Theatre
From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium
This article is about the art form. For other uses of the term Theatre, please see Theatre (disambiguation).
Theatre (also spelled theater, especially in the United States) are those areas of the arts involving performance, especially of the spoken word. The word is derived from the Greek "θέατρον" via the French "théâtre".
Origins
The origins of theatre in the Western world began in Ancient Greece, with classical or Greek tragedy.
Drama
The term drama comes from the Greek "δρᾶμα" (a deed or act; by extension an action, or praxis, represented on a stage). It refers to a branch of theatre in which speech is paramount.
Musicals
Musical theatre, often simply called musicals, is a form of theatre combining music, songs, dialogue and dance.
