Markysha Martin
Instructor Heather Taylor
Humanities 2113
11 March 2014 Greek Theatre
Greek theatre was the epitome of theatre. It brought many different aspects to western civilization and our theatre system. The things you see in most of the American theatrical styles came straight from Greek style of theatre from long ago. Although our times are different from the rise of Greek theatre, the modern day theatre in western civilization it has somehow managed to tame the style of Greek theatre and cause a resurgence. Greek theatre has strongly influenced western civilizations style of the theatre throughout the years, and is causing it to resurge. This is a great thing, most people would think leave the past in the past, but this part of the past is very complex. The history of the Greeks style of theatre has paved the way for our modern day theatre and has enhanced the performance style by combining both styles. Modern theatre has created their own way of how theatre should be conducted, but in the end it was greatly influenced by Greek theatre. The resurgence of Greek theatre has begun to take place within our school systems. Most public or private school is requiring every student to at least take one level of theatre history, or performance theatre courses. This is a solution people can take so that the Greek styles of theatre will never die. We must continue to teach our generation and many more after us about the importance of Greek theatre. Everything is being modified now days with modern technology, and is plainly being ruined by new found technology. Everything was much simpler during the rise of Greek theatre. “In the current era of technology and convenience it is hard to believe a civilization that thrived from 1000 B.C. to 323 B.C. made any lasting contributions; however, the ancient Greeks have made an impact on history that is still visible in modern society. Many of their ideas and innovations are taught today in schools worldwide” (Sawyer1). The Greek theatre will never completely die with this method; everyone should know the history of Greek theatre because it has great influenced our modern day theatre tactics.
One thing that western civilization utilizes in modern theatre is the orchestra. Many plays and productions still use an orchestra for their plays. It was used to cue different scenes and emotions within Greek theatre and is still used for the same thing today. In theatre classes today students are taught the style of Greek theatre but from person experience, public schools do not go all into detail about what Greek Theatre was and how significant it still is to modern day theatre. “Theatre classes often approach Greek theatre as if the art of that particular time was only a variation of modern practice. This attitude is understandable, given that many production elements common today, such as masks, costumes, music, and script, were used by the ancients, and a number of the texts are part of our cultural heritage. If we insist on seeing theatre history as an evolutionary progression, each period building on the last, gradually discarding outmoded methods and discovering the "new and improved," then contemporary theatre must be the best. Modern theatre, with its profusion of technological applications, its costuming drawn in materials and concepts from around the world, with its constant novelty, must be the theatrical pinnacle. All else must be inferior. Such an approach is misleading, however, and downright arrogant. Current historians acknowledge that the Greeks used many elements of production and style first, and that today's practices are the descendants of originals that were, in some ways, superior. Robert Cohen notes that”(Smith 1).
First, for instance Greek theatre consisted of only male actors in the rise of theatre. The women could come to the performance, but this was a male only show. The men that performed in these plays used mask when they had to portray a women role, therefore the men had no use for the women. “The presentation of written word known as theater began in Athens and diffused to other parts of the ancient Greek empire. Fifth-century playwrights Aristophanes and Sophocles produced comedies and tragedies, respectively. During the early days of theater, masks were used to represent a variety of emotions and to disguise male actors playing female roles. Only 44 plays from the ancient Greeks remain today, serving as the foundation of Western theater” (Sawyer 1). Greek theatre was still quite phenomenal without women. Now in today modern theatre women are used a great deal. Some of the most well-known productions are led by women today.
In conclusion, Greek theatre was and still is very significant to western civilization today. All productions of theatre use some form of Greek theatre. Even the littlest things for Greek theatre are resurging today. Many people do not recognize the style of Greek theatre or know the history because most people assume that it was formed form people in western civilization. Of course that makes sense because when you’ve never questioned where or how things or traditions and styles came about, one would automatically assume that people of our time made it up. Greek theatre was once the best form of entertainment. That was before all the new found technology and alterations to theatre. Through the styles of Greek theatre it is beginning to be shown again in modern day productions.

Works Cited
Kernan, Alvin B. The Modern American Theater. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey Prentice-Hall,Inc,1967.Print
Sawyer, Mona. “What Contributions Did the Greeks Give to Modern Day Society?” Ehow. N.p. Web. 15 Apr 2014
Smith,Nola. “Strategies of Greek Tragedy: The Chorus and the Structure of Antigone.”www.nauvoo.byu.edu. N.p.Web.15 Apr 2014.