In any musical drama, be it opera, oratorio, or even musical theatre, it is possible for a composer to convey the personality of their characters through compositional and musical techniques. Doing so heightens the audience’s understanding of the characters, their motivations, and the relationships between them. Monteverdi, as a pioneer of opera, was one of the first to capitalize on this opportunity to heighten the audience’s understanding of the characters. This is highly apparent in his last opera, L’Incoronazione di Poppea. The music for two of the characters, Poppea and Nerone, is especially well composed to demonstrate personality, and this is no more apparent than in the dialogue which introduces the audience to them, Signor, deh
as perhaps there is, hath for you as great a pang of heart as you have
African American Theatre has a very dynamic and rich entity which comes from ancient Egyptian practices, and the African background of Greek legends contributed by Shakespeare. While black theatre was in its early stages, plays echoed of the lives they were living. Black American artists were constructing and preforming plays for mixed audiences as early as 1821. The dance and rhythm black people inherited caught the eyes of European audiences. Black theatre involves all sorts of black tradition with ancient stories, mythology, dances, music, and rich practices. It also contributed to the formation of America’s musical comedy acts. Social restrictions that
He acted at the Arts Theatre in the West End and eventually began touring Europe with La MaMa Plexus. While touring, Swanson realized he had a passion for theatre education and began studying under Ellen Stewart at the La MaMa company in New York City. Swanson did not just love the theatre, but all of the arts. Besides plays, he directed opera, musical theatre, and circus pieces. He is even a founding stage director for the Circus Flora. As his career moved forward, Patrick Swanson started to teach acting and improvisation. He began teaching at the London Academy of Dramatic Art’s, then went to the London Drama Centre. He also taught at Tisch school of the arts at New York University. All of these places have allowed him to gain an insight on what it means to be a director and at the same time be a teacher. He proves this when speaking on behalf of his upcoming performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream when he says, “Some scholars place the first performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at a wedding celebration attended by Queen Elizabeth. Were it so, and intended as a blessing on the happy couple; one sincerely hopes that the queen and the wedding guests were amused.” He does not just put on a show, but creates an educational experience for an audience member through knowing his
During the mid-century of American theatre, the curtain rose to reveal a new and different type of performance. Audience goers were used to the stylized works of Anton Chekov and George Bernard-Shaw, whose European classics were constantly being produced in the United States. Actors, scenery, and costumes were limited to the refined themes of classical acting. Theatre was growing bland with each revival. Nothing was being done to push the envelope, until American writers claimed the stage. Authors including Arthur Miller, Lillian Hellman and Lorraine Hansberry brought an element of reality to the theatre. Their works have gone down in history and their influences on
Lee is responsible for training and helping many of the finest actors and actresses in this country alone. Yet lee also is criticise for his rigid methods have ruined an entire generation of performers. Strasberg and Harold Clurman were the co founders of the well known Group theatre in 1931 which was hailed as “America’s first true theatrical collective”. In 1951 Lee Strasberg became director of the non-profit Actors Studio, In New York City, which it well know to be the “ nation's most prestigious acting school”. Soon later he found the Lee Strasberg theatre and Film Institute in New York and in Hollywood to teach the work he pioneered. With all of his accomplishments he was named “Chief” of the Method Acting” in the theatre world.
There have been a wide variety of memorable actors and actresses that have taken Hollywood by storm. Ranging from opera singers to theater performers, all of these stars may share many similarities and differences, ranging from personality to number of awards. Of the many famous female stars of Hollywood, Katharine Hepburn and Meryl Streep are by far some of the most accomplished and well-known. Both Hepburn and Streep acquired an interest for theater, acting, and performance at a young age. Katharine Hepburn’s interest in theater and acting was sparked as child when she and her siblings created a group, the Hepburn Players, with her neighbors to perform plays.
During a Christmas play in December 2015, an actress noticed a young cast member who showed passion for theater and asked if she wanted to audition for Legend of Sally B, a play that would begin meeting in the following January. The actress who reached out would be directing the play and was in search of a committed fourteen-year-old girl to portray a character that could appear frustrated with her life. There was one girl who thought she could accurately become that character.
Viola Spolin is the creator of theatre games. The purpose of the theory is to help struggling actors with improv, and I am one of them. When this assignment was given to me, I carefully examined which theatre theorist related to my weakness pertaining theatre and discovered Viola Spolin. About a month ago, I volunteered to participate in Arts Week at my school. My task was to get on stage in front of an audience and improv for two minutes while a dancer, musician, and singer performed with me. I wanted to do something serious. Normally, I play characters that are funny. I wanted to show the audience that I could take a more serious approach. For the improvs, those who participated had themes. My theme for my improv was love. I
The viola is a musical instrument with strings that that look like a big violin. The instruments are made of many pieces of wood which are glued never nailed together. The viola’s sound imitates a tenor voice while the violin makes a higher sound. The cello and bass also make a lower sound. The viola is similar to other members of the violin family in that it has four strings and is played with a bow. The instrument has a collection of more than three octaves, and makes a unique silky sound. The viola was invented in the 1500's. Since the late 1700's it has had a major role in the symphonic and chamber music. Some composers that have written music for the Viola are Richard Strauss, and Sir William Walton (World Book, 2009).
An era was created long ago when music was one of the main important parts of a play. American Musicals allowed actors to express their selves in a way that no one has ever seen before. The evolution of musicals began with the influences of American Expressionism. Musical Theatre has its own very unique art and it has influenced the expansion of the boundless creations one can make with such beautiful art. Along the road it gave birth to the Golden Age, Rock Musicals, and Pop Musicals. Stage Musicals and Film Musicals have influence each other to the point where anything is possible in creating something amazing for the audience. American Musicals reveal the captivating elements and influences that were often shown off and on the screen.
Classical Ballet School is a ballet school that is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Classical Ballet School was founded in 1978 by Kay Sandel. Their curriculum includes The Early Years, The Foundation Years, Growing Talent, and The Joy of Dance. Their ballet instruction teaches self-discipline, respect, love of art, healthy posture, grace, and confidence. Classical Ballet School is a licensed Leap 'N Learn school.
With Viola being able to hold on to such a great task as the one she is put in being a woman and pretending to be a man. The fact that she is able to put her emotions aside to still be able to find her brother. Shows Viola as being one of the greatest actors to ever be presented. I agree with Bloom, from Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human, on how he feels about Viola, as a character. He is concept along with how I feel Viola not only takes on the costume, but speaks in such a way that demands someone to pay attention to her. She is the only character who offers true feeling, as she comments: "Write loyal cantons of contemned love And sing them loud even in the dead of night..." (I.V). Not only is she poetic, but she is demanding in her tone: "O, You should not rest Between the elements of air and earth But you should pity me" (I.V). In a monologue, she expresses such a poetic version of her love. Bloom is correct in stating that Viola is a great actress. Her speech and unwavering affection make her the only "true" character in the play.
It all began on a weekday afternoon. Ms. JB was out running errands, and had left me with the keys to the theatre, an adult with no knowledge of theatre for supervision, and a dozen hyper kids aged 7-14. She also left me with vague instructions regarding what we were supposed to rehearse. Thus equipped, I faced the
This work was written in the seventeenth century where the upper class was still the class who dominated education and had the leisure time to read for pleasure. Because of this, we see how they are the ones being portrayed in the literary works of the time. It is to appeal to the people who buy and read the books. A commoner will not have the time to read for they will be working. Commoners also did not have the same level of education as the wealthy and therefore could not actually read very well if at all. Viola was also forced to change her identity as women of the time had no power or social status. Women were seen as nothing more than tangible objects to men and so it was better if they were seen and not hears. Viola became Cesario in