Elements of Drama

1. Elements of Drama

2. Author of a play Playwright

3. People who perform a play Actors

4. Sets of actors that perform a play Cast

5. Text of a play, with dialogue and directions for actors Script

6. Units of action in a drama. Acts are divided up into scenes. Acts

7. Small parts of an act. • Most of the time they each have a different setting. Scenes

8. Playwright’s technique for creating believable characters Characterization

9. Advances the stories action. • Most important • Two types: Dialogue and Monologue Dramatic Speech

10. Conversation between or among characters Dialogue

11. Long speech that is spoken by a single character. • Often reveals a character’s private thoughts and actions Monologue

12. Sets of bracketed information that describe the scenery and how the characters should move and speak • Some playwrights use abbreviations • Center Stage – C • Stage Left – L • Stage Right – R • Upstage or rear of stage – U • Downstage – front of stage - D Stage Directions

13. Upstage Center Stage Left Stage Right Downstage Audience Stage Directions

14. Construction on the stage that suggests the time and place of the action • Scenery is another word for it Set

15. Small movable items that the actors use to make their actions look realistic Props

16. 3 Types • Comedy • Tragedy • Drama Types of Drama

17. Form of drama that often features everyday characters in funny situations Comedy

18. Events lead to the downfall of the main characters • Character can be an average person, but is often a person of great significance Tragedy

19. A word that is often used to describe plays that address serious subjects Drama

20. Scripts for films. • Includes camera angles and can allow for more scene changes than a play Screenplays

21. Scripts written for television • Similar to screenplays Teleplay

22. Written to be performed as radio broadcasts • Include sound effects and require no set, stage or directions that explain movement. Radio Plays