Instructor's Review Copy for A Concise History of Theatre

Focuses on the cultural significance of theatre   This streamlined, engaging text helps students understand the events, places and people that have influenced the history of theatre.    Learning Goals Upon completing this book, readers will be able to: Identify the major time periods and geographic areas associated with the history of theatre Distinguish relevant characteristics of theatre in diverse times and places. Describe the underlying cultural, economic, and political environments as they affected theatre in different times and places. Associate major participants who made theatre within their historical and regional context.

Table of Contents:
In this Section: 1) Brief Table of Contents 2) Full Table of Contents   1) Brief Table of Contents   Introduction: The Theatre of Many Times and Places Chapter 1: Greek Theatre  Chapter 2: Roman Theatre  240 BCE - 550 CE  Chapter 3: Early Theatre of Asia 200 BCE - 1800 CE  Chapter 4: The European Middle Ages  Chapter 5: The Italian Renaissance  Chapter 6: The Golden Ages of England and Spain  Chapter 7: Neoclassicism: Triumph and Decline in France and England  Chapter 8: Melodrama and The Rise of Commercialism  1750 - 1900  Chapter 9: Romanticism and Realism   1750 — 1900  Chapter 10: Theatre in Africa   Chapter 11:  Reactions to Commercialism and Realism  1900-1950  Chapter 12: Musical Theatre  Chapter 13: Eclecticism: U.S. Theatre from 1950  Chapter 14: European Theatre after 1950  Chapter 15:  Theatre in Asia from 1800  Chapter 16: Globalization of Theatre     2) Full Table of Contents   Introduction: The Theatre of Many Times and Places The Past in the Present  Theatre: A Definition  Language And Its Problems  Theatre-Like Activities  Historical Evidence, Emphasis, and Omissions  Organization  Chapter 1: Greek Theatre  Objectives  Context  Theories of the Origins of Theatre  Traits of Greek Theatre  Plays and Playwrights  Theatre Buildings and Practices  The Hellenistic Period  The Shift to Rome  Chapter 1 at a Glance  Key Terms  Captions  The Play’s the Thing:  Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, 427 BCE  The Story of the Play  How We Know: Paintings on Greek Vases  How We Know: Menander and The Grouch Chapter 2: Roman Theatre  240 BCE - 550 CE  Objectives  Context  Roman Festivals and Theatre of the Republic  Tragedy and Comedy, Mostly Comedy  Three Important Texts  Theatre Buildings, Scenery, Costumes, and Masks  Paratheatrical Entertainments  Christian Opposition to Theatre The Breakup of the Empire  The Eastern (Byzantine) Empire and Theatre  Chapter 2 at a Glance  Key Terms  Captions  The Play’s the Thing: Plautus’s The Menaechmi The Story of the Play  How We Know: Theatre in an Ordinary Roman Town   Chapter 3: Early Theatre of Asia 200 BCE - 1800 CE  Objectives  Context  India  China  Japan  Summary  Chapter 3 at a Glance  Key Terms  Captions The Play's the Thing: Shakuntala  The Story of the Play  The Play's the Thing: Li Xingdao's Chalk Circle  The Story of the Play  How We Know: Shakuntala’s First Translation The Play's the Thing: The Peony Pavilion  The Story of the Play    Chapter 4: The European Middle Ages  Objectives  Context  Early Medieval Drama and Theatre: 476 to 1200  Production inside the Church  Later Medieval Culture and Theatre, c. 1200—1550  Religious Drama outside the Church  Staging Religious Plays outside the Church  Secular Drama  The End of Medieval Religious Theatre: The Transformation of Medieval Secular Theatre  Summary  Chapter 4 at a Glance  Key Terms  Captions  How We Know: Bishop Ethelwold’s Stage Directions for the Quem Quaeritis Trope  The Play’s the Thing: The Second Shepherds' Play, Anonymous  The Story of the Play  How We Know: Pageant Wagons  The Play’s the Thing: Everyman, Anonymous, c. 1490  The Story of the Play  How We Know: Oberammergau Passion Play   Chapter 5: The Italian Renaissance  Objectives  Context  Theory: Neoclassicism  Practice: Italian Renaissance Drama  Illusionism  Renaissance Theatre Structures Stage Settings for Illusionistic Theatre  Contradiction in Mainstream Theatre  An Alternative Theatre: Commedia dell’Arte  Italy: Eclipse  Chapter 5 at a Glance  Key Terms  Captions  How We Know: Commedia Scenarios  Act One, Flavio's Good Fortune    Chapter 6: The Golden Ages of England and Spain  Objectives  Context  England and the Golden Age  Court Masques and New Conventions: Inigo Jones  The Closing of English Theatres  Spain in the Golden Age  Summary  Chapter 6 at a Glance  Key Terms  Captions  The Play’s The Thing: Calderon de la Barca’s Life is a Dream, 1635  The Story of the Play  How We Know: The Swan Drawing  How We Know: Philip Henslowe’s Inventory  How We Know: Three Public Theatres   Chapter 7: Neoclassicism: Triumph and Decline in France and England  Objectives  Context  French Theatre through Its Golden Age  English Restoration Theatre (1660—c. 1750)  The Rise of Sentimentalism: 1700–1750  Chapter 7 at a Glance  Key Terms  Captions  How We Know: A Forgotten Theatre Recovered  The Play’s the Thing: Jean Racine’s Phèdre (Phaedra), 1677  The Story of the Play  The Play’s the Thing: Molière’s Tartuffe, 1669  The Story of the Play Chapter 8: Melodrama and The Rise of Commercialism  1750 - 1900  Objectives  Context  Theatre Becomes Commercial Theatre in Four Countries, circa 1700 to c 1850  Commercial Theatre Develops  Actors, Managers  From Actor-Managers to Producers  Drama in the Commercial Theatre  Melodrama in the Commercial Theatre  Comedy in the Commercial Theatre  Reactions to the Commercial Theatre  Chapter 8 at a Glance Key Terms  How We Know: Early Theatre Photography  Captions  The Play’s the Thing: Augustin Daly’s Under the Gaslight, 1867  The Story of the Play Chapter 9: Romanticism and Realism   1750 — 1900  Objectives  Context  Romanticism in the Theatre  Romanticism in Germany, England, and France  Romanticism Dwindles  An Aftershock: Richard Wagner, a Romantic Artist, Flourishing 1842 to 1882  Reform After Romanticism: Realism and Naturalism, from circa 1850  Important Leaders of Realism and Naturalism  Plays and Playwrights of Realism  Summary  Chapter 9 at a Glance  Key Terms  Captions  The Play’s the Thing: Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, 1879  The Story of the Play Chapter 10: Theatre in Africa  Objectives  Context  Theatre in Northern Africa  Theatre in Sub-Saharan Africa  Summary  Key Terms  Captions  Play’s the Thing: Wole Soyinka, Death and the Kings Horseman, 1976  Story of the Play  How We Know: Theatre in Ancient Egypt    Chapter 11:  Reactions to Commercialism and Realism  1900-1950 Objectives  Context  Revolts Against Realism and Commercialism Two Influential Theorists Against Commercialism and Realism  Important US Theatre Groups  The Art Theatre Movement  Playwrights, Sometimes Commercial, Sometimes Realistic  Theatre under Occupation and Totalitarianism  Commercial Theatre Declines  Summary  Chapter 11 at a Glance  Key Terms  Captions  The Play’s the Thing: Antonin Artaud’s Jet of Blood, 1924  Story of the Play: Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night, produced 1956  The Story of the Play    Chapter 12: Musical Theatre  Objectives  Context  The American Musical Emerges  Song Forms  Musicals Since 1950  Summary  Chapter 12 at a Glance  Key Terms  Captions  The Play’s the Thing: Girl Crazy, 1930  The Story of the Musical  How We Know:  Preserving Musicals   Chapter 13: Eclecticism: U.S. Theatre from 1950  Objectives Context  Theatre Becomes Eclectic: an Overview  Professional Theatre  Plays Since 1950  The Political Avant-Garde in Theatre  The Artistic Avant-Garde in Theatre  The Avant-garde Fades  Identity Theatre Emerges  Absurdism, Performance Art, and Postmodernism  Theatrical Responses to 9/11 and New Wars  The Cultural Displacement of Theatre  The Play’s the Thing: Tyler Perry and the Chitlin’ Circuit  How We Know: Theatre on Film and Tape Archive  Key Terms  Captions  The Play’s the Thing: August Wilson’s Century of African American Life  The Play’s the Thing: Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire, 1947  The Story of the Play  The Play's the Thing: Paula Vogel's The Baltimore Waltz, 1992  The Story of the Play   Chapter 14: European Theatre after 1950  Objectives  Context  Germany  Great Britian  France  Italy  Poland  European Theatre After World War II Had Wide Impact Summary  Key Terms  Captions  The Play’s the Thing: Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, 1982  The Story of the Play    Chapter 15:  Theatre in Asia from 1800  Objectives  Context  India  Chinese Theater after 1790  Later Japanese Theatre  Summary  Key Terms  Captions  The Play’s the Thing: Tragore’s The Post Office, 1924    Chapter 16: Globalization of Theatre  Objectives  Context  Musicals in Asia  Other International Musical Successes  Techniques and Styles  Non-European Theatre in Western Countries  Global Shakespeare  Belarus Free Theatre  Is Globalization Theatre’s Destiny? Summary  Key Terms  Captions   

About the Author :
Jim Patterson is a co-author of "Stage Money: The Business of Professional Theater, Theater Careers: A Realistic Guide, Theatre in the Secondary School Classroom," and the seventh, eighth, and ninth editions of "The Enjoyment of Theatre." He also wrote "Stage Directing: The First Experiences." Jim Patterson spent three decades teaching at the University of South Carolina, where he headed the MFA directing program, served as Director of Undergraduate Studies, and directed the department's summer theatre program. Now a Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Jim has been recognized for his work by the South Carolina Theatre Association and the South Carolina Speech Communication Association. He has directed over 140 stage productions plus numerous training films. He is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Tim Donahue is co-author of "Stage Money: The Business of the Professional Theater, Theater Careers: A Realistic Guide, " and the ninth edition of "The Enjoyment of Theatre." He holds an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina, where he retired from the Department of Theatre and Dance as the director of marketing and development after nearly ten years.