Name: _________________________________ Proposed Due Date: ______________

Theatre History Project Outline

Project Objectives
The student will:
Identify and appreciate the major time periods in theatre history.
Identify major plays and playwrights in history.
Identify and explain the design, performance, and major historical information for one specific theatrical time period.
Apply historical knowledge to a performance.
Vocabulary
Please define the following vocabulary words below.
Dionysius- _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amphitheatre- __________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Chorus- _________________________________________________________________________________
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Scaenae frons- ____________________________________________________________________________
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Roman Colosseum- _______________________________________________________________________
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Cycle plays- ______________________________________________________________________________
Morality plays- ___________________________________________________________________________
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Mansions- _______________________________________________________________________________
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Patronage- ______________________________________________________________________________
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Verisimilitude- ___________________________________________________________________________
Shutters- ________________________________________________________________________________
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Globe Theatre- ___________________________________________________________________________
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Iambic pentameter- _______________________________________________________________________
Noh Theatre- _____________________________________________________________________________
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Kabuki- _________________________________________________________________________________
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Sanskrit drama- ___________________________________________________________________________
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Rasa- ___________________________________________________________________________________
Beijing Opera- ____________________________________________________________________________
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Please answer each of the essential questions below.

1. What are 5 major time periods in theatre history?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Pick a time period. _____________________________________________________List the defining characteristics of the time period.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Why is it important to research, understand, and appreciate Theatre History? How does it affect your performance as
an actor? As a designer? As a technician? As a director?__________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You must complete EACH of the following Theatre History Projects below (for your time period of choice) to
demonstrate your knowledge/ understanding of the key objectives of the unit. Be sure to include evidence of
understanding the answers to the essential questions. Educate the class on your time period of theatre history and
transport us to that period by doing EACH of the following:

1. Build a Model / Collage of what a theatre looked like for your time period.

2. Perform a selection from a play from your time period (2 minute minimum).

3. Have an element of period costuming. This can be large pictures or an actual costume.

4. Present the Playwrights and Plays popular during the time through a Visual Aid.

5. Prepare a quiz for the class on the info you give in the presentation.

Bibliographic Guide
1: Book
______________________________________. _________________________________.
Authors Last Name, Authors First Name Title of Book (italics)
________________________: __________________, _____________. ________.
City Where Published Publisher Copyright Date Format

Example: Blackwood, Gary. The Shakespeare Stealer. New York: Dutton, 1998. Print.
.

2: Website
___________________________ . _____________________. ____________________________.
Author, editor or compiler (if available) Title of Article (in quotes) Title of Website (italics)
___________________. _____________________. _____________________________
Format (Web) Day Month Year accessed <URL/web address>.
.

3: Website
___________________________ . _____________________. ____________________________.
Author, editor or compiler (if available) Title of Article (in quotes) Title of Website (italics)
___________________. _____________________. _____________________________
Format (Web) Day Month Year accessed <URL/web address>.
.

4: Website
___________________________ . _____________________. ____________________________.
Author, editor or compiler (if available) Title of Article (in quotes) Title of Website (italics)
___________________. _____________________. _____________________________
Format (Web) Day Month Year accessed <URL/web address>.
.

5: Website
___________________________ . _____________________. ____________________________.
Author, editor or compiler (if available) Title of Article (in quotes) Title of Website (italics)
___________________. _____________________. _____________________________
Format (Web) Day Month Year accessed <URL/web address>.
.

6: Website
___________________________ . _____________________. ____________________________.
Author, editor or compiler (if available) Title of Article (in quotes) Title of Website (italics)
___________________. _____________________. _____________________________
Format (Web) Day Month Year accessed <URL/web address>.
Theatre History Time Period Options:
Greek
Roman
Medieval
Italian Renaissance
Elizabethan
Eastern Theatre:
o Japan
o China
o India