History of Theatre

An investigation of the development of Western theatre from its roots in Greek tragedy to the contemporary with special focus on the works of Sophocles, Plautus, Medieval Theater, the Commedia dell'arte, Elizabethan theatre, Moliere, Restoration, and 19th century American theatre. This class concentrates on the nature of theatre-in-performance including the physical development of theatre spaces, staging concepts, and the artist-audience relationship) to the following: This course is an investigation of the development of theatrical history, literature, and theory in the Western world from the ancient Greeks to the present day, focusing particularly on works and traditions that have influenced our own theatrical practice. We will examine the ways performance techniques have changed along with the economic, political, and intellectual factors that have also shaped other aspects of society. This class concentrates on the nature of theatre-in-performance including the physical development of theatre spaces, staging concepts, and the artist-audience relationship.