Transcription
The Elements ofDramaTheater Arts
Essential Question How is drama different fromprose or poetry? How is drama different fromtelevision?
Drama Comes from the Greek Word,“Dran” Means “To do” or “To Act” The Doing/Acting Makes Drama
What is Drama?“Drama is life withthe dull bits cut.”-Alfred Hitchcock
What Makes Drama Unique?Drama has onecharacteristic peculiar toitself—it is writtenprimarily to beperformed, not read.
Drama is aPresentation of Action through actors(the impact is direct andimmediate)
Drama is aPresentation of Action on a stage(for a captive audience)
Drama is aPresentation of Action before an audience(suggesting acommunal experience).
Theatre Where a playtakes place
Elements of Drama Audience Etiquette No unnecessary movement or noises No cell phones, talking, standing,walking, etc.
Elements of Drama Why? Shows respect for the actors, theplaywright, and the play Allows actors to concentrate andperform their best
Elements of Drama Playwright-the authorof a play (script) Actors-the people whoperform
Types of Drama Comedy is a form ofdrama that has a happyending. Humor comesfrom the dialogue andsituations.
Types of Drama Tragedy is a form of dramain which events lead to thedownfall of the maincharacter, often a person ofgreat significance, like a kingor hero.
Elements of Drama Script- the written pages of a play. Scripts are divided into Acts and Scenes. Scripts for stage and screen have strictbut very different formats.**We will study scripts specifically in afew weeks.**
Elements of Drama Acts- long sections of a play, made up ofmultiple scenes, usually designed to separatethe play into its main parts and to give theaudience a “break” from the performance. Scenes- shorter sections of a play, usually eachscene occurs in one location at a specific time.Multiple scenes make up an act.
Set Construction on the stagethat shows time/place
Props Items used onstage by actors
Dramatic Speech Dialogue- two or more peopletalking Monologue- one person talking Soliloquy - one person speakingtheir thoughts out loud for theaudience
Stage Directions Found in brackets [ ] orparenthesis ( ) Describe scenery, action, andhow characters speak
URUCULUpstage RightUpstageCenterUpstageLeftRCLStage RightCenterStage LeftDRDCDLDownstage Right DownstageCenterDownstageLeft
Conflict The internal or externalstruggle that createsdramatic tension.
External ConflictCharacter vs. CharacterWhen one character has a problem withanother character in the story
External ConflictCharacter vs. NatureWhen the character is opposed by anatural force
External ConflictCharacter vs. SocietyWhen the character has a problemwith the society--such as laws, culture,or social norms
Internal ConflictCharacter vs. SelfWhen the character struggles with adecision or his/her own identity.
Characterization Is the playwright’stechnique for revealingthe PERSONALITY of acharacter. Direct or Indirect
Direct Characterization When the playwright TELLS the audiencewhat the personality of a character is. Usually found in character descriptionunder “Cast of Characters”
Direct CharacterizationCast of CharactersGIRL: An early teen, on the cusp of change; strong anddetermined with overcompensating swagger.MAN: In his 30’s, lost in a broken world, hardened bythe road; a father learning to talk to his daughter.
Indirect Characterization When the playwright SHOWS theaudience things that reveal thepersonality of the character Can be described by the STEALmethod
S.T.E.A.L. Speech Thoughts Effect on others Actions Looks
SPEECHGIRLMaybe the water’s still on.MANDon’t get your hopes up.GIRLYeah.MANPlenty of water in the ocean though.
THOUGHTSMANNo. I’ll go. Wait here.[MAN EXITS. GIRL finds picture of theirfamily and stares longingly at photo.]
Effect on OthersMANThe whole world is different.GIRLThink the ocean’s still there?MAN[MAN stands.]Maybe. There’s only one way to find out.[MAN and GIRLshoulder theirpacks and EXIT.]
ActionsGIRLIt’s all different now. What happenedbefore doesn’t matter. We aren’t thosepeople anymore.[GIRL tears up paper and letsthe pieces fall to the ground.]
LooksAT RISE:GIRL and MAN ENTER, DOWNSTAGE ofproscenium, STAGE LEFT. They aredressed in travel-worn clothes and carrylarge packs.
Narrativea story with a beginning, middleand endPlotThe series of events that makeup the story
Elements of Drama Acts- long sections of a play, made up of multiple scenes, usually designed to separate the play into its main parts and to give the audience a “break” from the performance. Scenes- shorter sections of a play, usually each scene occurs in one loc
