Test your basic knowledge |

Theatre Basics

Subject : performing-arts
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. First black woman playwright to be producted on Broadway; Raisin in the Sun based of her actual childhood






2. French physicist - mathematician - and philosopher - expressed the essence of Romanticism






3. Third part of a Noh play - the protagonist appears as a new self - and the cause of torment is resolved






4. A period of licentious gaudiness inspired by the elaborate styles that Charles II brought with him from the French Court






5. Have become living traditions that are handed down from father to son

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6. Developed from the dance-prayers of Buddhist priests; has five possible subjects: the deities - the deeds of heroic samurai - women - insanity - and famous legends






7. Closely tied to ritual - and it uses color - dance - song - and movements to exaggerate - stylize - and symbolically represent life






8. Including operetta - developed out of intermezzi






9. First female theatre manager in London; was also an actor and singer; managed first theatre to have a box set; Olympic Theatre in London






10. Said that the free enterprise system is seriously flawed and is a cause of great human misery because it exploits the poor






11. A medley of the show's songs played as a preview; usually the beginning of a traditional musical; lets the audience know that it's time to stop talking because the performance is about to begin






12. Plays without music






13. History plays about major political events of the past - domestic plays about the loves and lives of merchants and townspeople - and dance-dramas about the world of spirits and animals






14. A permanent - professional theatre outside NYC; founded in 1947 by Margo Jones; stage new plays alongside commercial hits and historical plays; appeal to the intellectual audiences that Hollywood seldom serves






15. An extreme form of realism; an acurate 'documentary' of everyday life - including its seamy side






16. Instead of learning how to conjure real emotions - actors of Sanskrit drama studied for many years to learn representations of emotions through:






17. A dialogue that captures the incoherence - broken language - and pauses of modern speech; usually marked by surreal distortion and impending danger; from writing of Franz Kafka






18. Thought that inner truths could be hinted at only through symbols; sought to replace the specific and concrete with the suggestive and metaphorical; usually had little plot or action and tended to baffle the audience






19. History plays about major political events of the past - domestic plays about the loves and lives of merchants and townspeople - and dance-dramas about the world of spirits and animals






20. One of the most valuable historical records of Indian theatre; an encyclopedic book of dramatic theory and practice; has 37 chapters and covers every aspect of classical Indian drama - also a treatise on dramatic theory and philosophy - states that t






21. Play that takes place in a mental institution - the audience sits on the stage with the actor-patients






22. Highlights the insanity of life in a comical way






23. Third part of a Noh play - the protagonist appears as a new self - and the cause of torment is resolved






24. Earliest form for photography






25. Greatest of the Sturm und Drang playwrights; was also a critic - journalist - painter - biologist - statesman - poet - novelist - philosopher - scientist - and the manager of the Duke of Weimar's playhouse






26. Light opera - differs from 'grand opera' because it has a frivolous - comic theme - some spoken dialogue - a melodramatic story - and usually a little dancing; The Mikado (1885)






27. Sigmund Freud's book which analyzes the character of Oedipus and Hamlet






28. Africa's greatest living playwright; born in Nigeria; plays combine symbolism - mysticism - beautiful dialogue - and they make strong political points; plays are deeply rooted in African myths - dance - and rituals but also influenced by Western dram






29. The men who play female roles are called:






30. Earliest form for photography






31. Two types of traditional Japanese theatre






32. Second part of a Noh play - protagonist performs a dance that expresses his or her concern






33. Form of theatre that mixed traditional African ritual theatre and Western-style drama; encouraged African nationalism - glorified Africa's past - and advanced African customs - rituals - and culture; also dealt with serious political themes and appla






34. Only cost a nickel






35. Smaller - less expensive alternative experimental theatres; flourished in lofts - basements - coffeehouses and any found space usable






36. A permanent - professional theatre outside NYC; founded in 1947 by Margo Jones; stage new plays alongside commercial hits and historical plays; appeal to the intellectual audiences that Hollywood seldom serves






37. Recorded conversations of slum dwellers in Dublin and used their words verbatim in his plays

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38. Musicals with a particularly well-developed story and characters






39. Showed middle-class characters finding happiness and true love (Enlightenment)






40. Records of this type of theatre are fragmentary - but we do know that it grew out of regional religious rituals related to Confucianism - Taoism - and Buddhism - and ritual dances performed during the Shang dynasty






41. Brought Western-style theatre to Africa to dramatize Bible stories in order to win converts






42. One of the most well-known Muslim Playwrights - who uses her plays not only to express herself but also to prompt discussions about such topics as violence against women - religious fanaticism - and female sexual desire






43. The audience remains alienated from the performance so they could critically consider the play's themes






44. Type of Islamic theatre - religious drama of Iran which allowed for actors - both professional and amateur - and has been performed in open-air playing spaces and on some occasions in specially constructed indoor stages for hundreds of years

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45. During the Enlightenment there were revolutions in: ... which had a profound effect on theatre






46. Sell over $1billion worth of tickets annually - majority of those are for musicals






47. This happened for the first time during the Restoration






48. First part of a Noh Play - usually a chance meeting between two characters - introductions are made and the characters engage in a question-and-answer sequence that reveals the protagonist's concern






49. Most famous surrealist and was a French writer and director; studied Asian religions - mysticism - and ancient cultures; declared theatre should should wake the nerves and heart; argued that proscenium arch theatres create a barrier between the audie






50. Nigerian playwright that was executed for trying to protect the Ogoni people against encroachments of Shell oil company