Introduction to Theatre Arts

The early stages of scenic design, characterized by innovations that took place in the Globe Theater during the Renaissance era.

A theatre architecture featuring a rectangular opening (the proscenium arch) through which the audience views the performance.

The use of visual techniques, especially in scenic design, to create depth and realism by representing objects as they would appear to the eye.

A key objective in scenic design that emphasizes the creation of a cohesive and believable environment for the play.

The unifying theme or idea that guides all design elements in a production, creating a consistent visual interpretation of the play.

The goals of costume design, including establishing the play's period and locale, conveying character traits, and revealing relationships.

Clothing elements that carry symbolic meaning, reflecting a character's social status, occupation, personality, and other aspects.

The stages involved in creating costumes, from reading the script and sketching designs to collaborating with the director and actors.

A dramatic movement that aimed to depict everyday life on stage using a realistic style, focusing on believable characters, relatable situations, and dialogue mirroring real speech.

Playwrights who revolutionized theater by embracing realistic portrayals of life – Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg, and Anton Chekhov.

Realism in theatre emphasized using credible characters, natural settings, and realistic dialogue to create a sense of authenticity and audience identification.

A movement that emphasized the use of symbols and images to communicate meaning, exploring the mysteries of human existence rather than literal events.

A movement that sought to express inner emotions and experiences through distorted reality, subjective perspectives, and exaggerated visual and theatrical elements.

Expressionism often explored themes of alienation, social critique, and spiritual struggles, using distorted reality to portray the intense emotional and psychological states of characters.

A seminal Realistic play that tackles themes of social constraints, marital expectations, and the role of women, prompting significant discussions about societal norms.

A powerful Realistic play exploring love, disillusionment, and the struggles of artists in a society that often fails to understand their creative pursuits.

A stage that extends into the audience, creating a more intimate experience and offering varied angles for the audience to view the performance.

A stage completely surrounded by the audience, providing a more immersive and interactive experience.

Non-traditional performance spaces often used for street theatre, taking advantage of unique locations like parks or abandoned buildings.

The way the set design helps create the emotional atmosphere of the performance.

How set design helps define the location and time period of the performance.

When the set design conveys a symbolic message or idea beyond its literal appearance.

Set design that works well with other design elements (like costumes and lighting) and is practical for actors to move around in.

Designing a set that changes and develops throughout the play, reflecting the story's progression.

A type of stage lighting that used gas to produce light, a significant step in the evolution of theater lighting before the invention of the electric light bulb.

Lighting design aims to ensure that actors' faces and movements are clearly visible to the audience, focusing their attention on the key elements of the performance.

Lighting design can establish the emotional tone of a play and enhance its narrative structure by using techniques like gobos (shadow patterns) and fade transitions.

An acting style that focuses on the character's inner life and motivations, seeking to portray the character's thoughts and feelings convincingly.

A famous acting technique focusing on relaxation, concentration, observation, and exploring the character's inner truth to create believable performances.

Acting styles that emphasize outward characteristics like exaggerated movements and stylized delivery, often for comedic effect.

A style of theater emphasizing social commentary and critical reflection, encouraging the audience to analyze the presented issues rather than simply empathize with the characters.

A director is the central figure in the artistic process, leading all aspects of production, from script analysis and casting to rehearsals and visual design.

The use of physical space for performances without elaborate sets, often featuring simple stage structures and minimal props.

Marked the beginning of scenic design with the introduction of perspective and optical illusions, creating more realistic stage environments.

A scaled drawing that outlines the layout of the stage, including the placement of set pieces, props, and other elements.

The overall aesthetic of costumes, reflecting the period, genre, and director's interpretation.

A detailed record that specifies what each character wears for each scene, including specific garments and accessories.

A piece of fabric used as a sample to show the color, texture, and weight of the chosen materials for costumes.

Pre-electricity, performances relied on natural light, with playwrights using language to suggest lighting changes.

Lighting design aims to create visibility while establishing the mood and time of the play.

Common lighting control techniques in theatre include blackouts, fades, cross-fades, and split cross-fades.

Sound design enhances realism and storytelling by reproducing and reinforcing sound effects.

Sound effects can be created live (e.g., a door creaking) or recorded (e.g., a gunshot).

Deciding how much to amplify voices and effects determines the overall sound level of the performance.