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Theatre is Everywhere
Overview and Outline
Why should I study theatre?
Before the rise of technology the only
way audiences could see theatre was to leave their homes and attend a live
performance. In the face of such technology spectators still attend the theatre
primarily because it is live.
The most
significant difference between films and theatre is the relationship between the performer and the audience. At the
heart of the theatre experience, therefore, is the performer–audience relationship—the
immediate, personal exchange whose chemistry and magic give theatre its special
quality.
One measure of
the amazing health of live theatre today is the astounding range of
opportunities we
have of attending theatre, with locations, not only in the United States but
throughout the world, presenting a greater variety of theatre offerings
perhaps than ever
before.
A rising
consciousness of diversity has been reflected in live performance in the form
of global and multicultural theatre. Many organizations have emerged that
present productions by and for groups with specific interests including
feminism; gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered points of view; and many
others relating to diversity in politics, race, gender, ethnic background, and
sexual orientation. We also see this diversity in the form of global theatre.
Theatre is the
fountainhead of all drama in whatever form it appears: film, television, computer,
or theme park.
The characters of
film and television—the heroes, the villains, the victims, the comic
figures—all come
straight from predecessors in theatre. The way stories are
structured—the
early scenes, the succession of crises, the withholding and revealing
of information—were
there first, hundreds of years ago, in the theatre.
Our interest in media stars’ performances
and lives parallels the way audiences throughout the history of theatre have
engaged with actors and actresses.
We can see the impact of theatre all
around us today. Theatre exists in many aspects of our everyday lives and has
influenced many of our popular entertainments.
Theatre permeates our everyday lives as
we and those with whom we interact play roles. We play such roles at work, at
home, and with those we know and love.
Rock and roll performances emphasize
stage spectacle, lighting, and sound effects.
We can also see theatrical influences in
our visits to amusement parks and museums. When we visit dinner theatres
throughout the country, and when we visit Las Vegas, we recognize the
pervasiveness of theatrical elements.
Digital media from the computer to Xbox
to the iPad and smartphones are clearly influenced by theatre.
While theatre may
amuse it also has the unique ability to incorporate in dramatic material
profound, provocative, timeless observations about our human condition.
I.
Theatre Today
A. The Unique Quality of Theatre
B. The Range and Accessibility of
Theatre
C. Global and Multicultural Theatre
II.
Theatre, Television, and Film
A. Theatre and Television
B.
Theatre and Film
III.
Theatre is Everywhere
A.
Theatre and Rock Music
B.
Theatricality in Amusement
Parks, Museums, Las Vegas and Sporting Events
C.
Theatre and Digital Media
IV. Theatre
and the Human Condition
Feature:
Playing Your Part: Thinking About Theatre
Terms
nonmediated
theatre
regional theatres
community theatres
site specific
theatre
performance art
global theatre
Topics for Discussion
1. Has the mass media, such as TV and film,
replaced the need for theatre? If all these ways of telling stories already
exist, why do we need theatre at all?
2.
This chapter says we all play roles in
our lives. Does this mean that there is no “real us”? Are we all always actors?
3.
Why do you think that our world is
becoming more and more theatrical? Why would this be a trend right now? Is it
something to be resisted or embraced?
4. Why are we fascinated with celebrities? What
effect do you think this adulation has on the personal and artistic lives of
these celebrities?
5. The textbook discusses theatrical elements
that appear in rock concerts and places such as Las Vegas and Disneyland. What
other examples can you provide of theatrical elements appearing in concerts,
sporting events, or other arenas? What purpose do theatrical elements serve in
these instances?
Exercises and Demonstrations
1. Visit websites for the major hotels in Las
Vegas. What theatrical aspects are they emphasizing? Make notes for examination
when you have finished reading later chapters of this textbook. How are
lighting, costumes, sound, sets, and story being used to draw people to the
casinos?
2.
Watch one of the filmed productions of
the Cirque du Soleil. How has the traditional circus been transformed using
theatrical elements?
3. If you happen to be producing a play that is
also available in a film version, select specific scenes for the class to focus
on in performance and then compare reactions and responses about those scenes
in the live performance versus the film version.
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