WHAT IS A PLAY What Is a Play A play is a story that is acted out before an audience Plays are often performed in theaters Drama is another word for play Unlike most other forms of literature plays are meant to be shared with many people at once Different styles of plays exist throughout the world In many cultures in Asia dance gestures and music in a play can be as important as the words that Theaters are places where people go to see plays and other performances Costumes and makeup are often important elements of a play 4
5 are spoken Asian plays are often based on familiar stories and tend to have a formal style Western dramas usually tell a story through dialogue or the conversations that the characters have with one another Western plays follow two main styles tragedy and comedy Tragedies are serious stories of struggle that often end sadly Comedies are amusing stories that often have happy endings Today many Western plays mix elements of tragedy and comedy Some plays tell a story with movement and dance instead of words WHAT IS A PLAY
6 WHAT IS A PLAY How and Why Are Plays Performed Plays can be about any topic They are written to be performed for an audience A play’s performance provides people with an entertaining and shared experience The experience moves people to think and feel more deeply about life Often many tasks must be done before a play can be performed Some of these tasks include the creation of scenery costumes and lighting Actors must memorize words actions and any A crew member works behind the scenes to keep a play running smoothly
7 music Large productions have a director The director studies the written play closely and directs actors designers and stagehands on how and when to complete their tasks All the people in a play must do their part at the right time The audience too plays a role by listening watching and not interrupting the shared experience A play can cause its audience to feel many different emotions HOW AND WHY ARE PLAYS PERFORMED Stagehands are people who prepare the scenery and lights of a stage for a performance
