t and before love and shelter. Millions survive without love or home, almost none in silence; the opposite of silence leads quickly to narrative, and the sound of story is the dominant sound of our lives, from the small accounts of our day's events to the vast incommunicable constructs of psychopaths
Told stories of the kill-hunters learned important lessons about hunting, building houses, how to fight, how to make clothing, etc. by listening to others accounts Passed down myths and legends from generation to generation. These myths explain origins, purpose and the religious/moral framework of their lives. The stories established the relationship between people and their god(s) Gave people an identity, characteristics and values
Elements seen in modern theatre which you would have seen in story-telling millions of years ago
Dance
Once human kind had settled into villages and tribes, rituals became a big part of the community
Rituals which were considered vital to the well-being of the tribe also used many of the elements needed for theatre: performance space performers Masks or makeup costumes Music/dance audience
During its existence, theatre has been highly developed and highly prized.
I know it might not seem like it to you right now, but by the end of the semester, youll be able to comprehend: how immensely tied to theatre we are as human beings because theatre: Status Quo-the current state Helps us examine what it means to be human
of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep things the way they presently are
Questions our purpose in the world Promotes freedom of thought/creation, which throughout history has been tied with democracy, equality and education
Entertainment? Or
Or this
Or this
1. What is performed
The play; the script that the artists create from
2. The performance
What the audience actually experiences and sees
3. The audience
Lifelikeness: Theatre is the art that comes closest to life as it is lived day by day Ephemerality: once it happens, its in the past; you cannot get it back (even if it has been filmed) Objectivity: presents both outer and inner experience Complexity of means: communicates meaning simultaneously through text, sound, images, set, lighting, pace, costume
A Performance on a subway in NYC A performance in the tunnels under the London Bridge
The components may be easily understood by everyone or be so strange that all but a few are puzzled
Help
Art
Can use the body in incredibly beautiful ways to tell a story It can punch you in the gut and make you realize things about our humanity and our world (while exposing you to a new culture)
Example of a show which does this here Example of a show which does this here
It can interrupt your day and remind you that sometimes you have to stop appreciate whats happening around you
Example of a show which does this here
It is the mission of Kitchen Dog Theater... to provide a place where questions of justice, morality, and human freedom can be explored. We choose plays that challenge our moral and social consciences, invite our audiences to be provoked, challenged, and amazed. We believe that the theater is a site of individual discovery as well as a force against conventional views of the self and experience. It is not a provider of answers, but an invitation to question. Since theater of this kind is not bound by any tradition, Kitchen Dog Theater is committed to exploring these questions whether they are found in the classics, contemporary works, or new plays.
Undermain Theatre Project(X) Dallas Childrens Theatre Contemporary Theatre of Dallas Ground Level Arts Theatre Three (and Two!) Shakespeare Dallas Pocket Sandwich Theatre Uptown Theatre The Dallas Opera
Hip Pocket Theatre Jubilee Theatre Pantagleize Theatre Artisan Center Theatre Circle Theatre Crossover Theatre Amphibian Productions Watertower Theatre Theatre Arlington African American Repertory Theatre Dozens of community theatres
Dallas Summer Musicals AT&T Performing Arts Center Bass Hall Casa Maana