Foundations of Theatre Flashcards
1
Q
What qualities must an actor naturally possess or work to acquire?
A
Relaxation, Concentration, Imagination, and Observation
2
Q
An actor who is properly concentrating on the role will think about ______________ rather than ____________.
A
What they are doing … How they are doing it.
3
Q
The “magic if” theory…
A
requires the actors to imagine they are in the character’s situation.
4
Q
In this method, the actors analyze their reactions and examine how they compare to what the character would do in the situation.
A
The “magic if” theory
5
Q
In the “magic if” theory, it is helpful to draw upon ________ memory and ________ memory to be able to depict a realistic emotion or reaction during a performance.
A
Sense memory & emotional memory.
6
Q
The Alexander Technique was developed by Shakespearean orator and actor ______________ in order to overcome _____________.
A
Frederick Matthias Alexander & his chronic laryngitis.
7
Q
Alexander’s technique requires that actors become aware of __________
A
the tension they hold in their necks while performing.
8
Q
The Alexander’s technique attempts to…
A
rid the body of tension and stress through alteration of one’s daily physical movements.
9
Q
The James-Lange Theory was developed by psychologist _____________ and physiologist _______________.
A
William James & Carl Lange
10
Q
According to the James-Lange Theory, emotions are a result of _____________ to ______________.
A
Physiological response & external stimuli.
11
Q
When practicing the _____________ theory, students describe or act out physical symptoms while other students guess the corresponding emotion.
A
James-Lange
12
Q
The Cannon-Bard theory was developed by psychologists __________ and ___________.
A
Walter Cannon & Phillip Bard.
13
Q
According to the Cannon-Bard Theory, _________ cause a __________ reaction.
A
emotions & physiological
14
Q
When practicing the ________ theory, students participate in scenarios that make them fearful, anxious, angry, or excited and then have them describe the physiological symptoms which accompany that emotion.
A
Cannon-Bard
15
Q
The ______________ involves holding specific poses to convey emotions or attitudes.
A
Delsarte System of Expression
16
Q
The Delsarte System of Expression was developed by _________.
A
Francois Delsarte
17
Q
Which method was used in the first acting school of the United States?
A
The Delsarte System of Expression.
18
Q
Francois Delsarte studied __________ and ________, ___________, _________, _________, and ________________.
A
Human behavior and movement, anatomical medicine, voice, breath, and body language.
19
Q
Delsarte’s work was introduced by his protege, __________.
A
Steele Mackaye
20
Q
Delsarte’s system consists of ______ principles of gesture, the relationship of inner experience and physical __________, and the symbolism of various lines and their connection to human __________.
A
Nine, Manifestation, Awareness.
21
Q
Meisner Technique has often been described as getting actors to “_________________________.”
A
Live truthfully under imaginary circumstances
22
Q
In the exercise called __________, one personal spontaneously makes a comment based on their partner’s behavior, and that phrase would be repeated back and forth between the two in the same manner until it changed on its won.
A
Repetition
23
Q
The Meisner Technique emphasizes carrying out an action ________ on stage and letting emotion and subtext build on the ______ of the action and on the other characters around them.
A
Truthfully, truth
24
Q
_____________ is the ability to clearly pronounce words while acting or performing.
A
Articulation
25
___________ is the development of movements of actors on stage in relation to other actors and scenery/props.
Blocking
26
________ is the purging of an emotion, such as fear or grief, which can occur while performing on stage.
Catharsis
27
____________ the ability of an actor to be "in character" through use of dialogue, attitude, voice, costume, expressions, and mannerisms.
Concentration
28
____________ is reading a script for the first time.
Cold Reading
29
_________ is the condition or climate in which a play was written or meant to be performed.
Context
30
______ is the signal that serves as an indicator of another action that is about to occur.
Cue
31
__________ occurs when the final conflict in a production is resolved.
Denouement
32
___________ is the choice of words that the actor uses to express themselves.
Diction
33
__________ is the physical location on the stage that is the closest to the audience.
Downstage
34
________________ is a tool used by actors in which they use their own specific memories of events in which they reacted emotionally to understand the emotions of the character they are portraying.
Emotional memory
35
A ________ is a specialist in theatre who may be called upon to advise actors, directors, and producers in certain aspects of theatrical productions.
Dramaturg
36
_________ occurs when one must provide information regarding the facts of the plot, usually to the audience either before or during a performance.
Exposition
37
_______ is the height of an actor's head in a performance while carrying out certain actions.
Level
38
In ___________ participants adopt and act out the roles of characters, or parts, that may have personalities, motivations, and backgrounds different from their own.
Role-Playing
39
Modern improvisational theatre began in the classroom with the "theatre games" of _______________ and _____________ in the 1950s.
Viola Spolin & Keith Johnstone
40
A _______ is a representational object manipulated by a ___________.
Puppet & Puppeteer.
41
A mask is an artefact worn on the face, typically for ____________, __________, ____________, or ___________.
Protection, concealment, performance, or amusement.
42
The word mask comes from ________ Masque and either ________ Maschera or _________ Mascara.
French, Italian, Spanish
43
The oldest surviving mask is __________ years old and is called the ______________.
5000& Summerian mask of Warka.
44
The commedia character, the _______, is the peasant clown.
Zanni
45
The commedia character, the __________ is the old Miser.
Pantalone
46
The commedia character, the ________ is the Banal Doctor
Il Dottore
47
A ______ is an actor who communicated entirely be gesture and facial expression.
Mime
48
The ________ refers to the script that contains notes for actors or technicians and may be written by the playwright or the premiere production staff.
acting edition
49
_______ occurs when an actor must improvise lines or actions to compensate for forgetting their own or for another actor's lapse in memory.
Ad lib
50
____ is a solo performance in an opera the conveys the emotional state of the main character.
Aria
51
An _____ occurs when an actor speaks directly to the audience, though the other characters are not privy to the information being shared.
Aside
52
_______ are scene changes that are done in the view of the audience.
Avista
53
________ refers to the prompt corner on stage right instead of stage left.
Bastard Prompt
54
______ is the term shouted by the stage management to signify it is time for the actors who appear in the first scene to come onto the stage.
Beginners
55
A very small role in a performance is called a ___________.
Bit Part
56
A _____ refers to a prompt book or the unsung parts of a musical.
Book
57
A sudden flash of light often used as a cue is called a ______.
Bump
58
A ______ is a request that an actor come to the stage to prepare for entrance into a scene.
Call
59
_________, is a term used by Stage Mangers, giving verbal cues to lighting, sound, and fly operators, as well as stage crew throughout a performance.
Calling the show
60
______ an actor's movement facing toward the audience
Cheat
61
The path that one actor takes from one side of the stage to the other is called a ____________.
Crossover
62
A __________ is a speech given by the director or theatre owner before a performance begins.
Curtain Speech
63
A ________ is a specialist brought in to assist actors with specific accents necessary for dialogue within the production.
Dialect coach
64
The _______ is the imaginary wall that separates the audience and the actors.
Fourth Wall
65
_____ is the terms that stage management shouts to actors backstage when the show will being in thirty minutes.
Half
66
A _______ or _____ is a 15-20 minute break between sections of of a performane
Interval or Intermission
67
_______ is the emphasis of certain words during any oral recitation.
Inotation
68
_______ is the term used to refer to an actor who must use a script during a scene.
On book, or On the book.
69
_______ is the term used to refer to an actor who has memorized, or does need a script during a scene.
Off book
70
______ a term called out by directors when it is time for actors to stand in their appropriate positions to begin a scene.
Places
71
____________ refers to the time before a production in which the planning is done.
Preproduction
72
_______ is the performance that occurs prior to opening night.
Preview
73
__________ refers to the main actors in a production.
Pinricipals
74
A _________ is a staff member who follows the script as the play is performed, standing ready to remind an actor of a line in the event they forget during a performance.
Prompter
75
________ is the term the stage management shouts to the actors when the show will start in 15 minutes.
Quarter
76
A ____________ is a costume change that must happen so quickly that it must be done near the side of the stage instead of completely back stage.
Quick Change
77
A _________ is a theatrical company organization in which two or more productions are alternated throughout the performing season.
Repertoire
78
________ is a term used in musicals to refer to the repetition of a song or dance at a later point in the show.
Reprise
79
A _____ refers to the number of time a production is schedule to show.
Run
80
A ______ is used in musicals to refer to the act or scene that immediately follows another.
Segue
81
A _________ is a report provided by stage management detailing any problems from the previous performance; actors and technical staff receive copies so that the problems can be addressed.
Show Report
82
A _____ is a cue that has no fade time; usually a lighting or sound cue.
Snap
83
A _____________ refers to an oration by an actor on stage where they are speaking to themselves.
Soliloquy
84
A ________________ is the first run-through of a performance
Stagger-through
85
TBC, an acronym that stands for ______________, is usually seen in a cast list when an actor has not been chosen for a part or if a venue date has not been selected.
To Be Confirmed
86
A ___________ is an immediate scene change that involves the use of gauze and lightning to hide or show certain areas of the stage.
Transformation
87
___________ refers to an actor who is repeatedly cast in similar roles.
Typecast
88
A _________ is a cue based on the action on stage rather than given by a stage manager.
Visual Cue
89
__________ refers to an actor who is physically present on stage but does not speak.
Walk-on
90
_____________ is a theatrical style developed by French playwrights in the 17th century. In general, classicism places emphasis on society, reason and enlightenment.
Classicism
91
Aristotle's theories include the unity of _______, __________, and ___________.
Time, Place, Action
92
____________ is a theatrical style established in the 18th century and included extravagant costumes, and elaborate scenery with stories that involved a high degree of melodrama.
Neo-Classicism
93
Neoclassic theatre has clearly define genres of either _________ or __________.
Tragedy or Comedy
94
_______________ theatre is characterized by a high number of characters, several subplots that eventually merge, and a varied mixture of emotion.
Elizabethan
95
Restoration drama, also knows as the _____________, is characterized by witty dialogue with themes of virtue and honor. It also featured plots involving the sexual behavior of sophisticated society.
Comedy of Manners
96
Romanticism was the dominant theatrical style from ______ to ______.
1750-1800
97
_____________ is characterized by mankind's unfaltering trust in the kindness of nature.
Romanticism
98
The idea of _________ was based on science and technology, suggesting that science could solve the problems of humanity. It stressed the idea that the truth could be felt by __________ and was characterized by contemporary settings and periods.
Realism & Five Senses
99
The themes of realist drama were common to _____________ people.
Everyday
100
_________ is a branch of realism, and was developed as a result of _____________.
Naturalism and Charles Darwin.
101
Darwin's theories on evolution materialized into a form of drama with prevailing pessimistic attitude in which there was no __________.
climax.
102
The goal of ____________ theatre was to express raw emotion, not to teach, entertain or duplicate reality.
Expressionist
103
Expressionism is characterized by highly exaggerated ___________ and ________ techniques to express the emotions of characters.
Movements & Voice
104
Expressionism dramatize the struggles and spiritual nature of protagonists as well as the struggles between _____________
Differing Social Classes
105
____________ drama is characterized by a lack of realistic characters, an ambiguous concept of time and vague attempt to define setting.
Absurdist
106
___________ are historical dramas based on English history written primarily during the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods.
Chronicle Plays
107
___________ are dramatic works based on the Bible. These dramas were usually produced by local trade guilds for the pleasure of their villagers.
Mystery Plays
108
___________ are specialized mystery plays based on the passion of Christ.
Passion Plays
109
__________ featured heroes of epic deeds. Usually written in blank verse or heroic couplets, these plays reacher the apex of their popularity during the __________ period.
Heroic Dramas & Restoration
110
________ refers to a very short form of drama, sometimes performed between courses of a banquet but also the term came to refer to any kind of musical or dramatic entertainment.
Interludes
111
The popularity of Interludes peaked in the _____________ England, as they were often performed for private parties and fell out of favor with the opening of public venues.
16th century
112
____ is a form of traditional Japanese theatre that use music, dance, and poetry.
No
113
"No" theatre reflect on theme from _________ and ___________, and make no claim to be realistic. It relies on spectacle and imagery.
Hinduism & Buddhism
114
The "No" plays have a fixed repertory that has been consistent since the _________.
1500's
115
_____________ adapted "No" for western audience in a series of short plays.
William Butler Yeats
116
_____________ focus on social problems and movements during the __________.
Problem Plays & 19th Century
117
______________, son of the great French novelist, wrote a series of short plays attacking the ills of society.
Alexander Dumas
118
____________ is the most celebrated playwright of problem plays such as the "______________" which focuses on the treatment of women's rights.
Henrik Ibsen & The Doll House
119
__________ and ___________ have both written popular problem plays in the 20th centuryy.
Lillian Hellman & Arthur Miller
120
Shakespearean scholars use the term "Problem Plays" to refer to plays that have caused ______________ problems for audiences.
interpretation
121
Plays such as "All's Well That Ends Will", "Troilus and Cressida", and "Measure for Measure" include various interpretations and are considered _________________ by Shakespearean scholars.
Problem Plays
122
A ________ is a dramatic comedy that is full of action, escapades of characters always on the brink of disaster, and fuller of stereoptypical characters filling stock roles.
Farce
123
The _________ is one of the oldest forms of comedy.
Farce
124
The ______________ is a special type of comedy base don the foibles of attempted seductions.
Bedroom Farce
125
___________ is a British playwright known for his Farce plays.
Alan Ayckbourn
126
Aristotle's six elements of drama include....
Spectacle, Diction, Character, Idea, Plot/Action, and Song
127
___________ refers to the visual elements of a play. These include make-up, costumes, and sets.
Spectacle
128
_______ refers to the language of the play.
Diction
129
______________ refers to the physical, mental, or emotional qualities demonstrated by actors allowing the audience to see them as unique individuals
Character
130
______ is defined as the theme that the author is attempting to convey to the audience.
Idea
131
________ is any physical mental or emotional activity performed by a character.
Action
132
Aristotle's original element of action is comprised of eight sub-elements:
exposition, problem, point of attack, foreshadowing, complications, crises, climax, and denouement.
133
The ________________ is the way the author presents the problem.
Point of Attack
134
Aristotle's Poetics follow this 5 step progression of plot:
1. Exposition.
2. Complication.
3. Reversal.
4. Recognition.
5. Resolution.
135
___________ occurs when a character addresses an abstract idea or a persona not present in the scene.
Apostrophe
136
Soliloquy occurs when there is only one character on the stage, while _________ there may be other characters in the scene but they are not addressed.
Apostrophe
137
___________ is a device in Greek drama where the chorus responds to a previous stanza of verse.
Antistrophe
138
_________ is the Greek word for struggle or conflict, and indicates a portion of the play in which two characters engage in a heated argument or debate.
Agony
139
True or False: In tragedies the agony is sometimes follow by the death or exile of the protagonist.
True
140
The _______ is a group of actors who furnish a commentary on the play as it unfolds.
Chorus
141
The chorus speaks for ________ rather than any character in the play.
Society
142
A _____________ is the central character in a play or story.
Protagonist
143
The character opposing the protagonist is called the _________
Antagonist
144
Syllogism three steps are...
The major premise, the minor premise, and the conclusion.
145
The major premise is...
a generalization.
146
The minor premise is...
a specific case.
147
The conclusion is deduced by...
applying the generalization to the specific case.
148
True or False: A deductive argument must stand on a valid, verifiable premise, and the conclusion is a logical result of that premise.
True
149
A "___________" fallacy consists of an oversimplification or distortion of opposite views.
straw man
150
the term deus ex machine is Latin for "_____________"
God out of a machine.
151
Deus ex machine refers to when an actor playing God was lowered on the stage by some mechanical device. In modern usage, the terms refers to...
A character or event that is suddenly introduced into a work of fiction in order to help resolve some problem or dilemma.
152
A __________ is the process by which the actor learns about the unique elements that make up the character.
Character Analysis
153
A character can consist of the following 8 things:
Vocal Patters, Physical appearances, mannerisms, feelings, prejudices, aspirations, emotions, and goals.
154
___________ refers to the elements that an actor can use in their environment to aid in creating specific characters.
Externals.
155
Externals can be a ___________, ___________, __________, or _____________.
Costume, Vocal Change, Makeup, or a set of Mannerisms.
156
Using externals to create a character is a method called "_______________."
Outside-in
157
The ____________ character-type is often an anarchist, a joker, or a foold.
Auguste
158
Classically, the ___________ character instruct the auguste character to perform his bidding.
whiteface
159
the ______-_________ plays the role of the mediator between the whiteface character and the auguste character.
contra-auguste
160
The three types of objectives are...
Objective, Super-Objective, and Sub-Objective.
161
The __________ in the most general sense is the character's goal.
Objective
162
The __________ is the character's goal for the whole play.
Super-Objective
163
The __________ are small changes in a scene involving mood, subject, and intention.
Sub-Objective
164
_______ is an important part of understanding a character, as it can define the identity of a character or clarify a relationship with another character.
Subtext.
165
One of the earliest preserved documents attesting to the existence of dramatic productions is a stone tablet from _______ B.C.
2000
166
The tablet contains a description of the roles played by the Egyptian king ___________.
Ikhernofret
167
______________ generally centered around the central god figure of Osirirs, whose legend claims that he was murdered by his brother, but later resurrected.
Egyptian Passion Plays.
168
The Egyptian Passion plays depicting the life of Osiris occurred annually in the cities of _________ and ______________.
Abydos and Heliopolis
169
According to Aristotle, comedy was first introduced in a performance or festival called...
Komos
170
__________ was an ancient Greek ritual in which a group of drunken males danced and sang, often in a procession, while carrying a large phallus.
Komos
171
The phallic symbol in the Komos ritual was a tribute to the god _______, believed to be the companion of Bacchus, the god of wine.
Phales
172
The first comic poet, ___________, was an inhabitant of a town near Megaris.
Susarion
173
According to Aristotle, tragedy can be traced to the Greek songs called ____________, which were song in honor of the fertility god Dionysus.
Dithyrambs
174
____________ which means "goat-song" in Greek.
Tragoedia
175
The word ________ is derived from the Greek word "Choros" which meant to dance in a circle.
Chorus
176
_______________ believed that tragedy originated from the worship of the dead, not of the god Dionysus.
William Ridgeway
177
A _________ is play in which a heroic character, through unfortunate circumstance, experiences a downfall.
Tragedy
178
Greek Tragedies are usually orchestrated by gods as punishment for the sins of hubris, the sin of __________.
Pride
179
The year _____ B.C. marks the approximate start of Old Comedy, which often made fun of _________ figures.
450 & politcal
180
Middle Comedy was the dominant form of Greek comedy from the end of the _______ century to the middle of the _________ century B.C.
fifth & fourth.
181
Middle Comedy differed from Old Comedy by the removal of the __________, and focused on __________ characters.
Chorus & Fictional
182
New Comedy ruled the Greek stage from 4th century through 260 B.C and focused on the idea of...
Unattainable or unrequited love.
183
A new character introduced in New Comedy was the ___________.
Mercenary Soldier
184
_______________ was seen as not only a source of entertainment but also as a religious celebration.
Athenian Drama
185
__________ was the invention of the Romans.
Satire
186
Roman satire took one of two forms:
Menippean or Verse
187
Mennipean satire was named for its originator, Greek cynic Mennipus and is characterized by a rhapsodic blending of prose and verse that...
ridiculed various social characters.
188
Verse satire, created by ___________, was generally composed in _______ meter.
Lucilius & Epic
189
The Roman satire bore a similarity to Old Comedy in that they both...
were a means of attacking the injustices perpetuated by the political climate of the time.
190
___________ is recognized as the first write of the Greek satyr play.
Pratinus
191
Athenian theatre became organized into tetralogies, which compiled three ______ by one ________ piece.
tragedies & satiric
192
The purpose of the satyr form was to...
allow the audience to recover from the serious nature of the tragedy by enjoying the more light-hearted jests of the satyr chorus.
193
The three most famous Greek tragedians are...
Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.
194
Aeschylus is most noted for his trilogy called ___________
The Oresteia: Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides
195
____________ is considered the Father of tragedy and added a second actor.
Aeschylus
196
__________ known for his work, Oedipus the King, heightened the tragic form by adding a third actor and downsizing the chorus to fewer than fifteen members.
Sophocles
197
___________ is known for several plays, including The Bacchae and Medea
Euripides
198
In the plays of ancient Greece, there were two distinct roles:
Actor & Chorus members
199
Chorus members were selected by a group called the ______________.
Choregus
200
Actors in ancient Greece were chose by the __________.
State
201
In _________ actors were often slaves or foreign captives who were made to perform in exchange for their freedom.
Roman Theatre
202
____________ is credited with being the first Roman to imitate the theatre of the Greeks and therefore bringing theatre to Rome.
Livius Andronicus.
203
