Middle School Theatre Festival Essay

Back in Shakespeare's day theatre was different in many ways but also some parts were the same. How is it different? Well, obviously everything was cheap. Pennies for the pit seats, a few more for the galleries, and then the boxes were the most expensive which were probably not as expensive today. Another thing is, they had posters but they weren't really posters or like programs. They contained no lists of actors, and there were no programs, ushers, or tickets or any of the stuff we have today. The name was announced when you got to the actual play. Their playhouses were not sheltered. They were outside, unlike today how we have a building with a roof over our head for plays. They even had vendors walking around giving out food, like at a stadium!

Theatre is a collaboration of various forms of fine art which utilizes live performances presenting before the audience on a stage at a specific place within a scheduled time (Dugdale 10). The message is communicated through a combination of various channels like songs, speech gestures or dances. Stagecraft skills are combined with elements of art to make the performance more physical and near to real life experience. Theatre is categorized broadly into drama, musical theatre, comedy, tragedy and improvisation. Any form of these accepts integration of various production modes and collective reception to influence the artwork being presented. As a result of this cooperation of items in the theatre

The 20th Century was home to many important events in history, one of the most memorable being The Great Depression. Unemployment was at an all time high, businesses were forced to shut down, and suicide rates were through the roof. New York City was no exception. 213 of it’s 253 theaters were forced to close, putting hundreds of thousands of theater people out of work. In these devastating times, a hopeless yet admirable organization known as the Federal Theatre Project (FTP) was created by request of President Roosevelt. Originally created to preserve music and art, this project consumed government funds, was plagued by censorship, and was blatantly biased in social issues, with the end result being far from it’s original goal.

George Theatre Arts in Education program features educational live performances for grades Pre-K to High School. These shows are dynamic, enriching, educational and so much fun for all ages! The live performances are performed by regional, national, and international professional touring companies, connecting the arts to the classroom curriculum.

Warm up your vocal cords because you’re going to want to sing along to this youth theatre company’s musical revue. The performance showcases a wide range of music – from energetic group numbers to stirring ballads that will have you weeping in your hanky. Whether you enjoy new smash hits like Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen or classics like A Chorus Line and Hairspray, there’s something sure to please everyone.

This past week, I had the opportunity to experience a magnificent play called Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin. This performance was the third of three plays I saw at the Arizona Repertory Theatre. The other two plays were Epic Proportions by Larry Coen and David Crane and Hands on a Hardbody by Doug Wright. These were the first plays I have been to, not only while attending the University of Arizona, but in my generation as a teenager. All together, these performances were amazing and have brought a newly improved insight to my perception of theatre. The hard work and dedication by the actors, directors, producers, cast members, and sound developers were absolutely incredible and I have tremendous respect for their efforts during the overall sequence of producing the plays. The most recent performance I saw, Born Yesterday, can be described and reflected on through various topics such as lighting, sound, directing and producing.

"Gin and guns—either one is bad enough, but together they get you in a dickens of a mess, don 't they."—Accused murderer Belva Gaertner, 1924 (National Geographic, N.D)

Growing up, my family has moved around frequently. With each place I’ve lived have come new opportunities and challenges. After my parents divorced, I moved to Savannah with hopes of attending Savannah Arts Academy, one of the only performing arts schools in the state. After a rigorous audition process, I was

This past Wednesday, I embarked with my National Honor Society on a field trip to watch the performance of a Christmas classic, Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. The performance was a stage musical performed by the cast of the La Comedia dinner theatre. Being a strong performer in the theatre and theatre enthusiast myself, I was excited to watch this Christmas classic come to life on stage. As a child, I made frequent visits to La Comedia with family members, so I find myself very familiar with this theatre. I have always found a love for the atmosphere of the theatre, the food provided, and the performances presented on the stage. At La Comedia, they claim to provide ‘a taste of Broadway’, which immediately sets the standards for each production. I have very high expectations for each performance I attend and this performance of A Christmas Carol did not disappoint. The actors of La Comedia definitely do not lack extraordinary talent, and the entire theatre staff sticks to traditions they have developed over time, giving the entire setting a wonderful, traditional ambiance. The La Comedia performance of A Christmas Carol did an exquisite job of bringing this story to life while sticking to the classic tale, with the additions of great songs from the Broadway version and the overall atmosphere and service provided for an entertaining event.

I sat in a dark auditorium, watching the magic. Only three, I sat in those red, comfy seats watching as my music teacher mother directed the annual spring musical Singing in the Rain that was coming to life before my eyes. I squinted at the bright glow coming from the stage, not knowing whether it was from the lights or the actors. I was fascinated as the ordinary high school students seemed to transform into experienced, brilliant actors. That very moment started my love for musical theatre.

The book goes on to talk about theaters that are a part of “ …League of Resident Theatre (LORT) theatres, non-LORT theaters operating under special agreements, and other notable professional theaters throughout the United States.”(Voltz, 143). The chapter starts by explaining what LORT is and how a theatre becomes a member. After that, the book breaks down the theatre and talks about the general employment, casting, script submission, and internships for each theatre. Just like any other job there are going to be stressful times, but the book gives tips on how to reduce ones stress as much as possible. The final piece of advice is to write down the ones own experiences. So someday future generations can be inspired by advice that can be given from those experiences.

Ever since I can remember, the performing arts had a special place in my heart. I did not know how much it meant to me until I became mature enough to recognize the profound influence the arts had on my life. Thanks to my loving parents, I have had the opportunity to nourish and refine my craft. Now, I would like to continue to refine my abilities over this summer through the Alliance Theatre’s Musical Theater Camp at Oglethorpe University. I feel that this program will enhance my vocal and acting capabilities as I strive to become a “triple threat” in the performing arts. As I began my high school career at Dekalb School of the Arts, I had dabbled in singing and acting, but my primary interest at the time was dancing. However, while becoming

Despite all the cons of being apart of this musical Moore and her fellow school mate junior Andrew Gibson have learned from this experience and grown as an individual. Moore personally felt more humble to the behind to scenes work. Gibson participated in crews for plays and musical in prior years and it has helped him with teamwork skills. Moore also had met man friends through the drama department here, while Gibson hopes to use this as a career in the

In 1992, Boal was invited to be the keynote speaker for the National Conference of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) in Atlanta, Georgia. This is the national

“In roughly built playhouses and cobblestone inn yards, an extraordinary development took place in England in the 1500s.” (Yancey, 8). At that time, an opportunity combined to produce literature achievement never before witnessed in the history of drama and theater. The renaissance, helped spark this movement by inspiring scientific and artistic creativity throughout the land. Models began writing dramas that portrayed life in both realistic and imaginative ways. This created work later captured the attention of the world that changed the English drama. The many aspects of Elizabethan theater helped to shape the acting and theater world forever.