''For other usages see Theatre (disambiguation)

Theatre or theater (Greek "theatron", "θέατρον") is the branch of the performing arts concerned with acting out stories in front of an audience using combinations of speech, gesture, music, dance, sound and spectacle — indeed any one or more elements of the other performing arts. In addition to the standard narrative dialogue style, theatre takes such forms as opera, ballet, mime, kabuki, classical Indian dance, Chinese opera, mummers' plays, and pantomime.

Overview of theatre

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"Drama" (literally translated, Action, from a verbal root meaning "I do") is that branch of theatre in which speech, either from written text (plays), or improvised is paramount. "Musical theatre" is a form of theatre combining music, songs, dance routines, and spoken dialogue. However, theatre is more than just what one sees on stage. Theatre involves an entire world behind the scenes that creates the costumes, sets and lighting to make the overall effect interesting. There is a particularly long tradition of political theatre, intended to educate audiences on contemporary issues and encourage social change. Various creeds, Catholicism for instance, have built upon the entertainment value of theatre and created (for example) passion plays, mystery plays and morality plays.

There is an enormous variety of philosophies, artistic processes, and theatrical approaches to creating plays and drama. Some are connected to political or spiritual ideologies, and some are based on purely "artistic" concerns. Some processes focus on a story, some on theatre as an event, some on theatre as a catalyst for social change. According to Aristotle's seminal theatrical critique Poetics, there are six elements necessary for theatre. They are Plot, Character, Idea, Language, Song, and Spectacle. The 17th-century Spanish writer Lope de Vega wrote that for theatre one needs "three boards, two actors, and one passion". Others notable for their contribution to theatrical philosophy are Konstantin Stanislavski, Antonin Artaud, Bertolt Brecht, Orson Welles, Peter Brook, Jerzy Grotowski.

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Pearl Theatre Company has a stable of highly talented actors. Terrific ensemble for George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance at NY City Center.
roninnewyork (Ron) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:05:27 -0000
Pearl Theatre Company has a stable of highly talented actors. Terrific ensemble for George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance at NY City Center.
sitting in a packed theatre ready to watch avatar. wonder if it's worth the 400 million dollar budget...
pjsimas (PJ Simas) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:05:12 -0000
sitting in a packed theatre ready to watch avatar. wonder if it's worth the 400 million dollar budget...
@gabgabs I dunno about that. Some just collect dust. ...nope no 3D at this theatre. Did you? ...I was ready to kick some ass...I had chinese
carterapo (jenius carter) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:03:39 -0000
@gabgabs I dunno about that. Some just collect dust. ...nope no 3D at this theatre. Did you? ...I was ready to kick some ass...I had chinese
Visited Shakespeare's Globe Theatre; faithful replica of original built close to site. Fascinating insight into theatre life of the 1600s.
mixedbusiness (Kirti) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:03:29 -0000
Visited Shakespeare's Globe Theatre; faithful replica of original built close to site. Fascinating insight into theatre life of the 1600s.
Wish I had gotten involved in theatre long time back. Mebe too late now. But I still appreciate what's out there. :)
chip_i (shif) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:02:42 -0000
Wish I had gotten involved in theatre long time back. Mebe too late now. But I still appreciate what's out there. :)
@johnobeto They backed off of the court-martial part. But the reasoning is, pregnant soldiers have to be removed from theatre w/in 2 weeks.
robertmclaws (Robert McLaws) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:02:38 -0000
@johnobeto They backed off of the court-martial part. But the reasoning is, pregnant soldiers have to be removed from theatre w/in 2 weeks.

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