TED-Ed
Development of English Drama
From mystery plays to Shakespeare! Progress chronologically through the evolution of English drama, which began as a way for English clergymen in the eleventh century to illustrate biblical stories to the mass of illiterate commoners....
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #7: Nostrils, Harmony, and Ancient Sanskrit Theater
Ancient Sanskrit theater is one of the oldest theater traditions, and thanks to Bharata Muni and his treatise on theater, the Natyashastra, we can tell you quite a bit about it, all the way down to eyebrow and nostril poses. In this...
South Carolina Educational Television
Etv: Artopia: Theater: One Minute Art Lesson
Face-paced introduction to the theater, told in an animated storybook format. [1:26]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #36: Synge, Wilde, Shaw, and the Irish Renaissance
A video studying the wealth of new plays written in Ireland during the Irish Renaissance. Explore the works of W.B. Yeats, Lady Augusta Gregory, and J.M. Synge who often found their stories from the fabric of Irish life. [11:52]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #35: The Horrors of the Grand Guignol
A video exploring a French theater based in Paris called the Grand Guignol. The troupe, led by writers like Andre de Lorde and Alfred Binet from performed from the late 19th century until 1962. The shows were dark, violent, bloody shows...
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #29: North America Gets a Theater: Riot
A video investigating theater beginnings in North America. Start with the Native American storytelling traditions to starting of European's theater starting in the 17th century, and finally how theater evolved before and after the...
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #33: Symbolism and Realism: Ibsen and Strindberg
A video reviewing over Henrik Ibsen of Norway, and Swede August Strindberg two radical and influential European playwrights of the 19th century. Learn how they have influenced modern theater. Also, learn how they were mortal enemies....
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #34: Chekhov and the Moscow Art Theater
A video teaching all about the Russian modernism. Study the playwrighting of Catherine the Great, Anton Chekhov's plays, the Moscow Art Theatre, and the acting theories of Stanislavski. [12:25]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #26: English Sentimental Theater
Study Sentimental Comedies with this video. Learn about these not funny but sentimental plays to help the people of England shaking off the Restoration hangover. Also, learn about the regulation on theater during this time period. [12:10]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #25: China, Zaju, and Beijing Opera
Study the history of theater in China. Follow the ancient origins of theater from early days of wizard theater (not a typo), the development of classical Chinese theater, and the evolution of Beijing Opera. [11:43]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #27: Why So Angry, German Theater?
A video following the slow start of theater in Germany. Learn about the playwrights Sturm and Drang, as well as Weimar Classicism, and Goethe. [11:49]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #19: The Spanish Golden Age
This video looks at the golden age of Spain. Learn about Spain's big empire and culture during the 16th and 17th centuries. Also, explore the prolific writers like Felix Lope de Vega and Pedro Calderon de la Barca. [11:15]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #18: Where Did Theater Go?
A video exploring why and where the English theater went into hiding. [13:26]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #24: Indian Dance Drama: Kathakali
Travel to India in this video to learn about theater that tells traditional Indian stories. Research Kathakali which is an all-night dance show which ended with the metaphorically killing of a Demon! Finally, explore the remarkable...
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #22: Pre Columbian Theater, Spanish Empire, and Sor Juana
Learn about theater that existed in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans in this video. Explore how the Spanish influenced, and the impact of the playwright Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz. [12:03]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #23: Japan, Kabuke, and Bunraku
Travel to Japan in this video to learn about the Noh theater. Learn about several different types of plays that existed under the Shoguns. Follow the successor of Noh know as the Kabuki which had wilder stories and more action. Finally,...
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #17: English Theater After Shakespeare
Learn how the English theater got banned after Shakespeare died in this video. Study Ben Jonson, revenge tragedies, and court masques too. [12:58]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #12: The Italian Renaissance
A video exploring the theater that emerged during the Italian Renaissance. Learn about all that were thriving between 1300-1500. [11:17]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #13: The English Renaissance and Not Shakespeare
A video describing the English Renaissance in the theater. Learn why the renaissance came to England late but after it arrived there was a flowering of humanism, science, and culture. [12:51]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #10: Get Outside and Have a (Mystery) Play
A video exploring how the medieval European theater moved from being a religious phenomenon to a secular one. Investigate the types of plays including mystery plays, cycle plays, and pageant wagons. [11:44]
Crash Course
Crash Course Theater #9: Hrotsvitha, the Nun Who Resurrected Theater
Learn about a very cool 10th-century nun named Hrotsvitha who became the first playwright during a new era of theater. Explore how she wrote comedies that had a moral message that influenced future heavy hitters like Hildegard of Bingen....
PBS
Pbs: Native American Culture: Little Deer and Mother Earth
Listen to a traditional Cherokee story in which humans are killing too many of their animal relatives, threatening the delicate balance of nature. The lesson is that people should take "only what you need with respect and gratitude." A...