History of the Stage

I. Greek 5th cent. BC height

    A.    Orchestra (dancing place)

    B.   Skene (stage house)

    C.    Proscekenium (porch)

    D.    Theatron (seating area)

    E.  Peraktoi (3-sided column)

    F.    Ekkyklema (display wagon)

    G.    Deus Ex Machina (crane)

II. Roman until 364 AD (fall of empire)

    A.    Scaenae Frons (elaborately decorated facade)

    B.    Cavea (seating area)

    C.     Velum (roof)

III.Medieval 13th century

    A.    Platform 

            1. Outside Church

    B.    Pageant Wagon

    C.     Mansion

            1. Platea (common playing area)

            2. Secrets (stage machinery)

IV. Renaissance

        A.    Olympico (Vicenza, Italy 1580)

                1.    Forced Perspective

                2.    Raked Stage

                3.    Stock Sets

        B.    Teatro Farnese (Parma, Italy 1618)

                1.    Earliest Proscenium Arch

                2.    Sometimes flooded to simulate sea battles

        C.    Globe (1600)

                1. Exterior

                2. Interior

        D.    Corrales (Spanish Courtyard Theatres)

V.    Restoration Baroque Court Theatres (1660)

        A.    Attributes

                1.    Proscenium Arch

                2.    Played on Apron

                3.    Wings and Borders

                4.    Multitiered Boxes and Levels

        B.    Best Example

                1.    Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic 18th Century)

                        a.    Beautifully preserved

                        b.    Horseshoe shaped balcony

VI.    Victorian

VII.    Modern

        A.    Proscenium

                1.    Diagram

        B.    Thrust

        C.    Arena