Why Are Actors Called Thespians?
Why Are Actors Called Thespians? Saturday April 26, 2008#spacer{clear:left}#abc #sidebar{margin-top:1.5em}zSB(3,3) If you guessed the answer has something to due with Ancient Greece, you are on the right track! Thousands of years before the dawn of America Idol, there was an artistic competition held in Athens. It was called the Dionysia, a theatrical festival featuring the best playwrights throughout the land. The first competitions took place in 6th Century BC. At first, the performers would sing epics that praised the gods and retold famous myths. According to Aristotle’s historical essays, Thespis of Icaria was the first actor/singer to give voice to multiple characters. To help transition between characters, Thespis donned different masks to represent each person in the story. Apparently Thespis was a hit. Gradually, the Dionysia evolved from religious chants to complex reinventions of
#spacer{clear:left}#abc #sidebar{margin-top:1.5em}zSB(3,3) If you guessed the answer has something to due with Ancient Greece, you are on the right track! Thousands of years before the dawn of America Idol, there was an artistic competition held in Athens. It was called the Dionysia, a theatrical festival featuring the best playwrights throughout the land. The first competitions took place in 6th Century BC. At first, the performers would sing epics that praised the gods and retold famous myths. According to Aristotle’s historical essays, Thespis of Icaria was the first actor/singer to give voice to multiple characters. To help transition between characters, Thespis donned different masks to represent each person in the story. Apparently Thespis was a hit. Gradually, the Dionysia evolved from religious chants to complex reinventions of traditional myths. There is much debate as to whether or
