Published: 1879

Genre: Comic opera

Plot Summary: A young pirate named Frederic discovers on his 21st birthday that he was born on the 29th of February, making him technically only five years old. He now must serve as a pirate for another five years before he can pursue his true love.

Interesting Facts:

1. Gilbert and Sullivan became a duo who created many different Comedic Operas together.

2. Though the play is a comedy it draws a lot of connections to The British legal system.

3. The play is still continuously performed and adored today. Many theatres still perform it and there have been movie adaptations.

Publish: 1904

Genre: Tragicomedy

Plot Summary: An aristocratic Russian family is facing the sale of their home or estate due to financial troubles happening in Russia at the time.

Interesting Facts:

1. Uses symbolism throughout the whole play (The Russian Aristocracy)

2. One of the "lower-class" characters eventually becomes wealthy and purchases an estate which symbolizes the rise of the bourgeoisie.

3. The play supposedly ends with the sound of an axe chopping which symbolizes the end of an era, as in the end of the cherry orchard.

First Performance: 472 BC

Genre: Tragedy (Greek)

Plot Summary: Set after the Persian defeat in the Battle of Salamis. A Queen (Atossa) has nightmares about her son in the war. She finds out her son had escaped after the defeat.

Interesting Facts:

1. It reflects Greek attitudes toward their victory over the Persians.

2. Aeschylus fought at the Battle of Salamis and he recreates the events of Greek freedom differently.

3. Queen Atossa plays a key role in the story.

Published: 2012

Genre: Satirical

Plot Summary: The play follows an amateur theater group trying to put on a murder mystery play, but everything that could go wrong, does. (ex; prop malfunctions)

Interesting facts:

1. The play is very famous for its on-stage "accidents".

2. The authors and the play itself have won a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design.

3. It was inspired by "Noises Off" which is known for its chaos.

Plays from the era:

• Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (429 BCE)

• The Oresteia by Aeschylus (458 BCE)

• Medea by Euripides (431 BCE)

Why it's important: The foundation of Western theater, with playwrights like Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. This era introduced tragedy, comedy, and the use of a chorus.

Plays from the era:

• Pseudolus by Plautus (191 BCE)

• Thyestes by Seneca (1st Century CE)

• The Brothers by Terence (160 BCE)

  
  

  Why it's important: The Romans adapted Greek plays but added their own comic and dramatic elements.

Plays from the era:

• Everyman (late 15th Century, anonymous)

• The Second Shepherds' Play (c. 1475, anonymous)

• The Castle of Perseverance (early 15th Century, anonymous)

Why it's important: Religious plays dramatize Biblical stories and moral allegories.

Plays from the era:

• Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe (1592)

• The Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd (1587)

• Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (1597)

Why it's important: A revival of classical ideas, focusing on humanism and the complexities of human nature.

Plays from the era:

• Hamlet by William Shakespeare (1600)

• The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster (1613)

• Volpone by Ben Jonson (1606)

Why it's important: Marked a flourishing of English drama with many of the most enduring works in theater.

Plays from the era:

• The Country Wife by William Wycherley (1675)

• The Man of Mode by George Etherege (1676)

• The Way of the World by William Congreve (1700)

why it's important: These comedies often satirized the aristocracy and highlighted themes of love, marriage, and social behavior.

plays from the era:

• Tartuffe by Molière (1664)

• Phèdre by Jean Racine (1677)

• The Cid by Pierre Corneille (1637)

Why it's important: Focused on strict adherence to classical principles of drama such as the unities of time, place, and action.

Plays from the era:

• Hernani by Victor Hugo (1830)

• Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1808)

• Woyzeck by Georg Büchner (1837)

Why it's important: Romanticism emphasized emotion, individualism, and a break from classical forms, focusing on the sublime and the natural world.

Plays from the era:

• A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen (1879)

• The Seagull by Anton Chekhov (1896)

• Miss Julie by August Strindberg (1888)

Why it's important: Focused on real-life situations, complex characters, and societal issues, portraying life with all its flaws.

Plays from the era:

• Therese Raquin by Émile Zola (1873)

• The Power of Darkness by Leo Tolstoy (1886)

• Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen (1881)

Why it's important: A more extreme form of Realism, focusing on gritty, unfiltered depictions of human life.

Plays:

• The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov (1904)

• Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov (1899)

Chekhov's works in Realism highlighted internal character struggles and subtle dramatic tension.

Plays from the era:

• The Intruder by Maurice Maeterlinck (1890)

• Pelléas and Mélisande by Maurice Maeterlinck (1892)

• The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck (1908)

Why it's important: Focused on metaphors and symbols to depict the inner life of characters rather than external reality.

Plays:

• Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (1599)

• Hamlet by William Shakespeare (1600)

• As You Like It by William Shakespeare (1600)

Why it's important: The Globe Theatre was a revolutionary space for performances and housed many of Shakespeare’s greatest works.

plays:

• The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill (1922)

• Machinal by Sophie Treadwell (1928)

• From Morn to Midnight by Georg Kaiser (1912)

Why it's important: Expressionist plays explored the inner emotional experience rather than external reality, often distorting characters and settings.

Plays:

• The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht (1928)

• Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht (1939)

• The Good Person of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht (1943)

Why it's important: Epic theater aimed to provoke critical thinking, using alienation techniques to prevent the audience from becoming too emotionally absorbed.

Plays:

• Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett (1953)

• The Bald Soprano by Eugène Ionesco (1950)

• Rhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco (1959)

Why it's important: Absurdist plays often depicted human existence as nonsensical and futile, with bizarre characters and settings.

Plays:

• A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (1959)

• The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window by Lorraine Hansberry (1964)

Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun was a landmark work in American theater, exploring racial and social issues.

Plays:

• Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello (1921)

• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard (1966)

• Angels in America by Tony Kush

How it has evolved: The evolution of postmodern theater reflects changes in how audiences interact with stories, often encouraging active participation and blurring the line between performer and spectator. This shift highlights the era’s emphasis on deconstructing traditional forms of narrative and meaning.

• The Flick (2013)

• Circle Mirror Transformation (2009)

Annie Baker is renowned for her subtle, hyper-realistic dialogue and exploration of the human condition in everyday life. Her ability to capture the nuances of human interaction and silence has brought a fresh, introspective approach to postmodern theater. She often plays with pacing and the naturalism of mundane situations, pushing audiences to find meaning in quiet moments.

• An Octoroon (2014)

• Gloria (2015)

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins uses his plays to explore race, identity, and history, often blending satire, historical reference, and contemporary themes. His work challenges audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about America’s past and present while mixing genres in a postmodern style. Jacobs-Jenkins’ use of metatheatricality and commentary on representation in media has made him one of the most influential voices in modern American theater.