Is This True???

I am taking a Theatre Arts elective in school, and I swear at times I know more than the teacher (usually when it comes to musicals etc.)

She said the other day that ANY non-musical show is considered a drama. Even comedies can be called a drama. She said drama doesn't always mean a sad show, it just means a play with no music. Is that true? Because I previously didn't understand it like that.

And she is doing our Fall play. And I was wondering.. when amatures put on licensed plays, do you have to follow the stage directions? She said the stage directions were just written in there by the the original stage mananger of the original production. And they are just a guide to help us out, and to give us ideas. And basically we don't have to follow them all the way.

Just wondering if someone can give me some answers with those two questions. Thanks!

Updated On: 9/28/06 at 07:20 PM

Thank you! I wasn't exactly sure about those two things, and just wanted to make sure she was right.

Thanks Rath--you are right!!! Of course, ignoring stage directions--some actually involve PLOT!, is silly.

Stage directions are usually to let the reader know what happens during the original production. However, many times the playwright has written specific directions that are outside of the dialogue. You have to read them and decide what you wish to use during your own production.

And yes, drama means play, musical means just that. Comedy is a distinction within the dramatic form. Musical comedy is unfortunate in its terminology. Doesn't always have to be funny: Just great theatre!

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I prefer the tearm straight plays.....

Because we all know how GAY a musical is.

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Ofcoure we are following most of the stage directions BUT with little things like where a character is standing/or sitting.. we are changing up a bit.

Also with stage directions you have to consider what can actually be done in the theatre. In some cases you can't follow them.

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When I was in high school we did Carousel, and the script we were using at the time had ridiculous stage directions in it. Like "Billy turns his head to the right and places his left foot on the bench." Crazy stuff like that through the whole show, as if they literally took every last note of blocking from the stage manager's book. When I was hired to do the show in stock a couple years ago I was dreading that script, but I was relieved to see they're now providing a different script with a much more reasonable amount of stage directions.

I second.. or third... the point about Tennessee Williams' work.

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Drama, as a generalized term, covers pretty much the spectrum of texted (and quite a bit of untexted) theatrical experience, whether it be Commedia, Musical, Kitchen Sink or Improvisation. Just look at all the High School Drama "Departments" or "Clubs" that put on musicals. And what about heavy plays that make you laugh like Virginia Woolf or Comedies that make you cry like Lost in Yonkers. Differentiation of what is a drama and what is a comedy and what is a musical should be left to those community and other seasonally run organizations (including colleges and universities) that assign committees to deliberately design seasons around 1 drama (maybe, but not too controversial - does it have any gay characters?) 1 comedy (Simon or Slade, usually, but never Aykbourne, nobody would get him over here!) 1 mystery (Ladies in Retirement, anyone? Or that Agatha Christie play, the one where everyone dies?) 1 "small" musical (do we have enough blacks to cast Ain't Misbehavin'?) and 1 musical extraveganza (Music Man, R&H, G&S) where all the people who can't be cast the rest of the season are appeased by putting them in the chorus.

Rant complete. Thank you for your time.

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