A Scope Into Theater
Mia Takasaki
Staff Writer
Theater originated in ancient Greece. School productions tend to recreate classic plays, such as “Kiss Me Kate,” the upcoming play at Alhambra High School which will be presented in April. One of the world’s most famous playwrights is William Shakespeare. He wrote about 37 plays during his lifetime. Some of Shakespeare’s most famous plays include “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet.”
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The Stage is Set
Jesse Rosales and Nguyen Kim Tran
Staff Writers
Cole Porter’s“Kiss Me Kate” is a musical about actors performing a musical version of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” Porter’s work had its opening night on Dec. 30, 1948.
The comedic musical centers around two characters, an actress named Miss Vanessi, played by senior Lorena Coronel and her director, Frederick C. Graham, played by junior Henry Caceres. Throughout the play, the two clash in a battle to gain the spotlight in the musical. Eventually, they realize that they have a profound love for each another. The play questions the complications in discovering true love and personal identity. At the end, Miss Vanessi must make an important decision regarding her future as an actress.
Alhambra High School’s Thespian Society will proudly present“Kiss Me Kate” on the 6,7, 13, 14 of April at 7 p.m. and additionally on April 8 at 11:30 a.m. Pre-sale tickets will be sold for $8 for students and $10 for adults. The prices will increase at the door. VIP tickets will also be offered for $15 during the presale. Premium seating at the front of the show will be accompanied with complimentary chocolates in the VIP package.
The cast includes over thirty members and the set will be two levels high.
“The cast has been preparing [for the play] over the past three months,” Assistant Producer Dahlia Morena said,“I hope that this will bring more exposure to the Thespians and more people will come to our shows.”
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The Theater Meter
Katherine Gong
Staff Writer
Since the first humans fell in love with theater and the endless worlds it can create, various types of theaters have emerged. Depending on the audience, time period and message, theaters are able to communicate a variety of stories to a variety of audiences.
Some of the most common forms of theater are school productions. These types of shows often recreate classic stories such as “Romeo and Juliet” or Disney favorites with a component of high school authenticity.
Next are community theaters, which began as a collective movement to illustrate local dramas.Community theaters assemble a group of professionals to develop a play that is oriented to a specific community. In addition, the Broadway theaters, located in the Theater District of Manhattan, showcase numerous nightspots that offer entertainment through shows such as musicals.
Theaters also differ in levels of the environment. They can be conducted in nearly any environment: outdoors, warehouses, stairwells or open stages. An arena is a setting where the audience completely surrounds the stage, while a thrust stage is one where the audience surrounds the platform on three sides. An end stage is one where the audience directly faces the stage; both occupy the same architectural space.
Despite the different levels of theater, all theaters aim to leave an audience with a lasting impression of the arts.
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The Classics
Michelle Lin
Staff Writer
Although plays are not as popular as they were during the Elizabethan era, modern works such as Amy Herzog’s“4000 Miles” continue to bring joy and enjoyment to viewers.
The famous play.“Romeo and Juliet” was originally published in 1597 and centered on two lovers with rivaling families. Shakespeare’s other more well-known play, “The Tragedy of Hamlet,”revolved around Prince Hamlet’s vengeance for his father. Along with “Macbeth,””King Lear” and“Othello: The Moor of Venice,” the four works are known as Shakespeare’s Four Great Tragedies. These plays all feature characters with high staus, such as kings and princes. On the other hand, modern plays often concentrate on ordinary people and their daily life.
The modern play,“4000 Miles,”was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play centers around Leo, a 21-year-old man, and his relationship with his 91-year-old grandmother, Vera. Despite all the differences in past and modern plays, more playwrights and plays are sure to debut as times progresses.
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The Origins
Destiny Luna
Staff Writer
The theater has been around for centuries, dating back to ancient times. Over time it has evolved into categories and the audience has expanded.
Before there were famous playwrights such as Shakespeare, the Greeks had begun contributing to this form of art in their own way. The Greeks used theater as a way to broaden their understanding of the life they lived. Theater plays were popular throughout all of Greece. Wealthy citizens sponsored local theaters, believing they would gain popularity amongst peers or using it as a pathway to enter politics.
Musicals came about in the 19th century in order to intersperse dramatic scenes with musical interludes. As years have gone by music has been incorporated into the theater in order to make the show lively. It is frequently used in Broadway shows and has become the center of attention for modern plays and theater performances.
William Shakespeare is one among many playwrights who helped shaped theaters into what they are today. His works captured the hearts of many and opened the door for younger writers. He inspired writers such as Arthur Miller, Oscar Wilde and Tennessee Williams. Theatre progressed and has reached new elements as more playwrights began to publicize their work.
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Fun Facts
Lynn Zhang
Staff Writer
1.The Palace Theatre in London has two permanently bolted seats for the theater ghosts to sit in.
2.When Hal Berridge, the boy playing Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” died suddenly, Shakespeare may have had to take up the role of Lady Macbeth himself.
3.In Ancient Greece, the audience would stamp their feet instead of clapping their hands to applaud.
4.On July 27, 2010, the longest continuous dramatic performance took place in New Jersey by the 27 O’Clock Players. It was 23 hours, 33 minutes and 54 seconds long.
5.In 1782, a woman named Mrs. Fitzherbert died laughing at a theater performance of John Gay’s “The Beggar’s Opera.”
Sources:
http://www.whatsonstage.com
http://www.express.co.uk
https://interestingliterature.com