebeard 225
Theatre of the Absurd: Waiting for Godot 226
Theatre of Alienation: The Good Person of Szechuan 228
Black Arts Movement: Funnyhouse of a Negro 230
Experimental Realism: Fefu and Her Friends 231
Postcolonial Drama: The Dilemma of a Ghost 233
Chapter 9 Musical Theatre
The Role of Music in Theatre History
Spotlight: Takarazuka Musical Revue
The Broadway Musical
Musical Comedy 238
A Golden Age 239
The Contemporary Musical
The Emergence of Choreographer-Directors 241
Stephen Sondheim 243
Black Musicals 243
The Disney giant 245
England and France 246
Musicals of the Twenty-First Century 248
Spotlight: Cabaret
Chapter 10 Theatre Today
Theatre Today: Politics
We See You, White American Theatre 254
#Metoo 255
Decolonizing the Dramatic Canon 257
Bodies in the Theatre 259
Photo Essay: Theatre in the Borderlands
Theatre Today: Aesthetics
New Forms of Theatre 262
Theatre and Liveness 266
Spotlight: Interview with 600 Highwaymen
The Audience
Chapter 11 The Ancients
Chapter 12 The Middle Ages
Chapter 13 The Renaissance
Chapter 14 The Theatre of Asia
Chapter 15 The Royal Era
Chapter 16 The Modern Theatre: Realism
Chapter 17 The Modern Theatre: Antirealism
Appendix: Enjoy the Play!
Glossary G-1
Selected Bibliography B-1
Index I-1