Skene (theatre)

In classical drama, the skene was the background building to which the platform stage was connected, in which costumes were stored and to which the periaktoi (painted panels serving as the background) were connected.

The evolution of the actor, who assumed an individual part and answered to the chorus (the word for actor, hypokrites, means answerer), introduced into drama a new form, the alternation of acted scenes, or episodes. With this development, there arose the need for a place where the soloist could retire between appearances and change costumes whenever needed, and a place for the storing of various properties. The word skene means "tent" or "hut," and it is thought that the original building for this purpose was constructed of perishable material, such as wood, and was a temporary structure. The skene broke the circularity of design in the Greek theater. In the course of time, the skene underwent extensive alterations. At first it was a simple wooden structure; later it became a series of complex stone buildings (permanent) with such areas as the paraskenion, the proskenion, the hyposkenion, the episkenion with its thyromata, and the logeion.

Theatre

Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music, and dance. Elements of art and stagecraft are used to enhance the physicality, presence and immediacy of the experience. The specific place of the performance is also named by the word "theatre" as derived from the Ancient Greek θέατρον (théatron, "a place for viewing"), itself from θεάομαι (theáomai, "to see", "to watch", "to observe").

Modern Western theatre comes, in large measure, from ancient Greek drama, from which it borrows technical terminology, classification into genres, and many of its themes, stock characters, and plot elements. Theatre artist Patrice Pavis defines theatricality, theatrical language, stage writing, and the specificity of theatre as synonymous expressions that differentiate theatre from the other performing arts, literature, and the arts in general.

Broadway theatre

Coordinates: 40°45′21″N 73°59′11″W / 40.75583°N 73.98639°W / 40.75583; -73.98639

Broadway theatre, commonly known as Broadway, refers to the theatrical performances presented in the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theater District and Lincoln Center along Broadway, in Manhattan, New York City. Along with London's West End theatres, Broadway theatres are widely considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world.

The Theater District is a popular tourist attraction in New York City. According to The Broadway League, Broadway shows sold a record US$1.36 billion worth of tickets in 2014, an increase of 14% over the previous year. Attendance in 2014 stood at 13.13 million, a 13% increase over 2013.

The great majority of Broadway shows are musicals. Historian Martin Shefter argues, "'Broadway musicals,' culminating in the productions of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, became enormously influential forms of American popular culture" and helped make New York City the cultural capital of the nation.

Theatre (band)

Theatre was an experimental mathcore outfit formed in the lower suburbs of Somerset West, South Africa in 2008. They bring genre-smashing music to the foreground that is both unique in construction and chaotic in design, which is brought forth by means of a notably destructive yet emotive performance, with "live shows that truly defy the norm".

History

Theatre started out, as any new project would, as a simple concept which came about when brothers, Tarquin and Byron Jones of the late Eve Of My Collapse began collaborating with JJ van Rooyen, former frontman of Era Of The Hero. After welcoming members Schalk Venter and Duke Negus, the band was set to begin writing. The writing process was difficult and intricate, as the band was yet to find its true sound. In early 2009, Schalk stepped down from his position as bassist, but remained a part of the band as art director and occasional percussionist. Theatre, quickly filled the position with former-Era bassist, Jacques Jordaan. The band was complete and ready to hit the stage.