Elements of Drama

PLOT or story line

Every story must have a

Beginning…Middle…End…

Don’t forget the conflict!!!

What’s in that story?

• Monologue(speech by one character to

another)

• Soliloquy(character, alone, reveals

inner thoughts and feelings)

• Dialogue(characters speaking to each

other)

elements of productionSet or scenery -

the background built on stage to establish time & place for the audience

(may be literal or symbolic)

Costumes & makeup

These can be used to change an actor’s posture, age, physical build,

etc.(change can be real or artistic)

Props

The smaller things actors move on stage that add detail & authenticity

to a show

School bagbooks

Sound & LightsThese can be used to establish setting, mood, period; and build plot & character

Roles

The various characters in the play that the actors play

Stock characters in

Commedia dell’arte

The elements of performance

character movement

vocal expressionspeaking style

listeningacting

storytelling

The script1. Title2. Character List3. Scene Description (& sometimes a set description)4. Scene or Act #5. Dialogue

1. All CAPS = Character name2. Italics = Stage Directions3. Regular type = spoken words

JAMES – (softly) Tracy? (clears throat) Tracy? (louder, getting braver) Tracy? Wake up, I need to tell you something…

Theatre Spaces

Arena Stage Proscenium Stage

Thrust stage

Basic Theatre Termsad-lib – creating dialogue or actions

to cover a mistakean act (n.) – a smaller section of a

play (like a chapter)antagonist – the person, thing, or

idea that causes conflict for the protagonist

aside – line(s) delivered to the audience

at rise – the moment the curtain rises, what’s on stage

audition – an actor’s job interviewa beat (n.)- a change in topic or

feeling in a sceneblackout – the end of a scene, act,

playblocking – the planned movement of

actors onstagebreaking character – becoming

yourself onstage rather than your character

to cast (v.) – to place actors in specific roles in a play

character list – the list at the start of a play naming & describing all the characters

climax – the high point of the plot where the protagonist must make a choice that determines the outcome of the play

cold reading – (part of an audition) when an actor is asked to perform a script he has not been able to prepare ahead of time

comedy – a play with a happy endingconventions – practices characteristic

of a particular time period or regionto cross (v.) – to move from one place

to another on stagecue – a signal for an actor or crew

member to do something in a play

Basic Theatre Termscue line – line of dialogue that

tells an actor or crew member some action must be taken

denouement – the resolution or falling action in a play (plot)

dialogue – lines spoken in a play between 2+ characters

diction – the specific words chosen, on purpose, by a playwright

discovered – already on stage when the scene begins

down-stage turn – turning so your body passes through the full-front position (blocking)

drama – a play of serious natureepilogue – a bit tagged on to the end

of a play to explain or excuseexposition – the beginning of a play

used to provide background information (plot)

falling action – the resolution or denouement of a play (plot)

focus – the intended point of interest on stage

fourth wall – the imaginary “wall” between actors onstage and the audience – like a TV screen

gesture – an action performed with the hands, arms or head (nod)

holding for a laugh – allowing the audience’s response to begin dying away before continuing

intention – what your character wants in a scene

interior monologue – the stream of thoughts a character thinks while he/she is onstage

monologue – a long speech by 1 character

motivation – the character’s reason for doing or saying something

Basic Theatre Termsobjective – a character’s goal in a

specific sceneobservation – studying others as

sources for your character’s voice or movement

off book – not using a script, memorized

on book – using a script, not memorized

plot – what happens in a playto project (v.) – to make your

performance audible and visible to every audience member

protagonist – the main characterrising action – the development of

the conflict in a play (plot)scene – a smaller division of a playscene description – a detailed

description of the set and situation at the start of an act or scene

stage business – activities performed onstage as part of your character

stage directions – the instructions for what and how to do things in a script (these are not spoken out loud!)

stage crew – those members of the show who are not actors

strike – to take down, clean up, and put away all materials used for a performance when it is complete

subtext – the thoughts/meanings that underlie the actual spoken words

theme – what the play is about (an idea)

tragedy – a play that ends unhappily for many/most of the characters

to upstage (v.) – to draw the attention from the indented focus in a scene

Types of playsComedy

Any play that has a happy ending – even if it isn’t funny

Tragedy

A play of serious nature, that is generally sad

Types of plays – broken down…•

Farce

•P

arody

•S

entimental C

omedy

•M

usical Com

edy

•C

omedy of M

anners

•S

atire

•T

heatre of the Absurd

•S

entimental D

rama

•M

elodrama

•S

ocial Dram

a

•M

orality Play

•D

rama

•T

ragedy

Styles of Plays- how the type of play is “done”

Looks like the real thing…1. Naturalism – “slice of life,” it

is the real thing2. Realism – theatrical

representation of the real thing

“Reality” with meaning…3. Expressionism – resembles

the real thing; but colors, shapes, etc may be exaggerated or used symbolically to help develop character or theme

Not even trying to be “real”…4. Theatricalism – pure theatre,

not pretending to be anything other than a play

Historical “Period” styles…5. Classic or Neo-Classic – a

style consciously imitating the Greek or Roman classics

6. Romanticism – projects the idea of the perfectibility of mankind, optimistic, hopeful, focus on nature