Concise History of Theatre, A, 1st edition

In this Section:

1) Brief Table of Contents

2) Full Table of Contents

1) Brief Table of Contents

Introduction: The Theatre of Many Times and Places

Chapter 1: Greek Theatre
Chapter 2: Roman Theatre 240 BCE - 550 CE
Chapter 3: Early Theatre of Asia 200 BCE - 1800 CE
Chapter 4: The European Middle Ages
Chapter 5: The Italian Renaissance

Chapter 6: The Golden Ages of England and Spain

Chapter 7: Neoclassicism: Triumph and Decline in France and England

Chapter 8: Melodrama and The Rise of Commercialism 1750 - 1900

Chapter 9: Romanticism and Realism 1750 — 1900

Chapter 10: Theatre in Africa

Chapter 11: Reactions to Commercialism and Realism 1900-1950

Chapter 12: Musical Theatre

Chapter 13: Eclecticism: U.S. Theatre from 1950

Chapter 14: European Theatre after 1950

Chapter 15: Theatre in Asia from 1800

Chapter 16: Globalization of Theatre

2) Full Table of Contents

Introduction: The Theatre of Many Times and Places
The Past in the Present
Theatre: A Definition
Language And Its Problems
Theatre-Like Activities

Historical Evidence, Emphasis, and Omissions
Organization

Chapter 1: Greek Theatre
Objectives
Context
Theories of the Origins of Theatre

Traits of Greek Theatre

Plays and Playwrights

Theatre Buildings and Practices

The Hellenistic Period

The Shift to Rome
Chapter 1 at a Glance
Key Terms
Captions
The Play’s the Thing: Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, 427 BCE
The Story of the Play
How We Know: Paintings on Greek Vases
How We Know: Menander and The Grouch
Chapter 2: Roman Theatre 240 BCE - 550 CE
Objectives
Context
Roman Festivals and Theatre of the Republic
Tragedy and Comedy, Mostly Comedy

Three Important Texts

Theatre Buildings, Scenery, Costumes, and Masks
Paratheatrical Entertainments
Christian Opposition to Theatre
The Breakup of the Empire
The Eastern (Byzantine) Empire and Theatre
Chapter 2 at a Glance
Key Terms
Captions
The Play’s the Thing: Plautus’s The Menaechmi
The Story of the Play
How We Know: Theatre in an Ordinary Roman Town

Chapter 3: Early Theatre of Asia 200 BCE - 1800 CE
Objectives
Context
India

China

Japan

Summary
Chapter 3 at a Glance
Key Terms
Captions
The Play's the Thing: Shakuntala
The Story of the Play
The Play's the Thing: Li Xingdao's Chalk Circle
The Story of the Play
How We Know: Shakuntala’s First Translation
The Play's the Thing: The Peony Pavilion
The Story of the Play

Chapter 4: The European Middle Ages
Objectives
Context
Early Medieval Drama and Theatre: 476 to 1200

Production inside the Church
Later Medieval Culture and Theatre, c. 1200—1550
Religious Drama outside the Church
Staging Religious Plays outside the Church

Secular Drama

The End of Medieval Religious Theatre: The Transformation of Medieval Secular Theatre
Summary
Chapter 4 at a Glance
Key Terms
Captions
How We Know: Bishop Ethelwold’s Stage Directions for the Quem Quaeritis Trope
The Play’s the Thing: The Second Shepherds' Play, Anonymous
The Story of the Play
How We Know: Pageant Wagons
The Play’s the Thing: Everyman, Anonymous, c. 1490
The Story of the Play
How We Know: Oberammergau Passion Play

Chapter 5: The Italian Renaissance
Objectives
Context

Theory: Neoclassicism

Practice: Italian Renaissance Drama

Illusionism

Renaissance Theatre Structures

Stage Settings for Illusionistic Theatre

Contradiction in Mainstream Theatre
An Alternative Theatre: Commedia dell’Arte

Italy: Eclipse
Chapter 5 at a Glance
Key Terms
Captions
How We Know: Commedia Scenarios
Act One, Flavio's Good Fortune

Chapter 6: The Golden Ages of England and Spain
Objectives
Context
England and the Golden Age

Court Masques and New Conventions: Inigo Jones

The Closing of English Theatres

Spain in the Golden Age

Summary
Chapter 6 at a Glance
Key Terms
Captions
The Play’s The Thing: Calderon de la Barca’s Life is a Dream, 1635
The Story of the Play
How We Know: The Swan Drawing
How We Know: Philip Henslowe’s Inventory
How We Know: Three Public Theatres

Chapter 7: Neoclassicism: Triumph and Decline in France and England
Objectives
Context
French Theatre through Its Golden Age

English Restoration Theatre (1660—c. 1750)

The Rise of Sentimentalism: 1700–1750

Chapter 7 at a Glance
Key Terms
Captions
How We Know: A Forgotten Theatre Recovered
The Play’s the Thing: Jean Racine’s Phèdre (Phaedra), 1677
The Story of the Play
The Play’s the Thing: Molière’s Tartuffe, 1669
The Story of the Play

Chapter 8: Melodrama and The Rise of Commercialism 1750 - 1900
Objectives
Context

Theatre Becomes Commercial
Theatre in Four Countries, circa 1700 to c 1850

Commercial Theatre Develops
Actors, Managers

From Actor-Managers to Producers

Drama in the Commercial Theatre

Melodrama in the Commercial Theatre

Comedy in the Commercial Theatre

Reactions to the Commercial Theatre
Chapter 8 at a Glance
Key Terms
How We Know: Early Theatre Photography
Captions
The Play’s the Thing: Augustin Daly’s Under the Gaslight, 1867
The Story of the Play
Chapter 9: Romanticism and Realism 1750 — 1900
Objectives
Context

Romanticism in the Theatre

Romanticism in Germany, England, and France

Romanticism Dwindles
An Aftershock: Richard Wagner, a Romantic Artist, Flourishing 1842 to 1882

Reform After Romanticism: Realism and Naturalism, from circa 1850
Important Leaders of Realism and Naturalism

Plays and Playwrights of Realism

Summary
Chapter 9 at a Glance
Key Terms
Captions
The Play’s the Thing: Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, 1879
The Story of the Play

Chapter 10: Theatre in Africa
Objectives
Context

Theatre in Northern Africa
Theatre in Sub-Saharan Africa

Summary
Key Terms
Captions
Play’s the Thing: Wole Soyinka, Death and the Kings Horseman, 1976
Story of the Play
How We Know: Theatre in Ancient Egypt

Chapter 11: Reactions to Commercialism and Realism 1900-1950
Objectives
Context
Revolts Against Realism and Commercialism

Two Influential Theorists Against Commercialism and Realism

Important US Theatre Groups

The Art Theatre Movement

Playwrights, Sometimes Commercial, Sometimes Realistic

Theatre under Occupation and Totalitarianism
Commercial Theatre Declines
Summary
Chapter 11 at a Glance
Key Terms
Captions
The Play’s the Thing: Antonin Artaud’s Jet of Blood, 1924
Story of the Play: Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night, produced 1956
The Story of the Play

Chapter 12: Musical Theatre
Objectives
Context
The American Musical Emerges

Song Forms
Musicals Since 1950

Summary
Chapter 12 at a Glance
Key Terms
Captions
The Play’s the Thing: Girl Crazy, 1930
The Story of the Musical
How We Know: Preserving Musicals

Chapter 13: Eclecticism: U.S. Theatre from 1950
Objectives
Context

Theatre Becomes Eclectic: an Overview
Professional Theatre

Plays Since 1950

The Political Avant-Garde in Theatre

The Artistic Avant-Garde in Theatre

The Avant-garde Fades
Identity Theatre Emerges

Absurdism, Performance Art, and Postmodernism

Theatrical Responses to 9/11 and New Wars

The Cultural Displacement of Theatre
The Play’s the Thing: Tyler Perry and the Chitlin’ Circuit
How We Know: Theatre on Film and Tape Archive
Key Terms
Captions
The Play’s the Thing: August Wilson’s Century of African American Life
The Play’s the Thing: Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire, 1947
The Story of the Play
The Play's the Thing: Paula Vogel's The Baltimore Waltz, 1992
The Story of the Play

Chapter 14: European Theatre after 1950
Objectives
Context
Germany

Great Britian

France

Italy
Poland
European Theatre After World War II Had Wide Impact
Summary
Key Terms
Captions
The Play’s the Thing: Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, 1982
The Story of the Play

Chapter 15: Theatre in Asia from 1800
Objectives
Context
India

Chinese Theater after 1790

Later Japanese Theatre

Summary
Key Terms
Captions
The Play’s the Thing: Tragore’s The Post Office, 1924

Chapter 16: Globalization of Theatre
Objectives
Context
Musicals in Asia
Other International Musical Successes
Techniques and Styles
Non-European Theatre in Western Countries
Global Shakespeare

Belarus Free Theatre

Is Globalization Theatre’s Destiny?
Summary
Key Terms
Captions