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






2. Most famous of the absurdist playwrights; best considered a fatalist - although work is sometimes hilarious and can ask existential questions; Endgame (1957) Krapp's Last Tape (1958) and Happy Days (1961); Waiting for Godot (1953)






3. The time period that glorified humans' power to reason and analyze - a period of great philosophical - scientific - technological - political - and religious revolutions






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






5. An early form of theatre; it used theatrical techniques such as song - dance - and characterization - but it was still firmly rooted in religion






6. 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






7. Form of drama that dominated theatre in India for a thousand years; named for the ancient Indian language in which its plays are performed; combine the natural and the supernatural - the believable and unbelievable






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






9. Named new 'photographic' realism NATURALISM and his phrase 'slice of life' is quoted description of it






10. French Enlightenment playwright; was an inventor and thinker who spent countless hours at the leading intellectual salons of France; most famous plays are The Barber of Seville - and The Marriage of Figaro - his plays reflect the attitudes of the Enl






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

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12. Elaborate geometrical designs were used for these roles which included supernatural beings - warriors - and bandits; the color of the make-up indicated the character's personality






13. Contemporary form of Sanskrit Theatre - dramatized version of the Hindu epic poems Ramayana and Mahabharata






14. Founded in 1946 by Julian Beck and Judith Malina; dedicated itself to contemporary social issues and highly political - easthetically radical plays






15. Most famous Restoration-era woman to make her living by writing plays






16. A sudden - striking pose (often with their eyes crossed - chin sharply turned - and big toe pointed towards the sky) in Kabuki accompanied by several powerful beats of wooden clappers






17. Comic interludes performed during the intermissions of opera






18. A big production number that usually receives a torrent of applause that literally stops the show






19. The first theatre in the world to be lit with electric lights






20. Goethe's most famous Romantic play






21. Proclaimed 'God is dead...and we have killed him.'; felt taht absence of God was a tragedy - but believed human beings needed to accept the tragedy and move forward in a world that was unjust and meaningless






22. 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






23. Spoken lines of dialogue as well as the plot






24. The sung words






25. 1. theatre has an actor who plays a character - theatre is artificial - and 2. theatre usually has a story with a conflict - conflict is key to all drama






26. One of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment - French poet - essayist - and playwright whose writing often got him in trouble with the church; built a theatre on his own estate so he could freely present his plays






27. Writes the music






28. Plays about the issues of the day that were in Manhattan neighborhoods






29. Spoken lines of dialogue as well as the plot






30. 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






31. Result of western influence - a toned down version of Kabuki - told stories of everyday life - particularly those of women - women played women's parts (whereas Kabuki was all male)






32. Staged inexpensive - noncommercial productions of artistically significant plays in small - out-of-the-way theatres






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






34. Characters were not individuals but types; standard roles included scholar - lover - hero - maiden - old woman - coquette - virtuous wife - and acrobatic warrior-maiden






35. A big production number that usually receives a torrent of applause that literally stops the show






36. 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






37. This happened for the first time during the Restoration






38. Any artist or work of art that is experimental - innovative or unconventional; some styles would be symbolism - expressionism - futurism - Dadaism - surrealism - and absurdism






39. Highlights the insanity of life in a comical way






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






41. Big-time vaudeville who performed a series of lavish musical reviews on Broadway






42. Holds that human beings are naturally alone - without purpose or mission - in a universe that has no God






43. Comic interludes performed during the intermissions of opera






44. 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






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






46. Writes the book






47. The first 'talkie' movie; featured white actor Al Jolson in blackface performing in a minstrel show






48. The men who play female roles are called:






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






50. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (2005); The Dumb Waiter (1957)