Quiz/Worksheet

Name 4 Greek play writes.

1) Sophocles
2) Euripides
3) Aristophanes
4) Aeschylus

What was the chorus role in the Greet theatre?

Told the story(narrators), reflected audiences thoughts, act as omniscient characters

Who was the first actor?

Thespis

What did Rome do to Greek theatre?

Took away the morals and left all of the scandal, turned it into burlesque

What did dancers in Medieval times have to wear and why?

Devils costumes, dancing was evil

What did the Italians during the Renaissance do to Greek theatre? What did it become?

Added music, opera

Who introduced ballet to France? Who was the first ballet star?

Catherine de Medici, King Louie XIV

Name two different art forms that the slaves in the south gave us.
1) Tap dance
2) Blues music

What was Gilbert and Sullivans most famous work?

Pirates of Penzance

Name one modern example of the Vaudevillian structure.

Saturday Night Live

What was considered the first musical in the Golden Age? Why was it a landmark musical?
Showboat, it dealt with difficult issues of class, race, abandonment, broken marriages,
alcoholism, etc. It also further integrated dialogue and music further separating the
musical theatre genre from opera, and straight theatre

What was Rogers and Hammersteins first and biggest show? Why was it a landmark musical?
 Oklahoma! It was more real and it introduced the Dream Ballet as a means of telling
the main characters hidden thoughts.

What made West Side Story a land mark musical?

It dealt with difficult issues such as youth delinquency, racial violence, gang activity,
murder. It didnt have a happy ending. It integrated dance into the every day
movements of the characters.

What show ended the Golden Age and why was it a landmark musical?

Hair. It portrayed social revolution/social decay. It was the first rock musical

What two phenomenon best characterize the 70s and 80s?

1) Invasion of foreign shows
2) Spectacle

Name one writer or partnership that thrived in the 70s and 80s and name one show they wrote.
Andrew Lloyd Weber: Cats, Phantom, Starlight Express
Boublil and Schonberg: Les Miserables, Miss Saigon

There seems to be a dichotomy on Broadway today. Name two shows that demonstrate the two
extremes and what the extremes are.
Rent: Promotes alternative lifestyle
Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aida (anything Disney): promotes traditional family
values