TA115 Final Exam

T/F: Three dimensional changes in makeup (extended nose, addition of a beard, etc.) are most likely to cause significant change to an actor.

True

T/F: When the makeup for a production is designed, the makeup designer uses a Makeup Plot.

True

The Skene House was an architectural background for all plays that may have been a place where actors could retire or change costumes.

True

A main theme of Greek drama is fate and how we cannot escape our own fate. How is Oedipus the King an example of this?

He tried to escape his father and was unsuccessful. It was Oedipus' fate to escape the plague and travel with his mother.

T/F: Theatron or "the seeing place" was the origin of the word theatre.

True

Please describe what the deux ex machina does and who used it.

"Deux ex machina" essentually means god from the machine - this was a form of spectacle entertained in Ancient theatre where machines were used to lower Gods from the higher plane of the production space, to resolve plots that were thoroughly complicated. This tactic has been seen as somewhat of a weak way of resolving a complicated plot, and is something that is referenced in a critical way for modern entertainments when something is to abruptly cleaned up by way of supernatural/godlike forces. Consider the type of plot that is utterly complicated and you have no way of seeing a resolution from that point when suddenly the main character awakes and it was all a dream. That is not exactly a God descending to save everyone from the overly complicated situation, but it could be considered to be a similar "easy out" from a complex plot. Rather than requiring the playwright to resolve the issues through thoughtful means or have more carefully planned for a resolution, the Gods will take care of it.

T/F: Hip-hop is not an appropriate genre of music to use for a musical, as it does not carry the story in a coherent manner.

False

T/F: Minorities never write about other minorities.

False

T/F: Performance art practitioners come from a strictly theatre background.

False

T/F: The Oedipus Rex production we viewed was performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 1957.

False

Explain the process a costume designer might go through in the beginning stages of designing a show.

A costume designer will study the script, and consult with the director about their approach. They will then begin to create sketches to create an idea of how they want to proceed. Again, and throughout this process, consulting with the director to ensure their designs are meeting the director's approach and vision for the show. Once developed sketches are approved, they will move into the process of realizing their designs.

T/F: The audience has no influence on the presentation of the play.

False

How does a rendering differ from a scale model? Which do you suppose would be more helpful to a director? Why?

A rendering would be either digital or physical art that represents the performance space - a digital rendering could even be three dimensional although seen in a virtual space. A scale model is as it sounds - a physical model built at a small scale that includes the elements of scene design planned. I believe it would depend upon the director which they feel is most useful, but I can't imagine many that would not be pleased with how practical a three dimensional scale model is for them to understand how the stage elements proposed would interact with each other and allow for actors to move throughout and interact with the space as well.

T/F: The property room is used to keep the valuables of the audience members.

False

T/F: The scene designer does not have to collaborate with the costume designer or the lighting designer.

False

What types of theatres are included in American Contemporary Theatre?

African American, Latino, Native American, By and for women, gay and lesbian

What are the four types of makeup categories?

Age, Straight/Character, Racial/Ethnic Group, Special Painted Effects

In Oedipus The King, which Greek god does Kreon seek advice from to help lift the suffering from the people of Thebes?

Apollo

Who wrote Poetics, an ancient Greek text about the nature of drama, dramatic structure, and dramatic form?

Aristotle

What are the unique traits of epic theatre?

Epic theatre is most associated with Bertolt Brecht. He believed that the theatre should focus on social situations and problems and therefore attempted to create a sense of alienation in the audience rather than total passive empathy, because he felt it would enable them to retain their ability to think critically about the situations at hand and about potential solutions rather than to focus on being swept away with their feelings of empathy for the characters. He achieved this alienation through features such as exposing the theatrical means (such as lighting, etc), setting the plays in different places and time periods, encouraging actors to present a character rather than fully identifying with the character, and contrasting theatrical elements to bring more attention to their components. He even used structural devices (such as captions or songs) to draw attention to the way the play was assembled as opposed to drawing them into the story.

T/F: When preparing a headshot for an actor's resume, the actor should touch up the photos to make them look perfect

False

Briefly describe Aristotle's Poetics and how it influences drama even today.

Aristotle's Poetics was a writing about the qualities of theatre that he considered essential and critical to its form and success. He had certain tenets or principles that he believed were key to any good quality theatre experience. While the writings we have are focused on tragedy, the principles contained therein are applicable to all forms of theatre. It is believed that there were some other writings of his that may have addressed comedy, but have not survived to be remembered in the way that the writings on tragedy have. Aristotle's principles of theatre include: plot, character, diction, thought, music and spectacle. There are also subjects of key importance within his writings on these subjects, such as the ideas of complication and denouement in plot. Also related to pot and character the concept of peripety. In an ideal plot, for Aristotle, there must be sufficient climax through complication up until a turning point for the character at which point we begin the unraveling of the complications or the denouement. He believed that these sides of the turning point both deserved treatment as being of the utmost importance. Peripety refers to a reversal in fortunes - which is often a turning point for modern drama. Again, these principles are general and so strong that they have survived the ages. We still look for a great balance of plot, development of characters, communication through a careful approach to diction, strong ideas communicated throughout the play's thoughts, music (whether it be actual music or simply the sounds of the production) that suits the context, and spectacle to capture our imaginations.

What is the difference between articulation or pronunciation? This question is in regard to how an actor differentiates the two and how the actor uses them.

Articulation is the production of specific sounds, while pronunciation refers to the way these sounds interact with each other in combination. An actor must be able to clearly articulate specific sounds in order to be heard clearly. Then the actor can use the knowledge of various articulations to place in combination in effective pronunciation that can communicate clearly not only the basic content of the text given, but also to emulate various dialects or accents.

Describe elements of Expressionism

Expressionism was a movement that believed truth is found within each individual person's soul and is personal and subjective rather than universally so for mankind. As such, theatre in this style sought to externalize the inner vision of the artist - meaning they would not try to represent the world in a "realistic" way in terms of how we would observe it with merely our senses, but through the distortion present in our protagonist's eyes, emphasizing their own individual truths.

T/F: Zoot Suit was performed using African dance and music.

False

According to Aristotle, all dramatic action or plots should have three parts. What are they?

Beginning, Middle, and end

What is the most widely known Chinese theatrical from? What are two of its qualities?

Beijing Opera. It is a selection of several different theatrical works and incorporates acrobatics.

Who is most associated with epic theatre?

Bertolt Brecht

What are the four levels of characterizations suggested when creating a role?

Biological, sociological, psychological and ethical

What did the Off-Off Broadway La MaMa organization do for the theatre community? How did it effect professional and educational productions?

By emphasizing new plays and and a freedom from restrictions, the resulting theatre productions were innovative and varied. These productions often defied expectations of what was accepted as effective dramatic approaches. Because it was so successful in it's broad number of productions and directorial approaches, its innovation was very appealing and ended up being asked to create branches in other countries. The effect was to spread the concept of a space for new and innovative writing and performance styles widely (the "Off-Off Broadway model). Having a place where these innovations are approached in a small sustainable scale means that ultimately these changes to theatrical approach can be processed and tested before adopted in other more mainstream spaces like Broadway or educational productions.

What does "creating theatre outside the box" refer to?

Productions using a cross cultural and age diverse cast and diverse and unexpected production venues and performers

What are three of the functions of scenic design?

Communicates the world of the play, creates mood and atmosphere, and creates a floor plan.

T/F: Asian theater represented their culture with plain costumes and lots of musical instruments.

False

T/F: Draping is an important part of the makeup design.

False

What has Disney done to revitalize both Broadway and musicals? Include what was built, and what was produced, and why you think these things revitalized the American musical.

Disney refurbished the New Amsterdam Theatre, in terms of physical revitalization, but they also brought the advent of the "corporate musical." Disney brought their family friendly animated and movie musicals to life on the stage, and doing so was able to attract a whole new audience. With the overall changes made in the 42nd Street Development Project, of which Disney was a major player in their theatre refurbishment, Broadway was able to attract a wider variety of people to many shows. One of those main attractions were these commercially marketable and accessible Disney stage translations. I think this energy and this money, along with the increase in venues strictly improving the numbers of audience members able to participate, were a major revitalization. Considering the way Disney has led the increase in musicals in film with their animated features and then proceeded to bring those to the stage, they also contributed specifically to the world of American musicals.

Which important member of the theatre acts as an internal critic within a particular theatre, and examines artistic choices and raises questions concerning their effectiveness in respect to a theatre's immediate and long-range goals?

Dramaturg

T/F: During the era of decentralization of theater, all governments stopped subsidizing theater.

False

T/F: England has never awarded government subsidies on the premise that theatre is a business that must be self-supporting.

False

T/F: Edward Gordon Craig and Adolphe Appia were important playwrights developing new scripts.

False - Adolphe Appia was a swiss architect and lighting theorist. best known for his many scenic designs for Wagner's operas. He rejected painted two-dimensional sets for three-dimensional "living" sets because he believed that shade was as necessary as light to form a connection between the actor and the setting of the performance in time and space Edward Gordon Craig was English designer, theatre theorist and son of actress Ellen Terry. Ideas comparable to Appia. Hated painted scenery and realistic detail, closed spaces (proscenium). Wanted a unified vision; all elements equal. Open playing spaces. Preferred verticality and oversized set pieces. Trained actors to be "ubermarionettes". Always had something provocative to say. Together, they are the two most important theoreticians and designers of the non-illusionist movement. Laid the foundations for non-illusionistic theatrical practice. Swiss theorist, intrigued by Wagner's theoretical writings and Music Drama, believed artistic unity was the fundamental goal of theatrical production and that theatre involved three conflicting visual elements:Moving 3-d actor, perpendicular scenery, horizontal floor. Advocated replacing the 2-d painted scenery with 3-d set pieces. He felt lighting was essential to tie all of the visual elements together.

What skills are needed for a costume designer?

Fashion design, visual art, tailoring, social & cultural history, and acting

What artistic skills are required for the scene designer?

For specifically artistic skills used by a scene designer, these involve sketching, color rendering, and scale model production as well as the painting and decorating involved with the actual set production as well.

What are the four common types of physical stage arrangements of the actor-audience relationship?

Proscenium Arch, Thrust, Flexible Space, Arena

What are the controllable qualities of light?

Intensity, distribution, color and movement

What is the importance of having different stages, such as the Proscenium Arch Stage, Thrust Stage, Arena Stage, and Flexible Stage?

It defines the physical relationship of the performer to the audience. The venue shapes how production elements can be used.

Although a critical perspective isn't required, how does it help us to enjoy a theatrical performance?

It increases our understanding and helps us communicate our response to others.

According to the text for this course, what are five special qualities of theatre?

Lifelikeness, ephemerality, objectivity, complexity of means, and immediacy

What are two primary working plans used to organize the lighting by lighting designers?

Light plots and Instrument Schedules

Who wrote A Raisin in the Sun, and why was both the playwright and the play significant as entering new ways and subject matter in productions and entertainment? Be as specific as you can.

Lorraine Hansberry is the playwright who wrote A Raisin in the Sun. The success of this play marked the beginning of plays by Black American playwrights gaining wider recognition. It was the first play by an African American woman to be on Broadway. The themes are remain strong in the work by Black American playwrights that have followed since this time, addressing the inequities and the struggle for dignity and success by Black people in an oppressive America.

Who developed an acting approach that requires acrobatic actors who could respond to anything the director required? He used the term "biomechanics exercises."

Meyerhold

Which is not a distinguishing characteristic advocated by French neoclassicism?

Mixing tragic and comic elements in the same play.

In Asian theater, there is a type of drama that is divided into five types: God plays, Warrior plays, Women plays, Madness plays, and Demon plays. What is the name of this type of drama?

Noh drama

In the Oedipus Rex video we watched, which characters wore the distinctive nine-spiked crown?

Oedipus, Jocasta, Creon

Describe elements of Realism/Naturalism

Realism/Naturalism was a movement that valued truth as found in the physical world, through science and observable events. This truth was access through mankind's senses and was represented as such on stage as a very natural lifelike and realistic representational style of theatre.

What are the four modernist theatre movements?

Realism/Naturalism, Symbolism, Expressionism and Surrealism.

The scene designer must develop many skills. List as many skills as you can and how they are used by the scene designer.

Scene designers must have a variety of artistic and practical skills that combine to create their designs that set the tone but are also safe and functional for the performers involved. This means that they have awareness about requirements for structural integrity as well as an understanding of the practical necessities of construction such as cost and duration of build. They must have the artistic capabilities to produce sketches and in some cases technical drawings that will communicate to others their concepts in effective ways. Sometimes this involves building scale models as well as painting and drawing. Even if scene designers don't paint or physically create the set, they must understand the techniques and process enough to be able to make a plan which others can follow in a predictable way. They must also have collaborative skills and knowledge that allows them to work well with the other aspects of production, such as meeting blocking needs, providing stage properties beyond the set, and working with lighting designers.

T/F: Theatrical performances took place in Egypt long before the Greeks had their first City Dionysia Festival in Athens.

True

Describe elements of Surrealism

Surrealism (along with Expressionism) believed truth is within but is only located in the subconscious mind and can be accessed through illogical associations and metaphorical thinking that allows one to pierce through to their subconscious. The stage represented this style through unusual combinations of familiar objects, using as inspiration dreams or automatic writing.

Describe elements of Symbolism

Symbolism believed that truth exists in a spiritual or mystical realm and therefore can only be accessed through our intuition rather than through observation or our senses. In theatre, this meant that the productions would use symbols that would bring to our mind feelings and states that could trigger our intuitions and recognition of truth.

What significant developments helped revitalize the American musical?

The renovation of 42nd St in NYC, Dynamic musicals attracting new audiences, musicals based on popular movies and pop music

T/F: The scene designer creates the floor plan, communicates the world of the play, reinforces style or theme, creates mood or atmosphere, and delineates the performance space.

True

What are two reasons why the actors wore masks in Greek theatre?

The Masks made it easier for men to portray women's roles. Actors often had to play several roles, and masks helped them make the quick changes between characters.

In the live production of Oedipus Rex, the characters were wearing masks throughout the duration of the production. With this limit on the ability of facial expression, how did the actors compensate and portray motivation and emotion?

The characters would have a more distinct tone of voice when speaking. Body movements would be exaggerated.

What is the importance of having different stages, such as the Proscenium Arch Stage, Thrust Stage, Arena Stage, and Flexible Stage?

The different types of stages offer a variety of opportunities for theatre to take place in various settings. It also allows for a variation in the relationship between the performers and the audience. In any case, all aspects of production must adapt to the requirements of the various types of stages. Directors, scene designers, actors, costumers, and so forth must all consider the angles and sight lines necessary from the different configurations to ensure that their contribution to the production suits the performance space.

What are the five important tools that actors use to bring characters to life? (Stanislavsky method.)

The first is an understanding of objectives - this means knowing the desires and goals of the character. The next is their actions - sometimes called tactics - basically what is the character going to attempt to do in order to achieve their objectives. Obstacles on the other hand refers to the barriers that stand in the way of the character achieving their objectives, what must they overcome? The "magic if" is a stretch of the imagination that places the actor in the position of the character and to try to see what they would do if placed in that or a similar situation. Lastly, the given circumstances. These indicate the context of the action for the character as indicated by the playwright. What circumstances does this character find themselves in when this action takes place? Where are they, who is around, when does it take place and so forth.

What are the four controllable qualities of light? Explain them and how they are used.

The four controllable qualities of light are intensity, color, distribution, and movement. Intensity means whether the strength of the light is very strong or weaker - more light or less light. This lends itself to the emotional quality of the setting. Less intense lighting can be mysterious or threatening for example. Bright intense light can be cheery or perhaps clinical, depending on the tone and setting. Color is fairly self explanatory, but changing colors can also set the tone and means that the light is a different color either through filters or other techniques. Distribution means where the lighting is placed or aimed, which will create stronger light in various ages of the stage - such as making sure the lighting is strong where the action is taking place. Movement occurs when there is a perceptible change in any of these qualities - we sense movement when color is altered, when the intensity is modified, and certainly when distribution is altered, such as redirecting a strong focus of light to a different part of the performance area.

Travis T. Anderson wrote in his article "Seeking After the Good in Art, Drama, Film, and Literature," "The only safe and reliable way to avoid the bad is to look constantly at and for the good. Focusing solely on the bad, however innocent one's intentions, will always lead toward that very point of focus." What did he mean by this and how will you apply it to your life?

The idea is that if you continue to turn your focus toward things that are not positive, you will move toward those things. The idea is that there isn't anything we can focus toward or consume or experience that doesn't change us in some kind of way, or fill our minds with certain types of ideas. I think that the phrase "do not look where you don't want to go" is a strong one in the article that reinforces this point. However, I really appreciate the other point made that just because something is absent of negative qualities doesn't mean it is full of good qualities. I think sometimes people are a little too robotic in their assessment of what is good or bad content. They look for certain arbitrary warning flags instead of thinking about how these things make them feel or think. There are lots of very fluffy bits of entertainment out there that don't do anything to nourish me or provoke important thought, and some things that others would avoid for arbitrary reasons (such as swear words or something) that have offered me a lot of reason to think deeply about life choices and society - things that have definitely bettered who I am as a person and I believe brought my actions to be more Christlike. I think the points about moderation are interesting, for sure, and I like that it essentially also brings about the context of the individual. Things that are thought provoking for me might be triggering or upsetting for others who aren't bettered by that type of input. We must always continue to listen to the spirit and apply what we feel is good for us and avoid things that we can feel are distancing ourselves from our Heavenly Father.

What did Elder Ballard say "is the medium of intelligence that guides inventors, scientists, artists, composers, poets, authors, statesmen, philosophers, generals, leaders, and influential men in general, when they set their hands to do that which is for the benefit and blessing of their fellowmen"? ("Filling the World with Goodness and Truth," Elder M. Russell Ballard).

The quote referenced by M. Russell Ballard is from Bruce R. McConkie and is speaking about the Light of Christ as this medium of intelligence.

Even though some artists in the church may be very talented and excel in their fields of study, what does Elder Boyd K Packer mention about why there aren't many modern works of art within the church?

The works created may be beautiful, but they don't invite the Spirit into our heart.

What was the main point discussed In Neal A. Maxwell's talk "Creativity"?

There is beauty in the world all around us as God's creations. Our own expression of this is recognition of God's presence in our lives and the beauties He Himself has created.

T/F: Since the 1960s, women, gays, the economically deprived, and the physically disadvantaged have been rebelling against marginalization.

True

T/F: The concept of postmodernism allowed for a change in theatre by melding different categories and ignoring or deliberately violating differentiation and breaching the boundaries between the arts.

True

T/F: The costume design helps performers and audiences understand who the characters are and how they relate to one another.

True

T/F: The playwright's ideas of truth, interests, and views on the human condition are what determine the kind of plays they will write.

True

T/F: The role of a dramaturg changes depending on the organization.

True

T/F: The scene designer creates the background and world of the production.

True

Which theater configuration allows the performers to present a more intimate production?

Thrust

In that same video production, which character wore a white mask with huge dark eye-holes in it?

Tiresias

T/F: A auteur director treats the script as raw material to be shaped for their own purposes.

True

T/F: A flexible space theater can be used in any configuration from proscenium to arena.

True

T/F: An arrangement of incidents to create a dramatic action are the form of any play.

True

T/F: Audience's responses are often conditioned by cultural expectation.

True

T/F: Based on speech "The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord" given by President Boyd K. Packer, is following quote true or false? "If you use your gift properly, opportunities for service are opened that will be beneficial eternally for you and for others."

True

T/F: Brother Anderson said, "...seeking after the good requires, in addition to effort, considerable sacrifice and commitment."

True

T/F: Characterization delineates a person or differentiates that person from others in a play production.

True

T/F: Collaboration between the scene designer and the director is paramount to creating a cohesive production.

True

T/F: Costume designers must work within circumstances dictated by the script, director, performance space, and budget.

True

T/F: Elder M. Russell Ballard said, "Our ability to develop and use our artistic gifts to edify and inspire others depends on our faithful adherence to the Lord's teachings."

True

T/F: Elder Maxell said, "Since all truth comes from God, when we celebrate truth in creative breakthroughs, whether in new understanding of molecular structure or in the beauty of new sculpture or a new painting or new poetry, we are acknowledging the resplendent order in God's universe."

True

T/F: Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "Righteous work is our love of God and of our neighbors being made manifest! Creative work is a special expression, 'a more excellent way', of showing that love."

True

T/F: Environmental theatre blends categories long treated as distinct during performance: acting space and non-acting space, performer and spectator, text and performance, sequentiality and simultaneity.

True

T/F: Flying in a theatre sense refers to set pieces that live in the "fly space" and are then lowered and lifted with pulleys. It's a term used for those set pieces.

True

T/F: In Greek theatre, men played both male and female roles.

True

T/F: Les Misérables has become one of London's longest running musicals, despite its poor reviews in the beginning.

True

T/F: Minorities are criticized most for not writing about "their" culture in theatre.

True

T/F: Oedipus The King was built on the Greeks' idea that man has little influence over his own destiny.

True

T/F: Of Broadway's many theater productions, musical productions have long been the most popular, with some running for many years.

True

T/F: President John Taylor prophesied, "You will see the day that Zion will be far ahead of the outside world in everything pertaining to learning of every kind as we are today in regard to religious matters."

True

What principles guide the concepts of classicism in theatre?

Unity of time referred to the need for the entire action of the play to take place in a fictional 24-hour period Unity of place meant that the action should unfold in a single location Unity of action meant that the play should be constructed around a single 'plot-line', such as a tragic love affair or a conflict between honour and duty.

An intermezzi is:

a comic business executed in commedia dell'arte