Theatre Videos

Films for the Humanities, 1982, 26 minutes
"Using the theatre at Epidauros as example the program identifies the physical parts of the acting space and, with specific reference to The Oresteia, shows how plays would have been staged in Aeschylus' time."

Films for the Humanities, 1989, 26 minutes
"Presentation of some of the devices used in classical theatre, including deus ex machina, the crane that suspended the gods above the stage; the ladder of Charos, for ghosts from the underworld; and the physical requirements of New Comedy."

Films for the Humanities & Sciences, 2003, 36 minutes
"The presentation of powerful women in Medea, Antigone, and Lysistrata is contrasted with the circumscribed role of women in Athenian society by 6 university professors. Film clips from notable productions support this in-depth discussion."

Films for the Humanities & Sciences, 2001, 53 minutes
"Why do plays well over two millennia old still speak to audiences today? This program traces Greek theater from ancient harvest rites to the golden age of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes. Key scenes from Antigone, Oedipus Tyrannus, Medea, and Lysistrata show how these works remain relevant by exploring the timeless themes of honor, class, gender, sexuality, and politics. Essential concepts such as catharsis, hamartia, and the use of masks and a chorus are discussed. Scholarly commentary by Helene Foley of Barnard College, Jeffrey Henderson of Boston University, Princeton University's Robert Fagles, and Peter Meineck of NYU's Aquila Theatre Company emphasizes the vitality of classical drama and the essential role it played in the everyday lives of the ancient Greeks"

Films for the Humanities & Sciences, 1989, 21 minutes
A survey of the sites of ancient Greek theaters.

Films for the Humanities & Sciences, 1995, 51 minutes
"This pseudo-biography juxtaposes elements of Aristophanic plays with the activities of contemporaneous people to show how Aristophanes became the father of political satire and why his theatrical innovations are still staples of the contemporary theatre."