What is Commedia?

What is Commedia:

Commedia dell’arte is a form of theater characterized by specific masked character archetypes. Originally referenced during the Italian Renaissance as, "commedia all' improviso," actors in a troupe wrote sketches, more commonly referred to as scenarios, and worked diligently to perfect the physical and verbal idiosyncrasies of their characters. Commedia dell'arte does not rely on the use of a script, each scenario has different plot points and the responsibility relies on each actor to progress the plot based on character motivations and plot points.

Commedia dell'arte revolutionized the art of acting in many ways. Commedia dell' arte was the first time acting was seen as a true profession. Contracts were written, a performance season was established, specific monetary payments were specified if actors completed the performance season, and members were fined if they broke a contract rule or quit before the acting seasons had ended. In previous types of scripted theater, men played female roles within plays. Commedia dell'arte was the first time female actresses appeared in performances.

Commedia dell'arte incorporates specific "masked stock characters." Each mask represents a different stock character, and the standard stock characters reoccur throughout multiple scenarios. The main stock characters our troupe uses are: Capitano, Dottore, Pantalone, Arlecchino, zani, young lovers, Columbina and Brighella. As time passed, Commedia dell' arte eventually became more more scripted and less improvisational, but the art still influenced many operas, ballets, Vaudeville theater, and even many silent film comedians like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd.