Going Beyond Entertainment: The Voice of the Playwright and Director in Theatre
College
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Department
Theatre & Dance
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Andrew Vorderbrugge, Janet Gray, M.F.A.
Abstract
Many people think of theatre as a creative form of entertainment used to amuse the audience. However, theatre goes beyond entertainment. It has the power to spark discussions and bring about change or revolt. It is an art form with a mission, and that mission is to communicate. Theatre can be amusing and heart-warming, and the audience can go to bed at night knowing that the characters of that world will be happy, safe, and content. At other times, theatre can be devastating, raw, ambiguous and haunting leaving the audience with unsatisfied endings that will leave one awake all night long. Despite the differences, there is something that is universal in every play: the message. The playwright has a clear message that they want to communicate to the audience, and it is the director’s responsibility to interpret that message and bring the story to life with the help of their actors. This presentation will include a small performance from the play Good Boys and True by Roberto Aguirre Sacasa, in hopes of demonstrating how a playwright’s words are brought to life and what creative acting choices are made to effectively communicate the story to the audience.
Course Assignment
Indepentdent Study, THRA 392, Andrew Vorderbrugge
Previously Presented/Performed?
Good Boys and True, Department of Theatre and Dance, Johnson Studio Theatre, Winthrop University
Start Date
22-4-2016 3:30 PM
End Date
22-4-2016 3:45 PM
Going Beyond Entertainment: The Voice of the Playwright and Director in Theatre
West Center, Room 219
Many people think of theatre as a creative form of entertainment used to amuse the audience. However, theatre goes beyond entertainment. It has the power to spark discussions and bring about change or revolt. It is an art form with a mission, and that mission is to communicate. Theatre can be amusing and heart-warming, and the audience can go to bed at night knowing that the characters of that world will be happy, safe, and content. At other times, theatre can be devastating, raw, ambiguous and haunting leaving the audience with unsatisfied endings that will leave one awake all night long. Despite the differences, there is something that is universal in every play: the message. The playwright has a clear message that they want to communicate to the audience, and it is the director’s responsibility to interpret that message and bring the story to life with the help of their actors. This presentation will include a small performance from the play Good Boys and True by Roberto Aguirre Sacasa, in hopes of demonstrating how a playwright’s words are brought to life and what creative acting choices are made to effectively communicate the story to the audience.
