SandyBlogsTheatre basics
January 5th 2009 16:21
Let’s go over some theatre basics. First, theatRE versus theatER. As a grammer nerd, it always annoys me when people use the wrong one. Its like their versus there. Some people would argue that it is semantics. That there is a geographical difference to the words. In England, the spelling is theatre. In America, it is theater. Amongst the theatre community, the difference between the two is more exact. A theater is a building, like a movie theater. Whereas theatre refers to the art of the stage.
Another theatre basic, the greenroom. While everyone can agree on what this is (the room you hang out in when not on stage) no one seems to agree on how it got it’s name. Some historians believe the term dates back to Shakespearean theatre. It was common practice in those days to fill the warm-up room with plants, as it was believed the moisture from the foliage would help an actor’s voice.
Another possible source for the term greenroom comes from medival theatre, which was performed on “the green”. Possibly the term developed over time from “the green” being the performance space to “the green room”. Others believe the name started as an insult. That green refers to inexperienced. Since the room is often used for production mettings and actor critiques that green refers to the newbies of a theatre company.
I have worked at many theatres, all of which had a green room. None of which were actually green. In college, however, we did paint our greenroom green. A hideous lime color. Suprisingly, most of the theatres I worked at has greenrooms that were yellow.
And one more theatre basic, always turn off your cell phone. Don’t be the inconsiderate audiance member whose phone rings during a performance. There are some people who have suggested movie theaters use cell phone jamming technology, maybe theatres should do the same thing. I myself prefer public humiliation as punishment for the opposing party. In a production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, I saw Nathan Lane stop in the middle of a performance to mock an audiance member who’s phone went off during a number. These days, with all the different ringtones, what better way to ruin a production than to hear Sexyback during King Lear.
Another theatre basic, the greenroom. While everyone can agree on what this is (the room you hang out in when not on stage) no one seems to agree on how it got it’s name. Some historians believe the term dates back to Shakespearean theatre. It was common practice in those days to fill the warm-up room with plants, as it was believed the moisture from the foliage would help an actor’s voice.
Another possible source for the term greenroom comes from medival theatre, which was performed on “the green”. Possibly the term developed over time from “the green” being the performance space to “the green room”. Others believe the name started as an insult. That green refers to inexperienced. Since the room is often used for production mettings and actor critiques that green refers to the newbies of a theatre company.
I have worked at many theatres, all of which had a green room. None of which were actually green. In college, however, we did paint our greenroom green. A hideous lime color. Suprisingly, most of the theatres I worked at has greenrooms that were yellow.
And one more theatre basic, always turn off your cell phone. Don’t be the inconsiderate audiance member whose phone rings during a performance. There are some people who have suggested movie theaters use cell phone jamming technology, maybe theatres should do the same thing. I myself prefer public humiliation as punishment for the opposing party. In a production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, I saw Nathan Lane stop in the middle of a performance to mock an audiance member who’s phone went off during a number. These days, with all the different ringtones, what better way to ruin a production than to hear Sexyback during King Lear.
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