The document discusses the relationship between theatre and other forms of entertainment. It states that theatre is used as a metaphor for life and that TV shows, films, and other genres borrow conventions from theatrical traditions. Additionally, it notes that performances in other domains like music, sports, and museums can take on theatrical qualities. The key ideas are that theatre influences many other art forms and performances in other areas can become theatrical.

1. Chapter 2

2.  Theatre as a metaphor for daily life
 Melodramatic
 Highly theatrical
 Prima donna
 Play-acting
 Theatre is an activity that we use to
describe how we live
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3.  TV shows reflect comic traditions,
techniques, characters, and structures
developed in theatre
 Daytime soap operas
 Nighttime situation comedies
 Hospital and police shows
 Variety shows
 News documentaries
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4.  Genres – categories of art work based on
style, form or subject matter
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5.  Theatrical genres and specific plays have
been appropriated by film
 Dreamgirls
 Hairspray
 Mamma Mia!
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6.  Most film genres borrow from past
theatrical traditions
 Harry Potter
 Batman
 Early theatrical audiences were often
obsessed with theatrical stars
 Many film stars began their careers in
theatre
 Movie and TV stars perform onstage
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7.  Rock stars often use theatrical
comparisons to defend their work
 Lady Gaga
 Rock stars create theatrical characters by
using:
 Costumes
 Props
 Makeup
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8.  Rock stars often act in films and in theatre
 Elvis Presley
 The Beatles
 Madonna
 Mark Wahlberg
 Ice T
 Tupac Shakur
 Eminem
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9.  Concerts are highly theatrical events
 Music videos are theatrical
 Narratives of videos are visual and dramatic
Scissor Sisters vs Krystal Pepsy – Shady Love
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10.  Rock is used as the score for musicals
 Mamma Mia!
 Lennon
 All Shook Up
 Good Vibrations
 Jersey Boys
 Jukebox Journey
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11.  Amusement parks present staged
productions based on films
 Rides incorporate theatricality
 ET
 Raiders of the Lost Ark
 Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror
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12.  Restaurants with theatricalized
environments
 Rainforest Café
 Shopping centers and specialty stores
with theatricalized environments
 Niketown
 American Girl
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13. 13
Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas recreated Venice complete with shops
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14.  Museums with stage presentations and
exhibits that function like stage settings
 Dinner theatres
 Sports events function like theatre spaces
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15. 15
Black Eyed Peas performing at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas
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16.  Many of the storylines in digital
entertainment present a theatrical plotline
 Theatrical role-playing websites
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17. Theater (in its purity) – Presentation by live actors
of a dramatic work in the presence of an audience
Differences between Theatre-Related Activities
and Theatre Itself
 Recorded performances lack performer-
audience interaction
 Musical performances, half-time shows, etc.
are live performances but make no pretense
of dramatic production
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18.  How the Audience Participates
18
Audience always key component in any theater experience. In some cases, audience takes an active
role. Shown here is audience at Drumstruck, billed as first interactive drum theater experience at Dodger
Stages in NY. Enock Mahlangu plays conductor for the audience. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc. All Rights Reserved.

19.  Audience is key in theater
 They are a group of people observing,
responding to and deeply involved in what is
unfolding
▪ We also participate with our imagination
▪ “willing suspension of disbelief”– put aside literal
and practical considerations to go on this journey
▪ “aesthetic distance” – physical or psychological
separation or detachment from dramatic action,
usually considered necessary for artistic illusion
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20.  Power of Audience
 Positive – Political groups use it to educate
and to create change – feminist theater, GLBT
theater, radical political theater, etc.
 Negative – Censorship
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21.  Diversity of Audiences
 Makeup of Audiences: Past and Present
 Where We See Theatre
▪ Broadway Theaters – large format theaters
▪ Resident Professional Theaters – mid-size
▪ Under 250 seats – lofts, churches, warehouses,
smaller theaters, etc.
▪ College Campuses
▪ Children’s Theater
 Audiences Today: Multicultural and Diverse
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22. 22
The restored Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London
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23.  Critic – someone who observes theater
and then analyzes and comments on it
 Preparing for Criticism
 Criticism – “to find fault” but also “to
understand and appraise”
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24.  Criteria for Criticism
 What is the playwright or production
attempting to do?
▪ “auteur director” – a director who believes that his or
her role is to be the author of the production as
opposed to a director who present the play exactly
as a playwright intended
 How well has it been done?
 Is it worth doing?
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25. 25
Peter Brook’s production of Marat/Sade
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26. Critics take two approaches
Descriptive – describe as clearly and accurately
as possible what is happening in the performance
Prescriptive – describes what has been done
and offers advice and sometimes suggests rules
on what should be done
These approaches established by ancient critics:
 Aristotle (Descriptive)
 Horace (Prescriptive)
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27.  Decline of Critics’ and Reviewers’
Influence
 The Audience Member’s Independent
Judgment
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