Some of the first plays were performed more than 2500 years ago in the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens.
In the beginning, plays were performed by one actor, who would be accompanied by a chorus of as many as 50 people to help tell the story. It didn’t take long for the playwright Aeschylus to introduce a second actor, and then for Sophocles to up the ante by adding a third. Other innovations soon followed, such as the creation of the prologue and the use of the deus ex machina, which means “god from the machine.” This was a plot device but was also a literal machine that lowered an actor playing a god onto the stage from on high. This golden age of theatre entered a period of decline after the partial destruction of Athens by the Roman general Sulla in 86 BCE.
In the context of modern times, Broadway in New York City is perhaps one of the most famous places for theatre in the world. The Phantom of the Opera is the longest running Broadway show. After a 35 year run with more than 14,000 performances at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre, it is set to close on April 16 of this year.
The first World Theatre Day was celebrated in 1962. It’s a day to celebrate the beauty and importance of theatre arts, the significance of their role in entertainment, and the impact on our lives.
Today we bring you three sapphic books with main characters who are pursuing their Broadway dreams.
