TH 1001
Introduction to Theatre Arts
Theatre: The Lively Art, 7th Edition
Final Exam Review Questions

1.  What prehistoric events contributed to the formation of early theatrical events? (p. 220)

2.  What were the cultural discoveries that led to the golden age of Greek plays? (p. 221)

3.  Who is credited as being the first actor? (p. 221)

4.  Which Greek playwright became the master of the trilogy? (p. 223)

5.  What was the role of the chorus in Greek theatre? (p. 223)

6.  Who wrote The Poetics? (p. 229)

7.  What factors contributed to the decline of Roman theatre? (p. 237)

8.  Which Roman playwright lessened the importance of the chorus and move stage violence onstage? (p. 233)

9.  Explain the differences between Old Comedy and New Comedy. (p. 226, 228)

10.  What were the social characteristics of the Middle Ages and how did they influence theatre at the time?   (p. 238)

11. What is the difference between morality plays and mystery plays in the Middle Ages? (p. 240)

12.  What was a pageant wagon in the Middle Ages? (p. 242)

13.  What were the characteristics of the early Chinese Theatre? (p. 255)

14.  What were the characteristics of the Beijing Opera? (p. 355-356)

15.  Describe No Theatre. (p. 260-262)

16.  Describe Kabuki Theatre. (p. 265-268)

17.  How was the theatre of the Renaissance different from any previous theatre in western civilization? (p. 274)

18.  Describe commedia dell' arte. (p. 276)

19.  What were the unities espoused by the Neoclassicists? (p. 277)

20.  How was the Teatro Farnese unique? (p. 280)

21.  Describe the pole and chariot scene design innovation (p. 282)

22.  Describe the groove system used to shift scenery. (p. 282)

22.  Who was describes as the creator of   "the mighty line"? (p. 283)

23.  Describe Bunraku. (p. 263)

24.  Where did Shakespeare get his storylines? (p. 285)

25.  What playwright did Shakespeare emulate?  (p. 285)

26.   Describe Shakespeare's play structure. (p. 285)

27.  Why was the Globe Theatre built outside the city limits? (p. 286-287)

28. What was the major influence on Moliere's playwriting? (p. 299)

29.  What influence did the Puritans have on the theatre in England? (p. 292)

30.  What was the name of the courtyard theatres in Spain? (p. 295)

31.  What happened in England politically that began the start of the "English Restoration"? (p. 308)

32.  Describe key characteristics of English Restoration theatre. (p. 308)

33.  What were the differences between English Renaissance theatre productions and English Restoration productions? (p. 311)

34.   When did English plays move indoors? (p. 313)

35.  What theatre movement preceded the Romantic period of theatre? (p. 327)

36.  What was the conflict between playwright Carlo Goldoni and Carlo Gozzi? (p. 316)

37.  What innovations in acting made by Charles Macklin and David Garrick?( p. 322)

38.  What did the advent of the theatre director lead to? (p. 322)

39.  What was the main reason theatre attendance increased in the 19th century? (p. 323)

40.  What were the major forms of drama in the 19th Century?( p. 323)

41.  What is the "obligatory scene" in a well-made play? (p. 328)

42.  How did the birth of "realism" hallmark the beginning of the Modern Era of theatre? (p. 338)

43. What was the major theme in the plays of the following playwrights?

Anton Chekhov   (p. 340)
Henrik Ibsen   (p. 339
August Strindberg    (p. 340)

44.  What style of modern theatre focused on the sordid and seamy aspects of society? (p. 341)

45.  What did Meyerhold contribute to the art of acting? (p. 349-350)

46.  What 1930's theatre company was committed to producing the work of Clifford Odets? (p. 344)

47.  Which American playwright had many of his early works produced by the Provincetown Playhouse?  (p. 344)

48.  How did the writings of Sigmund Freud influence the theatre? (p. 336)

49.  Define the following styles of non-realism

Theatricalism   (p. 349)
Theatre of Cruelty  (p. 352-353)
Epic Theatre   (p. 353)
Symbolism   (p. 347-348)
Expressionism   (p. 351)

50.  What two designers moved scenic design beyond photographic reproductions? (p. 349)

51.  In what styles was Death of a Salesman written? (p. 371)

52.  Describe the existential movement in the theatre. (p. 372)

53.  Name two chief proponents of existential theatre. (p. 372)

54.  What style of theatre was used in Waiting for Godot? (p. 373)

55.  Describe "environmental theatre". (p. 375)

56.  What was the minstrel show, popular in the 19th century? (p. 325)

57.  Name the three styles of comedy that lead to the modern musical. (p. 382)

58.  What play is considered the most important in the beginning of the African-American theatre movement. (p. 381)

59.  What accounted for the increase in commercial African-American theatre productions in the 1970's?  ( p. 382)

60.  What was the significance of the musical Show Boat? (p. 383-384)

61.  What is a "book" musical? (p. 383)

62.  What was the first musical written by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein III? (p. 383)

63.  How is a concept musical different from a book musical? (p. 385)

64.  What are regional theatres?   Name the regional theatre in Minneapolis. (p. 377)

65.  Describe the following types of diversity theatre and name major plays from each:

Chicano Theatre   (p. 394)
Nuyorican Theatre   (p. 395)
Native American Theatre   (p. 395)
Gay and Lesbian Theatre   (p. 398)
Feminist Theatre  (p. 396-397)

66.  Where did playwrights Sam Shepard and David Mamet get their start? (p. 378)

67.  Who wrote M. Butterfly ? (p. 393)

68.  What has performance art evolved into in the current American art scene? (p. 399-400)

69.  Name examples of films being made into plays. (p. 402)