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450 BCE
Cavea
The auditorium also known as the Cavea was limited to a semicicurclar design -
450 BCE
Roman Theater
Roman theater architects got most of their ideas from Greek theater. Roman theater is modified Greek theater -
450 BCE
Orchestra
An orchestra surrounds the theatron on three sides and is a playing area for the orchestra pit -
401 BCE
Greek Theater
Fifth century B.C. was the time Greek theater became popular. -
401 BCE
Skene
In the back of the orchestra is the skene. A skene is a wall where the actors and actresses make their entrance. It also contained many rooms so the actors and actresses can fix their costumes and makeup. -
400 BCE
Paraskenia
The paraskenia are very high and long walls that run parallel to the skene. -
400 BCE
Machina
A machina is a basket lowered from the second story of the theater with an actor in it. Most theaters typically used it to represent god floating. -
400 BCE
Eccyclema
The eccyclema is a wheelable platform made to be able to change scenery very quickly -
1250
Mansions
Small buildings called mansions, ironic isn't it, were used to represent biblical stories. -
1250
Pageant Wagons
Pageant wagons were created to that the sets were very easy to move around towns. -
1250
Medieval Theater
Medieval Theater became popular and was designed for the outdoors. Therefore sets became easily transportable so the shows could move from town to town. -
1500
Theatron
A theatron is another word for auditorium -
1530
Stock Sets
Stock sets were created to have some sort of background. The stock sets were made to the theme of the performance. For example if you had a drama they would create a very dramatic stock set -
1545
Lighting
Sebastian Serilo was the first to introduce mood lighting by getting a candle and placing them behind flasks with amber and blue colored water. -
Teatro Olympico
The Teatro Olympico was in Vicenza, Italy. It was designed based off the styles of ancient Roman theaters -
Forced Perspective
Between 1580 and 1585 scaenae frons were no longer one wall but they were broke up into multiple walls to create a forced perspective. -
Pits
During this time a new, and probably the most famous theater, was being built with a new concept. The platform were raised about 4 to 6 feet off the ground and pits were made. A pit is a rounded yard made for the lower class to sit in -
Indoor theaters
The government in 1724 gave permission to build indoor theaters. -
Trap Doors
Due to the roofed indoor theaters trap doors, elevators, and revolving stages are now available.
