THEA 2013 Quiz Reviews (Modules 8-14)

Which person interviewed is responsible for supervising the installation and engineering of the physical production?

Technical Director Mike Cristaldi

Match the following "jobs" relating to creating a musical script with their appropriate descriptions: -Librettist -Composer -Lyricist

Librettist: writes the "book" (plot or spoken dialogue) Composer: writes the music (orchestrated melodies) Lyricist: writes the words that go with the music

From what state did Esther migrate to New York City?

North Carolina

What is not one of the primary functions of a stage manager?

Decides the artistic vision of the production

Who is the goddess / friend who takes Anon away from the luxury condo beach and appears to him several times during the play?

Naja

How many immigrants landed in the U.S. between 1870 and 1900?

Nearly 12 million

Where does Nemasani, (also called Penny) work, and what is she making?

Sewing factory / shroud

What is not true about Stage Manager Dylan Nicole Martin "calling the stage" for University of Northern Iowa's production of Rent?

She gets to take a break as soon as the musical number ends at the 6:20 mark

This production "accidentally" combined melodrama with music and dance when a group of stranded Parisian ballet dancers were added to the show. It is often regarded as the United States' first modern musical

The Black Crook

Who is often credited as the first modern director?

The Duke of Saxe-Meningen

Between the years 1900 and 1960, over 4,809,000 African-Americans fled the South's oppressive conditions in several major waves known collectively as what?

The Great Migration

In ancient Greece, the desire to please the gods caused Greeks to welcome all strangers into their homes and to provide safety, food, and comfort, for fear that the strangers were gods in disguise. This ancient Greek code of hospitality was called what?

Xenia

Match the three main "types" of directors with their descriptions: -"Literal" (aka "interpretive") -"Translational" (aka "creative") -"Auteur"

"Literal:" has the least amount of creative freedom; literally interprets "from page-to-stage" and tries to follow playwright's original staging ideas "Translational:" has some creative freedom; most common approach; captures the essence of the playwright's script but shapes the production with their interpretation and concept "Auteur:" has extreme creative freedom; takes the playwright's script as basic outline but creates something very different and new; basically becomes "author"; must be careful to consider copyright issues

T / F: Naomi Iizuka was born in the United States

False

In one of the videos, when playwright Lynn Nottage discusses playwriting (and specifically her inspirations and experiences preparing for the play Sweat), she talks about some ways in which she approached the process. What statements does she make in this regard?

-"Let me listen" -"Replace judgement with curiosity" -"Let me lead with my empathy"

In modern times, rising production costs of musicals have resulted in several developments, which were discussed in the book and in class. List those developments

-Big companies like DIsney are some of the few who can afford to gamble on producing a musical today -Many producers have resorted to staging revivals of older, popular musicals, or to adapting popular movies into musicals for the stage -Some producers have opted for smaller, more innovative or novel approaches, such as using puppets in the musical Avenue Q -Fewer musicals have been produced than during the "old days"

Which theatre personnel might one find in the rehearsal hall assisting the director and actors in some way?

-Choreographer -Stage manager -Vocal coach -Musical director -Movement coach -Fight director

Theatrical designers' jobs are multi-faceted and involve many steps. What items describe job aspects of theatrical designers?

-Complete prepatory and planning steps that include making drawings, renderings, thumbnail sketches, models, etc. -Take into account the budget for the production and the type of theatrical physical space that will be used (ex: thrust, arena, etc.) -Research and analyze the play's dramatic structure, period, history, location, mood, characters, and theme -Work with the director to come up with a production concept and the style of the play (ex: realism, expressionism, etc.)

Playwriting is a limited form of storytelling because a play script is limited to three (3) main parts or "ingredients" to impart the story. What are the three items?

-Dialogue -Stage directions -Parentheticals

What are the seven basic elements of design that make up the "designer's toolkit?"

-Harmony -Dimension -Color -Balance -Texture -Movement -Line

What items are things that an actor might explore to understand an build a character?

-Inner conflicts -Public and personal images -Motivations -Character flaws -Given circumstances

In the video interview with Production Manager Ruth Sternberg, she describes several aspects of her job. What statements are NOT true about her job as a Production Manager, as she described it?

-Is very ego-driven -Thinks her job is pretty boring

In the chapter, there is discussion of three specific influences on the development of musical theatre that occurred between the late 1800s and early 1900s. What are they?

-Jazz music such as that of the Gershwin brothers -Completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the U.S. -Patriotic and sentimental feelings generated by WWI

In the video interview with Dramaturg Anne Cattaneo, she makes several statements about knowledge and qualities her job entails, and that would make the job ideal for other people who have these qualities or interests. Which of the following does she include as aspects of the job or ideal qualities for the job (choose all that apply)?

-Knowledge of theatre history -Understands and loves actors -Knowledge of and / or speaks languages -Working knowledge of the theatre -Love of literature

What added to the treacherous working conditions at the Panama Canal and led to a death toll for laborers of four percent by the second year of work on the canal?

-Living conditions and poor led to diseases and ailments such as yellow fever, smallpox, pneumonia, typhoid, dysentery, hookworm, cutaneous infections, and even the bubonic plague -The dense and untamed jungle that covered the area was filled with deadly snakes -The long rainy season kept workers perpetually wet and coated in mud

Chapter 6 discusses many of the tools used by playwrights to create a script. One of those tools is language. There are several "sub-tools," or types, of language tools. What are types of language tools used by playwrights when crafting dialogue?

-Subtext (hidden meaning under what is said) -"Musical" tools (rhythm, tempo, sound) -Listening (interpreting how characters listen and respond to each other) -Imagery

What statements are true regarding the job duties that fall under those of a typical theatre director?

-Synthesize the work and coordinate the efforts of other theatre artists and technicians -Cast a vision, or "production concept," for the show -Represent the "eyes of the audience" -Work with actors to discover and develop their characters -Shape the action of the play through blocking, picturization, and focus

Anon and Pascal have a conversation on top of a moving boxcar. What do they talk about?

-Their moms -What they would do if they had all the money in the world

What types of training must an actor do?

-Training the body -Training the mind -Training the voice

When a stage director is blocking a scene, he or she can use which methods to achieve focus?

-Triangulation -Level -Stage area -Contrast -Body position

Typically, the director's "rehearsal phase" includes which actions?

-Working with actors on character -Working with designers to complete the artistic vision of the production concept -Creating focus through blocking and other means

In what year does Intimate Apparel take place?

1905

Which options best complete the blanks? Mayme's job is a (blank1), but she actually dreams of being a (blank2)

1: Prostitute 2: Concert pianist

Which options best complete the blanks? Esther is a gifted (blank1), but she actually dreams of (blank2)

1: Seamstress 2: Owning her own beauty parlor

In one of the videos, we learn that in the early 20th century, New York City was a gateway for waves of immigrants, primarily from Eastern and Southern European countries, who were typically fleeing ethnic and religious persecution, economics hardship and poverty, and political unrest. By 1905, how many New Yorkers were either the children of immigrants or immigrants themselves?

4 out of 5

What is the name of the union for stage actors?

Actors' Equity Association (AEA)

Who actually writes the letters to Esther?

An old man in Panama

The "opposer of action," who stands in the way of the central character's goals, is called the what?

Antagonist

Which person is responsible for the overall creative vision of a theatre ensemble and its season of plays?

Artistic director

From what country did George immigrate to work in the Panama Canal?

Barbados

A small section of dialogue about a particular subject or idea, sometimes signaled by a change in subject, is known as a what?

Beat

This early form of popular American entertainment featured bawdy songs, dancing women, and sometimes striptease. Its original purpose was to make fun of the pretentiousness of opera and the upper class who could afford to attend it

Burlesque

Match the following parts of a formula plot with their descriptions: -Disturbance -Climax -Point of attack -Dark moment -Event -Denouement -Enlightenment -Conflict, crises, and complications

Disturbance: balance is upset Climax: the point of greatest dramatic tension; a direct result of the protagonist's actions Point of Attack: fuse is lit; protagonist makes a decision that leads to conflict Dark moment: protagonist fails; goal seems unattainable Event: unusual event draws audience in Denouement: final outcome, hints at future, balance returns Enlightenment: protagonist comes to understand how to defeat antagonist; often tied to theme of play Conflict, crises, and complications: conflict is a struggle of opposing forces; crises are events that make action necessary; complications are roadblocks to success

Acting is what, not being?

Doing

What is Mrs. Dixon's advice to Esther about finding a man to marry?

Don't be so particular

What is not one of the universal stage areas to which a director might refer during blocking rehersals?

Down corner left

The ability to understand and identify with another's situation, feelings, and motives so completely that you feel you are experiencing that situation and those emotions is called what?

Empathy

When this theatrical design style is used, the audience sees the story through the mind of one character. Settings may be distorted by the character's conscious or subconscious phobias, prejudices, or psychoses. Instead of photographic reality, the audience sees the character's inner reality. This style is called what?

Expressionism

Acting can be understood in its most basic form as playing a what against an obstacle using various tactics (or actions)?

Goal (or objective)

Why does Anon pull on the steering wheel of Strygal's truck?

He thinks Strygal has people crammed in the back of the truck

In one of the videos, who do we learn was Nottage's inspiration for the characters of Esther and George?

Her grandparents

Why won't Mr. Marks touch Esther?

His religion forbids it

Where does Esther hide the money she has been saving?

Inside the quilt on her bed

After Anon and Mr. Mackus fight at the sewing factory, what happens to the shroud?

It transforms into a butterfly and flies away

Who is known as the "father of modern acting?"

Konstantin Stanislavsky

Finish this "equation" for conflict: desire + obstacle * (blank) = conflict

Lack of compromise

A dramaturg may have different duties, depending upon the theatre in which he or she works. Which of the following is likely NOT to be a duty of a dramaturg?

Manages the ushers and deals with issues having to do with audience members, seating, and starting the show on time

This popular form of 19th-20th century American entertainment included comic scenes, dance interludes, and sentimental ballads, all based on white stereotypes of black life in the South

Minstrel show

Match the following acting terms with their definitions: -Motivation -Goals or objectives -Obstacles -Tactics or actions

Motivations: what pushes us from behind - what drives or compels us Goals or objectives: what pulls us forward - what we want or need Obstacles: what gets in our way Tactics or actions: the active efforts we make to get what we want

Who does Esther most likely really love?

Mr. Marks

In Homer's The Odyssey, Odysseus encounters a cannibalistic cyclops (a one-eyed giant). Which character in Anon(ymous) represents the cyclops?

Mr. Zyclo

Who is hinted to be Strygal's father?

Mr. Zyclo

Who actually writes the letters to George?

Mrs. Van Buren

This musical premiered in 1943 and was considered a landmark production that took musical theatre to another level. It included serious plot elements and well-developed characters. It also utilized new storytelling techniques to develop plot and characters, including a classical ballet dream sequence

Oklahoma!

This form of musical entertainment developed during the Italian Renaissance is entirely sung or chanted, and was an attempt at imitating the ancient Greek tragedies

Opera

Why do playwrights retain more artistic control over their work than screenwriters typically do?

Playwrights retain the copyright to their work

Which person is responsible for the financial support of the production?

Producer

Match the following theatre space names with their descriptions: -Proscenium arch -Thrust, or three-quarter-round -Arena, or theatre-in-the-round -Black box

Proscenium arch: this theatre space originated in Italy in the 1500s. The audience is separated from the actors, looking through a "picture frame" to the actors on the other side Thrust: this theatre space has a lip or apron that protrudes far into the audience space like a peninsula or runway. The audience sits on three sides of the stage Arena: in this theatre space, the stage is in the center like an island, and the audience sits on all sides Black box: this theatre space is small, flexible, and can be set up in various configurations. It has movable seating, and the audience sits close to the actors

In musical theatre, this is a repetition of a song that has already occurred, sometimes with new lyrics, sometimes with the same lyrics but with new meaning or subtext in order to make a dramatic point

Reprise

From what country did Mr. Marks immigrate to New York City?

Romania

This show premiered in 1927 and revolutionized musical theatre by combining musical comedy and serious drama. It included powerful dialogue, three-dimensional characters, and songs & dances tied directly to the plot. Black and white actors performed on the stage at the same time, which was still rare

Showboat

Which person interviewed listed aspects of their job as 1) "driving the train, 2) a lot of work and long hours, and 3) first running rehearsal and then running the show?

Stage Manger Martha Donaldson

What is the most important want, or the driving force, that governs a character's actions throughout the entire play?

Superobjective

When this theatrical design style is used, stylization is taken to an extreme; no attempt is made to re-create reality; instead, oversized symbols and dreamlike or nightmarish images that emphasize the subconscious of the characters are used. This style is called what?

Surrealism

T / F: Anon(ymous) was originally commissioned by a theatre for children / young audiences

True

What was the Tenderloin district referenced in the play?

The premier sex-work district tin New York City in the early 1900s

What article of clothing gives away the fact that George has slept with Mayme?

The silk smoking jacket

What conflict do we learn is at the heart of the Van Burens' marriage?

They can't have children and he's turned to other interests

When discussing acting approaches, we consider the mind-body connection to be a what?

Two-way street

What describes Esther's wedding corset?

White satin embroidered with orange blossoms