Scattergories

A.K.A. T ell me everything you can about the topic in a short amount of time

Shakespeare

Thursday, May 9, 13

Theater history
1576: the rst theater, built by James Burbage, opens (before then, plays were performed in the courtyard of inns) 1594: Romeo and Juliet rst performed 1596: London authorities panned the public presentation of plays and all Theaters within the city limits 1599: The Globe Theater opens, modeled after the Coliseum 1603: The Plague kills 33,000 people, theaters close June 29, 1613: Fire at the Globe during a performance of Henry VIII 1614: Globe Theater rebuilt Other uses? bear baiting, gambling, other immoral purposes Thousands of people attended the theater Who objected? the Church and the City of London Ofcials Why? rise in crime, bawdy nature of some plays, ghting, drinking, possibility of getting the Plague

Thursday, May 9, 13

Theater history contd.

Only men were allowed to be actors until 1660 Young boys played female roles Actors were thought of as vagarants/vagabonds, not trustworthy Plays were subject to censorship--no political or religious elements which might challenge the status quo Audiences were generally very rowdy. Those who stood in-front of the stage (on the ground) were called Groundlings. The Box Ofce: Groundlings put money in a box at the entrance; prices determined by comfort of seats Audiences knew what type of play was being shown by the color of the ag (black--tragedy, white--comedy, red--history) Plays performed in the afternoons because of lack of articial light

Thursday, May 9, 13

Theater Then and Now

Then: no set scenery--created through dialogue references Now: detailed scenery/set design Then: Actors were vagrants Now: Actors are celebrities Then: Afternoon outdoor performances (no articial light) Now: Many show times, indoor performances, special lighting Then: more audience interaction Now: More emphasis on not breaking the 4th wall Then: 1 shilling to stand, 2 shillings to sit in the balcony (1 shilling was about 10% of their weekly income) T oday: $85 for Orchestra, $60 for Balcony (about 10% of a teachers weekly salary)

Thursday, May 9, 13

Shakespeare Family/ Early Life

Parents: John Shakespeare and Mary Arden John was an alderman and a glover Mary was the daughter of a landowning farmer Born and raised in Stratford-von-Avon Birthday unknown Third child of eight Married Anne Hathaway (he was 18--and legally underage, she was 26) First child, Susanna, born 6 months later and 2 years later, twins Judith and Hamnet born

Thursday, May 9, 13

Shakespeare as we know him

Playwright, poet, and actor Wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 long narrative poems Part-owner of play company the Lord Chamberlains Men (A.K.A. Kings Men)

Thursday, May 9, 13

Shakespeare Speculations
Did Shakespeare really write all the plays, sonnets, etc. that are attributed to him? About 230 years after he died, debates started about his authorship. Possible ghost writers: Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, and Edward de Vere Edward de Vere is the most popular candidate Courtier; reckless, unpredictable/violent nature kept him from attaining court responsibilities; patron of the arts and lyric poet What did Shakespeare look like? No written description of Shakespeares physical description exists. All we have is an approved good likeness

Thursday, May 9, 13