Plays

As a gift for Clara in E.T.A. Hoffmann's "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," the Nutcracker has a poised, yet vivid, character. Making your own nutcracker takes a dedication to shaping the wood...

Many theaters allow people to volunteer to be ushers. Volunteer ushers get to see the show for free in exchange for helping out. Becoming an usher is easy.

People have always been attracted to stories that leave them feeling a strong emotion. Comedies and tragedies, while differing greatly, are a great example of emotional tales.

This is a step by step instruction that will tell you how to build a realistic looking campfire without the danger of real fire, in a very costly way. It's an easy way to bring the camping...

Hamlet said it best, in his advice to the players, "Do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus; but use all gently." Shakespeare knew the importance of gestures, and, through Hamlet, urges...

Some of the most exciting theatre in NYC isn't on the Great White Way, and if you're willing to show up early and do a little ushering work, you can see some great productions for free.

Schools, local acting groups and other organizations often need short plays that can be performed in one act, with minimal scenery and little or no funding. There are plenty of short plays...

Has a family member who craves culture roped you into seeing a Shakespeare play? As the date draws near, do you wish with all your heart that you were going to a Bears game instead? Cheer up,...

Winter has a varied mix of weather. There are cool days with bright sunshine, other days with lovely snow showers, and still other days with freezing rain or blowing snow. Here are ideas to...

In their most basic form, spotlights are basic electrical circuits. A power source--which may, depending on the model of the spotlight, be either alternating or direct current---connects through a...

The varied and complex world of theater is constantly re-defining itself. Every season new social commentaries dominate the stage, new shows come out, new actors hit the public arena, and billions...

If you're in charge of producing a play about black history, there are a few options you can take. The play can be uplifting, dramatic or strictly historical, depending on the audience and the age...

Find out how find a great one act play. Find out what kind of play to avoid, what kind of play to look for.

When I first moved here (the south of France, for those of you who are here because you really want to know how to know a hawk from a handsaw and not just because you're one of those who'd want to...

The art of playwriting has been with us for hundreds of years-- plays were the first form of popular art to come out of Europe in the Middle Ages. The "Comedia del Arte" traveled around the...

A play is typically a very enjoyable experience for the audience, as well as the participants. A play can be very easy to set up, depending on the simplicity of the design and the size of the...

Unusual props and set pieces can challenge any performance production, especially with a limited budget. When faced with the need for unique items such as a large genie bottle, one of the least...

London theater has had a long and colorful history. The first theater in London was built at Shoreditch in 1576. Fittingly, it was named The Theatre. It was constructed on rented land, and as the...

Drama is the centerpiece of classic and modern plays. Represented by two masks (comedy and tragedy), the dramatic play seeks to entertain and thrill just as it showcases the human spirit and...

Living on a tight budget often means giving up certain indulgences, but there are ways to save money and still enjoy the finer things in life.

Auditions can be a scary thing. By preparing yourself for the situation, you can use your nerves to better your performance.

Who doesn't love live theater? Plays are amazing and watching actors perform live is a great experience, but the cost of those tickets can add up quick. Here are some tips for saving money on...

Don't make assumptions about time and dates in a play. Learn how to get information about years, times, and seasons from specific statements when writing a play analysis in this free literature...

What is a character's money and job situation? Learn how to write about economic, political, and social environments in a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college...

Look for clues about a character's religious background. Learn how to write about religious environments in a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

Write a paragraph that summarizes what quotes are saying. Learn how to write a play analysis with a paragraph about environmental facts in this free literature and theater video from a college...

What environments dominate a play? Learn how to write about environmental emphasis in a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

Find out everything you can about why an author wrote what they wrote. Learn how to write a play analysis with information on authors and past production in this free literature and theater video...

As a director, it's important to write notes about your individual approach when directing a play. Learn how to write about proposed directing approaches in a play analysis in this free literature...

It's not unusual for a play to follow different styles. Learn how to determine form and style when writing a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

What is it that a character wants in a play? Learn about character motivation when writing a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

A character may have many obstacles in the play, but there's always one major obstacle. Learn how to determine a major obstacle when writing a play analysis in this free literature and theater...

Write down what everyone says about a character to determine their traits. Learn how to write a play analysis that addresses character traits and personality in this free literature and theater...

Polar attitudes represent a character's feelings at the beginning and the end of a play. Learn how to write about polar attitudes in a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from...

Does dialogue have any purpose other than dramatic action? Learn how to write a play analysis the addresses dialogue purpose in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

Characters in plays will often have different accents. Learn how to write about dialects and accents in a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

Does a play's text dominate the subtext or vice versa? Learn how to write about text and subtext in a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

Use statements from a play to log information about location and climate. Learn how to write about geographic locations in a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college...

What is the theme that connects all of the character and events of a play? Learn how to interpret the theme when writing a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college...

The major conflict of a play is the biggest conflict. Learn how to write a play analysis that addresses the major conflicts in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

Write down every little conflict of a play and who the conflict involves. Learn how to write minor conflicts for a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

What caused the events of a play to happen in the first place? Learn how to interpret inciting incidents in a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

Complications cause problems after the inciting incident of a play. Learn how to determine complications when writing a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college...

The major crisis is the big event that will change everything for the characters in a play. Learn how to write a play analysis that addresses major crises in this free literature and theater video...

In a play, the major climax is the event that propels change in characters. Learn how to determine a major climax when writing a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a...

Actors, directors, and scholars are all interested in analyzing plays. Learn who would be interested in writing a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

Outline a play analysis much like you would outline a speech. Learn how to format and outline a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

Sometimes a play's title has no great significance. Learn how to interpret the meaning of a play's title in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

An action sentence is one sentence summarizing a play. Learn how to write an action sentence in a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.

Specific actions are what happens in a play from beginning to end. Learn how to write about specific actions in a play analysis in this free literature and theater video from a college professor.