Exploring Theatre

Chapter 1: Welcome to Theatre

Overview

Roy Scheider, the actor, once said, "Theatre doesn't exist because it's entertainment. It exists because it's a part of the energy of living, of humankind." Theatre class can help you respond to the world around you with energy and creativity. Theatre can also help you build self-confidence and self-discipline and develop your ability to speak clearly and make good decisions. Teamwork skills gained through theatre are among the most important life skills you will learn. In a sense, theatre class can be thought of as preparation for living your life to the fullest.

The word theatre comes from the ancient Greek word theatron, meaning a "place for seeing." But the beginnings of theatre go back much further—perhaps to the rituals that humans were performing as long as 30,000 years ago during the Ice Ages. As human society developed, so did the rituals. We owe much of what we experience as theatre today to the early Greeks, who participated in dramatic ceremonies at great public festivals.