Death of a Salesman:What are specific differences between the two productions?How do these two productions feel different?Which production was more effective?Visual Differences:- physical features of actors (Hoffman is shorter)- color of sets- Hoffman- more Victorian, Cobb- more drab- Linda more involved in Hoffman’s- Cobb Version- quieter, less emotional, old cast- Hoffman- more energyWhat is Theater:Theater vs. Film:- cost- accessibility- advertising- celebrities- special affectsWhy study theater?- important art form; universal art- theatrical impulse- mimesis (imitation) is a natural desire in humansDefinition of Theater:- Theater must have: Actor, Story, Audience, Liveness- Theater requires: action, space, actors, liveness- Theater is constantly changingHow do audiences negotiate Theater?- conventions- rules, practices audience accepts- suspension of disbelief- ignore that some things are unrealistic- aesthetic distance- audience does not intervene into playThinking Critically about a Performance:- theater is sum of a set of choiceso playwrighto artistic directoro directoro designerso actorsKey Questions for Audience:- What was attempted?- Was it accomplished?- Was it valuable?Acting:Acting:- actor as imitator- mimesis- actor is the messenger- face of the showKonstantin Stanislavski:- Russian director/actor- Goal of acting is realistic portrayal or characterWhat it takes to be an Actor:- 3 ingredients: innate ability, training, practice- actor’s instrument- body & voice- actor’s abilities cultivate: imagination, concentration, responsivenessOptions for Training:- college, acting school, classesProduction Process:- auditionscattle callsclosed auditionscold readings/monologues call backsRehearsals:- table read- working rehearsal (scene by scene)- running rehearsals- tech rehearsals- opening night4 levels of Characterization:- biological- gender, age, appearance- sociological- class, status, family background- psychological- interests, attitude, goals- ethical- values, choicesActing Terminology:- (super) objective- ultimate goal for a character- obstacle- blocks character from attaining goal- intention- what 1 character wants from another character- tactic- way character gets over obstacle- motivation- forces character to actEvaluating Performance:- don’t shoot the messenger- could you understand him/her- was the actor convincing?Theater Notes:Before the Performance:- dress code- arrive early- read programDuring the Performance:- avoid noise- no food- no talking, singing, cell phonesAfter the Performance:- no early departures- standing ovations- “3 block rule”Directing:History of Directing:- Richard Wagner (1813-1883)- unified production is neededDirector’s Concept or thematic thrust:- overall image or metaphor for the play- director’s main jobs are: interpretation and unificationDirector’s Process:- Before Rehearsals:o Choose scripto Researcho Interpret the playo Meet designerso Cast actors- During Rehearsalso Table worko Staging rehearsalso Coach actorso Corrdinate production teamo Tech rehearsalso Dress rehearsalsThe Playwright:Terminology:- playwright- person who writes a play- playwriting- writing a play3 Elements of a Playwright:- love of language- know the stage environment- interest in peopleSource Material for Plays:- (auto) biography- current events- fiction/other plays- otherSum of a Series of Choices:- story vs. plot- theme- character- setting- styleDramaturg- helps playwright refine/focus scriptRent Controversy:- Dramaturg Lynn Thompson did not gain credit after JonathanLarson diedTheater Design:Designers:- lighting, sound, costume, scenicTraining:- MFA (Master in Fine Arts)- BA in Theater Arts- Historians get PH.D in fine artsProcess Designer goes through:- read play, sign contract- read play 3 times- meet with designers and director- research- draft ideas- budget- tech rehearsals Movement, Dance, Choreography:What is Dance?- telling a story thru body movementWho Dances?- Everyone- Dance anywhere- MoviesWhy Dance?- expression- tell a story- fun- exercise- socializeHistory of Dance on Stage:- western stage- ancient greeks & romans (chorus btwn acts)- medieval dance- carol (circle) dance; teach a lesson- renaissance- danced for nobility, actual stage, Thoinot Arbeau’s Orchesographie- Ballet- from Italy, Louis XIV loved to dance, Beauchamp andMoliere’s comedy-ballets- Ballet in Russia: o Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes refined balleto Marius Petipa- choreographer for Russian imperial Balleto Famous Ballets: sleeping beauty, nutcracker, swan lake- Modern Dance- jazz, West Side StoryWhat is Choreography?- art of creating dances- 4 basic elements: space, time, form, dynamicsHow to Read Dance:- dance is ephemeral- oral tradtion- labanontation- study of movementsTheater Notes : - shows have a weekly operating budget; need to cover costs per week to stay open- critics have the ability to close a show The Production Manager:- CSPAC lecturer- Cary Gillett- Production manager- oversees all shows in a theater- Stage manager- works on 1 show from beginning to end (most underrated job)- Once play opens, director leave & stage manager stays; keepsdirector’s vision- Blocking- actor’s movement on stageTheater Space:4 major spaces:- Proscenium- audience on 1 side (most theaters)- Alley/runway- audience on 2 sides (common in China)- Thrust- audience on 3 sides (Jenny Sutter)- Area/Round- audience on all sides (boxing match)- block box seating- chairs can move to make all 4 spacesDirections:- Perspective of Audience: house right/left- Perspective of actors: stage right/left- Down stage- closest to audience- Up stage- furthest from audienceBackstage:- wings- sides of the stage- fly loft- above stage- pit- below stage, houses orchestraTerms:- MacBeth- superstitious, known as “Scottish Play”- Ghost light- one light always, keeps ghosts happy- Spikes- marks on stage to show where things go- Strike- clear the set after play- Rake- angled floor on top of
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