Theatre: Its Nature, Its Variety, Its Development is laid out in a nontraditional format for introductory theatre courses. The nature of theatre is difficult enough to understand without imposing a 2,500 year barrier to that process. Accordingly, this text starts with an understanding of the nature of theatre in our own time. After students have a solid understanding of the nature of theatre and significant awareness of the variety of theatre, then they will be better equipped to begin studying theatre in its historical context.
Theatre: Its Nature, Its Variety, Its Development had five distinct features:
Part I, consisting of 10 chapters, examines in detail the nature of theatre: how it relates to other arts and, through a deconstructive study of its component parts and practitioners, how it works. It explores the functions and techniques of audience, producer, playwright, director, actors, and designers.Part II examines the variety and range of theatrical presentation that are available in our contemporary period and such special topics as musical, African and African-American, and Asian theatres that are widely available across the country and around the world. It concludes with a chapter on diversity.Part III surveys the historical development of theatre from its origins in 6th century BCE Athens, its rebirth in the medieval period, through the theatrical innovations of the Italian and English Renaissance, through the emergence of modern drama in the late 19th century, and to the eclecticism of the 21st century.Work book exercises are available for each chapter in the book. They may be detached and submitted depending upon the grading parameters of the individual course professor. Or they may serve the students as chapter reviews or study notes to prepare for exams.A website that includes online access to the work book exercises and a range of additional enrichment items. One feature consists of the many in depth essays at the site including "Prehistoric Caves and Lascaux," "Jewish Composers in American Musical Theatre," "African Grove Theatre and Ira Aldridge," "William Shakespeare in Stratford-on-Avon'" and "Drottningholm Court Theatre."
- ISBN10 1524910813
- ISBN13 9781524910815
- Publish Date 18 August 2016 (first published 1 January 1970)
- Publish Status Withdrawn
- Out of Print 1 September 2016
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
- Format Hardcover
- Language English