University Calendar
Information Session: Montclair in Greece- Origins of Western Theatre
Greece, and particularly Athens, is the birthplace of Western theatre traditions. Its ancient dramatic literature has shaped art and culture throughout the world and remains the greatest influence on Western contemporary dramatists and theatre practitioners.
Athens is an incredibly vibrant, fast-paced modern city incorporating ancient sites of importance at every turn. In fact, in both Athens and in nearby Epidauros it is possible to see live theatre presented in the ancient theatre spaces for which they were conceived, an experience of profound impact for any student trying to grasp the effect of ancient theatre texts in performance. History and art are inescapable in Greece and pervade the atmosphere and the daily culture of the city of Athens. It abounds with museums that relate directly to the study of theatre literature and theatre history; the city also affords easy access by coach to numerous other sites of great importance to the education of students in theatre literature, history and design.
Beyond the specific discipline of theatre, Athens and the country of Greece are considered the seat of seminal Western culture. The location offers students immersion in the rich foundations of language, government, art, rhetoric and civil discourse, urban society, ritual, and xenophilia which unite all the countries of the West. It is a living class or part of our own history and our found national spirit.