Theatre History Commons^™

Eccentric: Writing Through The Lens Of Empathy, Steven M. Blacksmith

Theatre & Dance ETDs

In this essay, I detail my growth as a writer through different periods of empathic learning. I examine my childhood struggle to understand many common emotions and the ways in which I began to logically dissect and replicate them in life and in art. I further delve into this examination through my discovery of comedy and the lifelong process of understand the deep connections humans make with humor. I then discuss how my understanding of empathy allowed me to write my dissertation play, The Eccentrics, and create a world in which empathy among the characters can be a catalyst …

Negotiating Space: Spatial Violation On The Early Modern Stage, 1587-1638, Gregory W. Sargent

Doctoral Dissertations

Recent criticism proves the malleability of theatrical space as a lens through which the discussion of Renaissance drama proliferates. Negotiating Space works towards the articulation of the importance of space in the representational mimesis of performance by examining moments of violence, violation, misuse, and misappropriation. I draw a connection between the lived, material sites of the plays’ action and the ideological import of representing those spaces dramatically using a focus on violation. Though much good scholarship exists detailing London-centric approaches to dramatic space, this study discursively reifies identifiable staged spaces to connect with the lives of theatrical patrons no matter …

Stranger Compass Of The Stage: Difference And Desire In Early Modern City Comedy, Catherine Tisdale

Doctoral Dissertations

In periods of social and political upheaval like ours, it is more important than ever to interrogate constructions of identity and difference and to understand the histories of alterity that separate us from one another. Stranger Compass of the Stage: Difference and Desire in Early Modern City Drama reimagines the cultural and social effect of alien, foreign, and stranger characters on the early modern stage and re-envisions how these characters contribute to, alter, and imaginatively build new epistemologies for understanding difference in early modern London. Resisting the field’s current critical inclination toward English identity formation, this project works intersectionally to …

Political Theatre: Entertainment Or Instrument Of Social Change?, Olivia M. Matthews

Senior Theses

This paper explores political theatre as a means of conveying information and inspiring action regarding socio-political issues. Through a staged reading of The Exonerated, and subsequent audience discussion and survey, the effectiveness of theatre as a means of commenting on political problems was explored. The conclusion was reached that theatre is uniquely suited for this role due to the emotional human connection forged by seeing examples of real people dealing with the addressed issues.

Aphra Behn On The Contemporary Stage: Behn's Feminist Legacy And Woman-Directed Revivals Of The Rover, Nicole Elizabeth Stodard

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study theorizes the origins and history of the professional female playwright and director from the Restoration period to the present day through the stage history of Behn's most popular play, The Rover. Part one is comprised of two chapters: the first in this section argues the importance of appreciating Behn's proto-directorial function in the Restoration theatre and her significance to the history of feminism and women in professional theatre; the second chapter in this section examines the implications of casting practices and venue changes to eighteenth-century revivals of Behn's canon with a particular eye towards what a contemporary director …

Estudio Y Edición De La Más Constante Mujer De Juan Pérez De Montalbán, Philip Allen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

La más constante mujer is a Spanish Golden Age play written by Juan Pérez de Montalbán in 1631 and published for the first time in 1632. Although he was once one of the most famous playwrights in Madrid, known for running in the same literary and social circles as Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca, the bulk of the dramatist's work has been greatly ignored by scholars, or is referred to as being of second rate, and the author himself has nearly tragically been forgotten throughout the centuries following his short life. Although research has been conducted to …

Playing Devil's Advocate: The Attractive Shakespearean Villain, Jonathan Montgomery Green

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The characters of William Shakespeare have spawned countless words of critical interpretation inspired by the playwright's aptitude for fashioning intricate and conflicted figures. As a master character craftsman, Shakespeare is consistent in creating fascinatingly deep characters, and many of them have even gone so far as to generate entire literary archetypes. From the contemplative Prince Hamlet to the despicable yet charming John Falstaff, Shakespeare's characters remain eternal representatives of what any good character should be: interesting, provocative, and complicated.

However, among the playwright's most hypnotic figures are his villains, those characters whom audiences should by all counts detest but cannot …

An Evaluation Of The Beginnings, Purposes, And Influence Of Drama In Ogden From 1840 To 1900, Harold R. Oaks

Theses and Dissertations

During the latter half of the nineteenth century Utah was undergoing physical and cultural colonization. Four months after the first Mormon pioneers arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake, the site of Ogden city had been purchased from Miles Goodyear. The city developed slowly during its first twenty years, but when the railroad joined at Promontory Point in 1869, Ogden became the junction of East and West. The city experienced a peculiar economic and cultural boom not known elsewhere in the Mountain West or along the railroad due to the predominately Mormon population which now was imposed upon …

The History Of The Drama In Corinne And Brigham City, Utah, 1855-1905, Rue Corbett Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

It is hoped that through the inclusion of the history of the drama in Corinne, Utah, some interesting contrasts can be shown. Such contrasts are heightened when it Is realized that geographically the two towns are very close and that unlike Brigham City, and other Utah towns, Corinne was non-Mormon. During its zenith it undoubtedly reflected the typical frontier town characteristics more than did the Mormon town nearby. This fact provides opportunity for comparison of two societies as reflected in their dramatic activities. This comparison should assist in evaluating the history and contributions of Mormon dramatic activity by helping to …

History Of Drama In Provo, 1853-1897, Burnett B. Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations

This study will present as complete and accurate a history of the drama of Provo, from the earliest recorded activity (1853) to the decline of community theatre (1897), as available data provide.

An Analysis Of The Humanism Of Euripides As Expressed In His Plays And Reflected In Selected Plays Of Modern Drama, Robert Henry English

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Because of the great importance of the human element in the drama of today we shall attempt to trace it from its first great exponent down to our times. Therefore, within the following pages we shall conduct an analysis of the humanism of Euripides as expressed in his plays and reflected in selected plays of modern drama. Our analysis, by necessity, shall have a six-fold purpose; (1) to analyze briefly the characteristics of the Attic theatre for which Euripides wrote; (2) to study the life and philosophy of Euripides in order to determine the presence of humanism; (3) to conduct …

Seventeenth Century Golden Era Of French Drama, Vera P. Duplessis

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation

Drama is a word belonging to the Greek language which means actions. It is applied to that form of literature which has action in it and is suited for performance.

Shakespeare's Genius Was Essentially A Dramatic One, Marie Valentine Prudeaux

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation

Shakespeare, the poet, the actor and the great master of English drama, was born in Stratford-on-Avon in Warwickshire sure on or about April 23, 1564. His father John Shakespeare, was a leading citizen Of Stratford, who about 1557 married Mary Arden, the daughter of his landlord, who died, leaving his daughter, Mary, a considerable piece of land. The details of Shakespeare’s early life are somewhat meager; though it is believed he was sent to the free grammar school at his home, learning the rudiments of Latin, and less Greek, according to the testimony of Ben. Johnson, a contemporary. This dramatist …