The World of Theatre

For thousands of years people have been telling stories in a variety of ways, including through the form of stage theatre.  The form of theatre that we know today originated with the Greeks.  One of the most famous playwrights of all time is William Shakespeare who wrote plays such as  Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and Romeo and Juliet during the 16^th and 17^th centuries.  Today theatre is still going strong from the bright lights of Broadway in New York City to community theatres in Oklahoma towns.

To ensure a successful theatrical performance, there must be many people working backstage in addition to the actors on the stage and the director.  This includes the stage manager, set designer, costume designer, and many more staff.  One of the most important persons in a theatrical production is the theatre or stage director who oversees and orchestrates the production as a whole.  The director's function is to ensure the quality and completeness of the production and to lead the members of the creative team, such as the actors, set designers, and costume designers, into realizing their artistic vision of it. Vital to a theatrical production are the actors, because they bring the script to life for the audience, evoking the emotions that were intended by the playwright. The design of the set is also a very important aspect of theatre production, because the set must be designed and constructed with the appropriate props to further bring the script to life.   

Come by the Al Harris Library and check out our display on “The World of Theatre”!