CHAPTER ONE

AUDIENCE RELATIONSHIP

AUDIENCE RELATIONSHIP“Theatre is human beings coming together at a particular time and place for no other reason than to practice being human, perhaps with a shared but unspoken hope that someday we will get it right!”

WHAT IS THEATRE?•A place of performance. “Theater”•Process where actors perform live for an audience in the same place at the same time. “Theatre”

ENTERTAINMENT•Theatre that is meant strictly for entertainment will not likely seek to challenge the norms of society.• It serves as a means of escape from reality.•This type of theatre will not push audience members beyond their comfort zone.

EXAMPLES

Mama Mia The Odd Couple Spamalot

THEATRE AS ART•Confronts uncomfortable truths about society’s norms, mores and folkways.•Entertaining but challenging•Provides a more focused venue in which to explore the human condition.•Meant to be life altering and will invoke a state of deeper thought.

THOUGH IT IS PRESENTED IN MANY VARIATIONS, CHALLENGING CONVENTION IS NOT AN ORIGINAL

THOUGHT. IN FACT, THE ANCIENT GREEKS LOVED TO DISARM AND CHALLENGE AUDIENCES.

Oedipus Rex (the King) Hamlet

THEATRE IN RELIGION•The earliest known theatrical practices are thought to have evolved from religious ritual and dance.•Performance was often rooted in impersonations, song, dance and spiritual response.

EARLIEST THEATRECOLLABORATION

. . .MAYBE?

Historians hold the belief that western theatre has evolved from ancient Greek festivals celebrating the god Dionysus.

Dionysus is known to be the god of Food and Wine

also associated with, fertility, madness and ecstasy

DIONYSIA•The central event was the pompe. (parade) •Followed by Dithyramb competition (an ancient Greek hymn sung and danced in honor of Dionysus) Think music festival.•A second procession, the kōmos, occurred afterwards, which was most likely a drunken revelry through the streets.

•Finally Tragedy and Comedy competitions.

THESPIS•Was recorded as the first to stage a tragedy.•Thespis was the first to use tragic dialogue when he exchanged words with the leader of the chorus.•First “Actor” as he played a character other than himself.

THESPIS•This is where the term Thespian comes from.•Adjective: of or relating to drama and the theater. "thespian talents"•Noun: an actor or actress.

THEATRE AND SOCIOLOGY

The Roman poet Horace explained that the main functions are to teach and to please.  What are some reasons theatre is necessary to society.

THEATRE AND SOCIOLOGY •Education•The passing down of tradition between generations •Preserving a society’s value structure•To reinforce or challenge the structure roles among a people (i.e. gender, class, race etc.)

EXAMPLES• The Lion King • Avenue Q

THE POLITICAL STAGE•Support the status quo, build support for the ruling government.  • Contain specific propaganda which is designed to advocate for a specific point of view.  • May also seek to challenge leadership.  • Examples: Mother Courage, The Sound of Music, The Accidental Death of an Anarchist. 

THEATRE AS COERCION •Recognizing the powerful nature of theatre, many governments have sought to control it.•Natzi Germany - 1930’s•China during the Cultural Revolution - 1966-80’S (and today with internet)•The Soviet Union•America during the period of McCarthyism

HEALING POWER OF THEATRE•Empowerment•Self expression•Drama Therapy•Psychodrama •Experimentation and exploration onstage

CULTURAL EXPLORATION•Dramatic practice allows both those involved with a production, as well as the audience member to explore various cultural elements in depth.  •Whether it is a new culture entirely or a subculture, the participant is afforded a glimpse into undiscovered territory. 

KABUKI THEATRE - JAPAN

BREAKING THE CONVENTION•The art of theatre is known for pushing the envelope in certain areas.  Some instances include:•Nontraditional or Color Blind Casting•Gender role reversal •Alteration of setting to more accurately reflect the current social circumstance. 

NON TRADITIONAL CASTING•Role reversal (Female in Male role)

•Color Blind Casting (Casting a role with an actor of different ethnicity than the character)

•When is this O.K. and when is it not?

FEMALE ODD COUPLE

FEMALE ODD COUPLE

CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

BLACK FACE

BLACK FACE

BLACK FACE

Previewed and Okayed by N.A.A.C.P.

WHITE CHICKS

WHITE CHICKS

STORM TROOPER

STORM TROOPER

JANGO FETT

New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison

TODAYS NORTH AMERICAN THEATRE

•While we often associate theatre with the well known, Broadway, there are a variety of theatre types in North America today. 

•This assortment makes the art of theatre more accessible to a wide public and serves a vast array of functions among today’s society.

THEATRE TYPES1. Professional Theatre2. Commercial Theatre3. Nonprofit Theatre4. Not For Profit theatre

5. Regional Theatre6. Amateur Theatre7. Educational Theatre8. Community Theatre

THEATRE TYPES - PROFESSIONAL1. Commercial theatre: meant to earn $ for investors.

A. Broadway: particular area of New York and the size of the house (1,800) B. Off Broadway (500) and in Manhattan but not the Broadway district. C. Touring shows

THEATRE TYPES – NON PROFIT2. Non profit: any money taken in is used for the arts organization.

A. Most resident or regional theatres:  maintain a constant presence in a community and produce a season of plays. B. Amateur theatre:  residents don’t rely on theatre to make

money. 1. Educational theatre:  used in any stage of education. 2. Community theatre:  community members come together to create theatre. 

THEATRE TYPES - HYBRID3. Hybrid theatres:  theatres that don’t fit just one scenario. 

A. Resident theatre that has a contract with actors equity. 

B. Off Off Broadway:  experimental and rejected the establishment.  Low budget (100)