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Theater Genres Facts & Worksheets

Theater comes in a wide variety of forms, such as comedy, tragedy, musicals, absurdity, realism, and drama.

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Theater comes in a wide variety of forms, such as comedy, tragedy, musicals, absurdity, realism, and drama. The masks of comedy and tragedy serve as a recognized emblem for theater, with comedy and tragedy being traditionally regarded as the two main genres.

See the fact file below for more information about Theater Genres, or you can download our 24-page Theater Genres worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

  • A drama is a kind of theater performance that explores a variety of human behavior through conflict, tension, and emotionally charged plotting. Comedy, on the other hand, is a different kind of theater that focuses more on humor and audience entertainment.
  • Both the actual space where performances are held and the dramatic art form itself can be referred to as “theater”. Theater is defined as a dramatic art form that consists of live, collaborative performances by actors and actresses in front of an audience.

COMEDY

  • Comedy is a type of theatrical performance with a lighthearted or funny tone that shows comical events and shows individuals overcoming hardship in the end.
  • A comedy was considered a stage play with a pleasant conclusion by the ancient Greeks and Romans. During the Middle Ages, the phrase began to refer to lighter, narrative poems with pleasant ends.
  • SATIRE. Satire is a subgenre of the visual, literary, and performing arts that typically takes the form of fiction but is also occasionally non-fiction. Its purpose is to expose or shame perceived flaws in people, businesses, the government, or society at large in order to spur them to change.
  • PARODY. A parody is a creative piece that uses satirical or sarcastic mimicry to mock, remark on, or mimic its subject. Parodies frequently focus on an original work or some element of it (theme/content, author, style, etc.), but they can also be about a real-life person or event (like a politician), movement (like the French Revolution or the counterculture of the 1960s), or circumstance.
  • ROMANTIC COMEDY. A subgenre of comedy and romance fiction, romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) focuses on cheerful, amusing plot lines centered on romantic concepts, such as how genuine love is able to overcome most challenges.

MUSICAL THEATER

  • A theatrical production that blends acting, dancing, singing, and spoken conversation is known as musical theater. Words, music, movement, and technical elements of the show work together to convey the plot and emotional content of a musical, which includes humor, sadness, love, and rage.
  • Musical theater can be identified by its equal emphasis on music in comparison to other components, such as conversation and movement, even if it shares similarities with other theatrical forms like opera and dance.
  • The term “book musical” has been used since the 20th century to describe a musical production in which songs and dances are completely incorporated into a skillfully written narrative with significant dramatic objectives and the ability to elicit feelings other than humor.
  • The dialogue and lyrics together are frequently referred to as the libretto (Italian for “small book”). The book or script of a musical refers to the story, character development, and dramatic structure, including the spoken dialogue and stage directions.
  • The creative team behind a musical, which consists of a director, musical director, choreographer, and occasionally an orchestrator, is in charge of interpreting the show.

PHYSICAL THEATER

  • A type of theatrical performance known as “physical theater” focuses mostly on using movement to communicate stories. While “physical theater” refers to a number of performance theater disciplines, the genre is distinguished by its emphasis on the performers’ physical movement, either alone or in conjunction with text to convey narrative. 
  • A contemporary physical theater has developed from many different sources. Many contemporary forms of physical theater have been heavily influenced by mime and theatrical clowning schools, like Paris’ L’École Internationale de theater Jacques Lecoq. 
  • Because most physical theater requires performers to possess a certain degree of physical control and flexibility, contemporary dance has also had a significant influence on what we consider to be physical theater. People without a history in movement are rarely found to possess these traits.
  • Etienne Decroux, the French master and founder of corporeal mime, is credited with initiating another lineage in physical theater. Decroux wanted to establish an acting-based theater that would enable the development of a more metaphorical theater. Due to the growth of this tradition, several prestigious theater schools also offer corporeal mime instruction.

TRAGEDY

  • Dramatic genres that center on human suffering, particularly the awful or depressing things that happen to the main character, are called tragedies.
  • GREEK. The earliest kind of tragedy still in existence is called Athenian tragedy, and it is a kind of dance-drama that was crucial to the city-state’s theatrical tradition. Athenian tragedies were presented at a yearly state religious festival honoring Dionysus in late March or early April.
  • ROMAN. Greek tragedy struck Rome after the Roman Republic (509–27 BCE) expanded over various Greek areas between 270 and 240 BCE. Three other early Roman tragic authors are known to historians: Quintus Ennius, Marcus Pacuvius, and Lucius Accius. No full early Roman tragedy survives despite being highly valued in its day.
  • RENAISSANCE. Albertino Mussato (1261–1329), who was from Padua, authored the Latin verse tragedy Eccerinis in 1315. It highlights the threat that Cangrande della Scala of Verona posed to Padua by using the narrative of the tyrant Ezzelino III da Romano.
  • It was maybe the first Italian tragedy that could be recognized as a Renaissance composition, and it was the first secular tragedy produced since the time of the Romans.

DRAMA

  • Drama is the particular genre of story that is performed in theater. Within the dramatic arts, theater focuses almost entirely on live performances, where the action is carefully orchestrated to produce a meaningful and cohesive sense of drama.
  • The Greek word “drama” (Classical Greek: δρᾶμα, drâma) meaning “deed” or “act” is derived from “I do” (Classical Greek: δράω, dráō). The two masks connected to drama stand for the conventional line that separates tragedy from comedy.
  • In pantomime, a story’s action is conveyed solely by the performer’s physical gestures. Dance “expresses or imitates emotion, character, and narrative action” in certain ballets, while the dramatic text of operas is typically sung throughout.
  • Songs and spoken dialogue are both features of musicals, and incidental music or musical accompaniment is sometimes used in dramas to highlight spoken dialogue.
  • In improvisation, actors create a dramatic screenplay on the spot in front of the audience; the drama does not already exist at the time of the performance.
  • Classical Greece is where Western drama first emerged. Three types of drama were created by the Athens city-state’s theatrical culture: comedy, tragedy, and satyr plays. 

Theater Genres Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Theater Genres across 24 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use woksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Theater Genres. The masks of comedy and tragedy serve as a recognized emblem for theater, with comedy and tragedy being traditionally regarded as the two main genres.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Theater Genres Facts
  2. Theater False
  3. Ask a Playwright
  4. Let’s get physical!
  5. Face Reveal!
  6. It’s Showtime!
  7. Make me a tragedy
  8. LOL
  9. Storytellers
  10. A Game of Theater
  11. In theaters near you

Frequently Asked Questions

What defines a tragedy in theater?

A tragedy in theater is a genre that typically deals with serious and somber themes, often involving the downfall of the protagonist. The central character usually possesses a tragic flaw or makes a critical mistake that leads to their demise. Classic examples include works by William Shakespeare such as “Hamlet” and “Macbeth,” where the protagonists face inevitable doom due to their flaws or fate.

How does a comedy differ from a farce?

A comedy in theater aims to entertain and amuse the audience through humor, often highlighting human weaknesses and societal follies. It can range from light-hearted and romantic themes to more satirical and dark humor. In contrast, a farce is a subgenre of comedy that emphasizes exaggerated and improbable situations, physical humor, and absurdity. Farces often include slapstick elements and fast-paced action, with characters finding themselves in ludicrous predicaments. Examples include Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” (comedy) and Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off” (farce).

What are the characteristics of a musical theater production?

Musical theater combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance to tell a story. The music and lyrics are integral to the plot and often advance the narrative or develop the characters. Musicals can range from light-hearted and family-friendly to deeply emotional and complex. Key components include catchy melodies, choreographed dance numbers, and elaborate stage designs. Famous examples include “Les Misérables,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” and “Hamilton.”

What is the role of symbolism in an expressionist theater play?

Expressionist theater uses symbolism to convey the inner emotional experiences of characters rather than focusing on realistic depictions of the external world. It often features exaggerated, distorted, or fantastical elements to represent psychological states, social critiques, or philosophical ideas. The use of symbolic props, stylized performances, and abstract settings are common. This genre emerged in the early 20th century, with plays like Georg Kaiser’s “From Morn to Midnight” and Elmer Rice’s “The Adding Machine.”

How does an epic theater production differ from a traditional drama?

Epic theater, pioneered by Bertolt Brecht, seeks to provoke rational thought and critical reflection rather than emotional involvement. It employs techniques like breaking the fourth wall, using multimedia, and presenting episodic structures to remind the audience they are watching a play. The goal is to inspire social change by encouraging the audience to think critically about the issues presented. This contrasts with traditional drama, which often aims to create an immersive experience and elicit emotional responses. Examples of epic theater include Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her Children” and “The Threepenny Opera.”

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Use With Any Curriculum

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