Terms Related to What Is Drama?

Drama –

a form of literature presented where parts are written for actors to perform and the action is revealed primarily through the dialogue of the characters and the action includes high emotional content; the modern usage includes television and film.

Stage –

the various structures created upon which plays were or are performed including box set, picture frame stage with proscenium arch, thrust stage, arena, and open air.

Stage directions –

playwright’s directions in the play to the actors such as possibly where to stand or whether a line should be spoken loudly or quietly.

Staging –

refers to all aspects necessary to produce a play such as arranging for scenery and props, costumes, securing the performance hall, and so on: the staging of a play.

Stage business –

incidental actions or movements of an actor to enhance the performance such as wringing hands or sitting a certain way on a chair.

Orchestra –

the part of the stage where the orchestra performs generally in a lower section in front of the stage; from “the dancing place” in Ancient Greek Theater.

Chorus –

in staged performances, a group of “townspeople” who articulate different perspectives; from the Greek chorus

Chorogos –

the leader of the chorus

Scene –

a part of the play where specific action occurs; from the Ancient Greek skene, a building behind the platform stage which served as the dressing room for the actors.

Scenery –

items used to create the scene including furnishings and props; lighting, music, costumes, and sound effects are also used in plays.

Colonnade –

a line of pillars with a roof behind the skene in Ancient Greek Theater

Act –

a section of a play which generally includes more than one scene

Prologos –

the prologue; in Ancient Greek tragedy, the opening section where an actor gives a background or introduction to the play.

Parodos –

a part of Ancient Greek tragedy where the chorus enters and comments on the prologos following the prologos.

Episodia –

episodes or scenes following the parodos where the actors play out the conflict.

Stasimon (strophes, antistrophes) –

a section between the episodia where the chorus enters and comments on the action in groups representing different positions: strophes and antistrophes.

Ancient Greek Theater (Dionysus, Sophocles, Euripides) –

the presentation of drama and comedy dating back about 400-500 BC to Sophocles and Euripides in Ancient Greece.

Elizabethan Theater –

developed during the 1500, a form of theater which where plays were performs in the courtyards of inns and evolved into a highly sophisticated form of theater with elaborate theaters; includes Shakespearean plays.

Pageants –

recreations of Biblical stories during the 1100s and 1200s; also called mystery plays; forerunners of Elizabethan Theater.

mystery plays –

developed during the 900s through the 1500s which are representations of stories from the Bible and gradually fell from popularity with the production of drama such as the works of Shakespeare.

Morality plays –

developed and performed from the 1300s and 1400s which were allegories demonstrating Christian principles.

Master of Revels –

an appointed person to decide which plays would be performed in Elizabethan Theater.

Globe Playhouse –

an elaborate theater built in 1599 which includes various sections: hell, heaven, rear stage, music gallery, and huts.

Groundlings –

the commoners who stood and watched the plays in the courtyard presentations.

Modern Theater –

began in the late 1800s and is characterized by events and characters based on reality; inspired by the realism movement in art and literature.

Participatory drama – 

where actors mingle and interact with members of the audience

Ten-minute plays –

a short play which is performed in no more than ten minutes

Kabuki dramas –

Japanese dance drama characterized by ornate costumes and make-up

No plays –

highly stylized Japanese performance art from which Kabuki dramas evolved

Theater of the Absurd –

a movement in drama beginning around the 1960s where exaggerated characters and action using symbols seems absurd.

Surrealistic stage setting –

the use of colors, props, costumes, lighting, music, and/or scenery that are outside the boundaries of everyday usage such as usual shapes and colors of walls or furniture.

Expressionistic stage setting –

the creation of scenery, costumes, props, and/or lighting in an exaggerated way that reflects the theme or mood of the play such as drab dark colors and lighting to show the depressed mood of the characters.