Crash Course
Rules, Rule-Breaking, and French Neoclassicism: Crash Course Theater #20
Everyone knows, you need a bunch of rules to make good theater. That's what the French thought in the 17th century, anyway. The French Neoclassical revival had a BUNCH of French playwrights following a bunch of rules. Unsurprisingly,...
Crash Course
Pee Jokes, the Italian Renaissance, Commedia Dell'Arte: Crash Course Theater #12
This week, we're going to Italy for a Renaissance. The Middle Ages are over, and it's time to talk about the flourishing of art and humanism across Europe. Painting, sculpture, music, architecture, and plays with fart jokes were all...
Crash Course
Comedies, Romances, and Shakespeare's Heroines: Crash Course Theater #16
This week we're continuing our discussion of William Shakespeare and looking at his comedies and romances. As well as something called problem plays. Some of his plays, they had problems. We'll also put on pants, escape to forest, and...
Crash Course
English Theater After Shakespeare: Crash Course Theater #17
This week on Crash Course Theater, Shakespeare is dead. Long live Shakespeare. Well, long live English theater, anyway. Actually, it's about to get banned. Anyway, we're discussing where English theater went post-1616. We'll talk about...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Why is Aristophanes called "The Father of Comedy"? - Mark Robinson
Aristophanes, often referred to as the Father of Comedy, wrote the world's earliest surviving comic dramas. They're stuffed full of parodies, songs, sexual jokes and surreal fantasy -- and they've shaped how comedy's been written and...
Crash Course
Straight Outta Stratford-Upon-Avon - Shakespeare's Early Days: Crash Course Theater #14
This is the story of how a young Englishman named William Shakespeare stormed London's theater scene in the late 16th century, and wrote a bunch of plays and poems that have had pretty good staying power. We'll learn about Shakespeare's...
Crash Course
Dances to Flute Music and Obscene Verse. It's Roman Theater, Everybody: Crash Course Theater #5
Today, Mike Rugnetta takes you from our beginnings in ancient Greek theater, and moves on to the development of Roman theater. Which, it turns out, is A LOT like Greek theater. Because the Romans were real Grecophiles, they modeled their...
Crash Course
Greek Comedy, Satyrs, and Aristophanes: Crash Course Theater #4
Get ready for hilarity, because this week, we're diving head first into Greek Comedy. Actually, though, maybe don't get TOO ready for hilarity. Taste in humor has changed a little over the last couple of thousand years. You already know...
Crash Course
Hrotsvitha, Hildegard, and the Nun who Resurrected Theater: Crash Course Theater #9
When last we saw Theater, it was just making its way back in the West, by sneaking a little drama into the Easter mass. In today's episode, we're talking about Hrotsvitha, the cool 10th century nun from Lower Saxony who was maybe the...
Crash Course
Roman Theater with Plautus, Terence, and Seneca: Crash Course Theater #6
In which Mike delves into the theater of ancient Rome. It wasn't all gladiators and Christian-killing, you know. There was theater, too. Roman drama drew heavily on Greek drama. So heavily, in fact, that many of the stories and...
Curated Video
The Stratford Bard: William Shakespeare
Mr. Griot shares a brief biography of William Shakespeare and discusses his contributions to the genre of drama.
Curated Video
William Shakespeare: Biography
Mr. Griot shares a brief biography of William Shakespeare and discusses his contributions to the genre of drama.
One Minute History
152 Worlds Oldest Joke - One Minute History
Comedy existed long before Saturday Night Live and Netflix specials. In fact, the world’s oldest joke can be traced all the way back to 1900 BC. Thanks to a UK study led by humor expert Dr. Paul McDonald, we now know that humans have...
One Minute History
The World's Oldest Joke VERTICAL - One Minute History
Comedy existed long before Saturday Night Live and Netflix specials. In fact, the world’s oldest joke can be traced all the way back to 1900 BC (1900 BC). Thanks to a UK study led by humor expert Dr. Paul McDonald, we now know that...
Curated Video
Radical Resources for IELTS ‘Drama’ Questions
Today I’ll share my favorite resources for IELTS Drama questions in Speaking Part 1 and Part 2.
Curated Video
Ancient Greek Theater
Greece was home to hundreds of open-air arenas where citizens came together to discuss the important issues of the day. Like Broadway today, they were a place for both entertainment and important social commentary.
One Minute History
The World's Oldest Joke - One Minute History
Comedy existed long before Saturday Night Live and Netflix specials. In fact, the world’s oldest joke can be traced all the way back to 1900 BC (1900 BC). Thanks to a UK study led by humor expert Dr. Paul McDonald, we now know that...
Getty Images
INTERVIEW - Judd Apatow on how it feels to be recognized by the CDGA, the challenges of creating costumes for comedies and how involved he is in the costume design process at The 16th Costume Designers Guild Awards
INTERVIEW - Judd Apatow on how it feels to be recognized by the CDGA, the challenges of creating costumes for comedies and how involved he is in the costume design process at The 16th Costume Designers Guild Awards at The Beverly Hilton...
Getty Images
INTERVIEW: Kelly Brook on the story, being nervous filming with Leigh Francis, filming undressing scenes, on British comedies at Keith Lemon The Film: UK Premiere at Odeon Leicester Square on August 20, 2012 in London, England (Footage by WireImage Video/
INTERVIEW: Kelly Brook on the story, being nervous filming with Leigh Francis, filming undressing scenes, on British comedies at Keith Lemon The Film: UK Premiere at Odeon Leicester Square on August 20, 2012 in London, England (Footage...
Getty Images
INTERVIEW: George Clinton on composing for comedies,concert hall performances. at the 2010 BMI Film and TV Music Awards at Los Angeles CA. (Footage by WireImage Video/GettyImages)
INTERVIEW: George Clinton on composing for comedies,concert hall performances. at the 2010 BMI Film and TV Music Awards at Los Angeles CA. (Footage by WireImage Video/GettyImages)
Getty Images
INTERVIEW: Gerard Butler on shooting in Serbia, enjoying masculine roles, working on romanic comedies, playing physical roles at the Coriolanus Press Conference: (Footage by WireImage Video/GettyImages)
INTERVIEW: Gerard Butler on shooting in Serbia, enjoying masculine roles, working on romanic comedies, playing physical rolesat the Coriolanus Press Conference: (Footage by WireImage Video/GettyImages)
Getty Images
INTERVIEW: Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson on
Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson on comedies, Zombieland and characters. Produced by Uncensored Interview / ZenCat Productions. INTERVIEW: Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson on on October 02, 2009 in New York, New York (Footage by...
Getty Images
INTERVIEW: Joseph Lawrence (L) and Melissa Joan Hart on why they feel there is a place for comedies on network TV. (Footage by WireImage Video/Getty Images Entertainment Video)
INTERVIEW: Joseph Lawrence (L) and Melissa Joan Hart on why they feel there is a place for comedies on network TV. (Footage by WireImage Video/Getty Images Entertainment Video)