Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
#0Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:53amCan someone please clear up for me when it is proper to use the term "theatre" and when to use "theater"? I just want to know if there's a difference. I believe one refers to a venue and the other refers to the actual art?
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Broadway_Boy
Broadway Star Joined: 10/22/05
#1re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:58am"theatre" refers to the venue and "theater" refers to the art form.
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Broadway_Boy
Broadway Star Joined: 10/22/05
#2re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:58amDouble Post
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Updated On: 1/30/06 at 10:58 AM
#3re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:59am
NO!!! It is the other way around.
Theatre=art form
Theater=building
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Broadway_Boy
Broadway Star Joined: 10/22/05
#4re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:34amOh, maybe your right but on broadway playbills under the title of the show it says the name of the "theater" and its always spelled "theatre".
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#5re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:37amI always thought that a playes/musicals were in "theatres" and film was in "theaters".
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#6re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:39amhttp://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/item/17841
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#7re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:45am
Still in doubt?...google both words "theater" and " theatre"
You will find several offerings that allude to the fact that theater almost always refers to a venue and theatre, the art form.
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SweetQintheLights
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
#8re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 12:07pm
Funny that this is mentioned. I am making a resume in my technical writing class and my teacher said I could use "Theatre" or "Theater."
However, he suggests I use "Theatre" for live stage acting and "Theatre as for the bulidng- Movie theater.
He is very picky about eveverything else but he has seen a lot of resume's in his time and has seen the word spelled both ways.
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professor
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#9re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 1:34pm
The two spellings are interchangable. Any distinction between them is merely specious. Some publications have style sheets which specify one spelling over the other. But if you're doing a resume, paper for school, etc., you can use either one to mean the art, the building, whatever (as long as you're consistent).
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#10re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 1:37pm
Unless a theatre has chosen to be spelled "-er", I always use theatre for the stage and theater for movies. Just be consistent and mindful of how a company spells their name. 
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#11re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 1:37pm
Okay, here's my perspective-
In England, "theatre" is the accepted spelling, period.
In America, "theatre" is used to refer to the building, and "theater" to the study and art. However, they can be interchanged (especially the former into the latter definition) and people won't notice. It's a pretty artifical distinction.
#12re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 1:58pmI'm a snob--I can't stand the stage being called "theater". lol
jasobres
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/9/05
#13re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 3:50pmI always thought it was the same as the difference between ketchup and catsup.
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alterego
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/03
#14re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 5:22pmOnly in America will you see the spelling 'theater'. The accepted spelling worldwide is 'theatre'. Stick to that spelling, outside of America you may be looked at as illiterate if using 'theater'.
#15re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 5:30pmI was taught long ago that "theatre" is the "British" spelling, and "theater" is the american spelling. Much like Shop and Shoppe.
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sweeneytodd2
Featured Actor Joined: 10/28/04
#16re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 5:36pmOne is spelled "t-h-e-a-t-r-e" and the other "t-h-e-a-t-e-r."
colleen_lee
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/05
#17re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 5:43pm
I remember spelling it t-h-e-a-t-r-e on a fifth grade spelling test, getting marked wrong and getting in a huge argument with my teacher about it.
You don't mess with the grade school spelling bee champion biatch!
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#18re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 8:57pm
jrb_actor...hehe I agree, I can't stand it when it's Theater, I think it's because I took French in Jr.High/High school.
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Updated On: 1/30/06 at 08:57 PM
London: Les Mis, Lion King, Sound of Music, Joseph, Hairspray, Billy Elliot
France: Le Roi Lion, Cabaret
Germany: Der Konig der Lowen
Holland: Tarzan & Les Mis
alterego
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/03
#19re: Theater/Theatre: The Difference?
Posted: 1/30/06 at 9:04pmI've never seen 'shoppe' anywhere other than some themed retail outlet. Shoppe?
