American Drama

1. American Drama Feature Menu • The Art of Drama • Dramatic Structure • Production of a Play • American Drama • Twentieth-Century Realism • Expressionist Drama • Contemporary Drama • Practice

2. The Art of Drama Drama is a unique literary form that comes to life on stage. Short Story or Novel Drama meant to be read meant to be performed static: takes its final form on paper dynamic: can change from one production to the next story is told through words alone voice, movement, and gesture are essential scenes are created in reader’s imagination scenes are created with lighting and set design can be read in more than one sitting length is limited by attention span of audience

3. The Art of Drama A successful play is a team effort of playwright producer director actors designers and technicians audiences [End of Section]

4. Dramatic Structure Like a story, a drama involves a protagonist, or main character, who faces a problem or conflict. main character who faces a Exposition Protagonist gives background information about which may be Conflict

5. Dramatic Structure Quick Check Who is the protagonist? In The Diary of Anne Frank, Anne and her family are hiding in an Amsterdam attic during the Nazi occupation of Holland. Along with the other occupants of the Secret Annex, Anne struggles with the harsh conditions and restrictions of their hiding place as they try to avoid detection by the Nazis. She also struggles with conflicting feelings about the people with whom she is forced to live in close quarters. What external and internal conflicts does the protagonist face? [End of Section]

6. Production of a Play After writing a play, the playwright then tries to get it performed—preferably on Broadway! • Because production of a play is costly, it usually depends on the financial backing of producers. Author discuss script changes with sends play to submits play to Agent Producers The Role of the Producer

7. Production of a Play The next step is to find the right director and actors. • The director decides how best to bring the playwright’s words to life on the stage. • The actors follow the director’s instructions and bring their own creative talents to the play. Then, long days of rehearsals begin in preparation for opening night. The Role of the Director

8. Production of a Play If the play is a hit on Broadway, it may then • be performed around the world • find its way into the anthologies you study in school Four Groups of American Theaters [End of Section]

9. revolt against realism: expressionist drama new levels of realism and psychological complexity influence of European realism theatrical, sentimental shows 1800s contemporary American Drama American drama has gone through several stages of development from the nineteenth century to the present.

10. American Drama European Influences The “slice-of-life” realism of three late-nineteenth-century European playwrights had a profound influence on American drama. [End of Section]

11. Twentieth-Century Realism Realistic drama is based on the illusion that at a play we are watching life through a “fourth wall” that has been removed so we can see the action.

12. Twentieth-Century Realism [End of Section]

13. Expressionist Drama Expressionist drama began as a revolt against realism. Rejecting the orderly format of realistic drama, expressionist drama • emphasized stage effects and imaginative settings • focused on revealing characters’ interior consciousness • reflected a sense that life is formless and uncertain

14. Expressionist Drama Many writers who used expressionist techniques came to be called playwrights of the Theater of the Absurd. • Aburdist plays are not meant to tell a story. • Instead, much like poetry, they use a pattern of images to express an idea or a feeling. Founders of the Theater of the Absurd

15. Expressionist Drama Edward Albee: American Absurdist The most significant absurdist in the United States has been Edward Albee (1928– ). • Albee is not a pure absurdist; he experiments with many forms. [End of Section]

16. Contemporary Drama Today, playwrights are free to experiment with many different dramatic forms and structures—as long as their approach speaks compellingly to an audience.

17. Contemporary Drama Quick Check Match each definition with the correct term. drama based on the illusion of watching characters’ lives through an invisible “fourth wall”; themes usually center on contemporary society Expressionism Realism drama that focuses on revealing characters’ stream of consciousness; replaces logical plot with pattern of poetic images [End of Section]

18. Practice Make some predictions about what will happen to American drama in the next ten years. Consider • subject matter • theatrical sets (simpler or more elaborate? use of special effects?) • popularity relative to movies, television, and Internet-based entertainment [End of Section]

19. The End