Drama - derived from the Greek word “dran” which means “to do”.

It refers to written
literature that is intended for performance. They were in honor of the god Dionysus
Play – refers to a dramatic performance by actors on a stage before an audience.
Theatre – refers to the place in which a play is performed. Mean “The Seeing Place”.
Theatre Play – deliberate performance created by live actors and intended for a live
audience typically making use of scripted language.
Mimetic Impulse – desire to imitate, act or pretend
Ludic Impulse – playful instinct, make fun of figure or practices
Catharsis – purgation, cleansing, or “Soul Vomiting”
Functionalism – the desire to explain and rationalize the world around us and how and why
things are.
Didactic – desire to teach people something, especially a moral lesson
Stages in Play Production
Pre-production – preparation and gathering of all materials
Executive function – Production Manager – overall administration of the production, House
Manager – the safety of the audience and all front house, Stage Manager – oversees
rehearsals coordinate all aspects of production.
Business Function – Marketing director – manages all aspects of the theatre’s publicity and
advertising materials, Box Office Staff – provides information about opening performance
and all tickets.
Aesthetic Function – Playwright, Director, Actors, Set Designer, Light Director.
Production and Post-Production
Genres of Drama
Musical – a theatrical production that is characteristically sentimental and amusing in
nature, with a simple out distinctive plot, and offering music, dancing, and dialogue
Tragedy – one of the oldest forms of drama which expresses the plight and suffering of
humans. Involves the ruin or downfall of the characters. Hamartia – a flaw
Comedy – Lighter in tone and provides a happy ending. Intends to make the audience laugh
through any form of fun-provoking situation. Two types: Low comedy (slapstick and more on
physical) and High comedy (jokes pure comedy and from dialogue)
Theatre Terms
Stage Directions – refers to the instructions on how the play acted out.
Act – major division in the action of a play
Scene – signals change in location or entrance of a new character
Dialogue – refers to the direct conversation of the characters
Ad Lib – extemporize (Improvise) stage business or conversation
Cross – refers to the movements of characters from one area to another
Blocking – the arrangements of actors’ movement on the stage with respect to each other
and the stage space
Business rehearsal – rehearsal for onstage action
Dress rehearsal – a full rehearsal in costume and with stage properties shortly before the
first performance.
Break a leg – traditional wish of good luck exchange between theatrical people prior to
curtain
Soliloquy – act of a character’s speaking of one’s thought when by oneself
Curtain call – refers to the final appearance of the cast when the play is over to receive the
audience’s applause.