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






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






3. Uses rock music - the rock and roll of the 1950s (Grease) - the psychedelic rock of the 1960s (Hair) or contemporary pop and rock (Rent)






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






5. In Sigmund Romberg's play the king young heir to the throne sacrifices his personal happiness for the good of the kingdom when he sorrowfully pulls himself away from his true love in order to marry a princess whom he does not love






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






8. Writers who felt science was not adequate to describe the full range of human experience - and their writings stressed instinct - intuition - and feeling






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

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10. Kabuki borrowed many of these movements to make Kabuki acting highly stylized and almost puppet-like






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






12. Suggests we are trapped in an irrational universe where even basic communication is impossible






13. Islam's holy book - contains a warning about 'graven images' similar to the one in the Bible - prohibition applies to dolls - statues - portraits - and people playing a character






14. Russian playwright whose play The Lower Depths (1902) took look at people living in cellar of Moscow flophouse






15. The realism of the play is expressed through lyrical language






16. French philosopher often called the Father of the Romantic movement; argued that people could find happiness in a 'state of nature' and that they should learn from nature rather than the artificial and corrupted teachings of society






17. Theatre was not seen as being of value to society - so plays were not an important part of:






18. Composed and produced by Bob Cole - lyrics by Billy Johnson; story of a con man and used minstrel stereotypes and spoofed Chinatown; in one scene a young black man sings about he and his date were denied entry to a nightclub cuz He was black and this






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






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






21. 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






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






23. All lines are sung - usually to grand classical music; Madama Butterfly (1904)






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






25. Writes the book






26. Sarcastic label of Scribe's plays; the sympathetic protagonist suffers at the hands of an evil antagonist in the course of intense action - suspense - and contrived play devices; ending is always happy and the loose ends are neatly tied up






27. 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)






28. Includes all other forms of drama - from the ancient ritual theatre of Africa to the traditional theatre of Asia to the shadow and puppet theatre of Muslim lands






29. Book - music - and lyrics






30. This happened for the first time during the Restoration






31. By Swedish Playwright August Strindberg; fourteen-act play that follows the disconnected logic of a dream






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






33. In Sigmund Romberg's play the king young heir to the throne sacrifices his personal happiness for the good of the kingdom when he sorrowfully pulls himself away from his true love in order to marry a princess whom he does not love






34. 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






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






36. Argued that the prime function of playwrights is to expose the social and moral evils of their time






37. Exposed the squalid living conditions of the urban poor and explores scandalous topics like poverty - venereal disease and prostitution; 'Sordid Realism'






38. Wrote 'high comedies' which were cerebral socially relevant plays that had an intellectual scope so vast they forced audiences to reassess their values; Man and Superman (1903) & The Quintessence of Ibsenism (1891)






39. Composed and produced by Bob Cole - lyrics by Billy Johnson; story of a con man and used minstrel stereotypes and spoofed Chinatown; in one scene a young black man sings about he and his date were denied entry to a nightclub cuz He was black and this






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






41. 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






42. Improved the daguerreotype and created modern photography; was also an English physicist






43. A true-to-life interior containing a room or rooms with the fourth wall removed so that the audience has the feeling of looking in on the characters' private lives






44. Elmer Rice; about a man named Mr. Zero Who is fired from his job and replaced by an adding machine






45. Bandits discuss rival systems of goverment while waiting for an attack






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






47. 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






48. A program of unrelated singing - dancing and comedy numbers






49. Writes the music






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