Theater/Theatre: The Difference?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:53am

Can 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?

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:58am

"theatre" refers to the venue and "theater" refers to the art form.

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:58am

Double Post

Updated On: 1/30/06 at 10:58 AM

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:59am

NO!!! It is the other way around.

Theatre=art form
Theater=building

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:34am

Oh, 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".

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:37am

I always thought that a playes/musicals were in "theatres" and film was in "theaters".

[pab]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:39am

http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/item/17841

[PB ENT.]

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.

Enjoy this great weather day folks!

[SweetQintheLights]

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.

[professor]

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).

[jrb_actor]

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]

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.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 1:58pm

I'm a snob--I can't stand the stage being called "theater". lol

[jasobres]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 3:50pm

I always thought it was the same as the difference between ketchup and catsup.

[alterego]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 5:22pm

Only 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'.

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 5:30pm

I was taught long ago that "theatre" is the "British" spelling, and "theater" is the american spelling. Much like Shop and Shoppe.

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 5:36pm

One is spelled "t-h-e-a-t-r-e" and the other "t-h-e-a-t-e-r."

[colleen_lee]

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!

[TLKfan]

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.

Updated On: 1/30/06 at 08:57 PM

[alterego]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 9:04pm

I've never seen 'shoppe' anywhere other than some themed retail outlet. Shoppe?