History of The Theatre After Opening Day
The theatre was inaugurated on March 3, 1585, with a production of Sophocles' Oedipus the King. However, the theatre was virtually abandoned after only a few productions. The scenes, which had been created in wood and stucco for Oedipus the King, and which were meant to represent the streets of Thebes, were never removed: despite bombings and other vicissitudes, they have miraculously preserved into modern times. The original lighting system of glass oil lamps, designed by Scamozzi, heightened the illusion of space, has been used only a few times because of the high cost and the risk of fire. Scamozzi's lighting system was used when, in 1997, the theatre was again employed for a production of Oedipus the King.
The Teatro Olimpico is still used for plays and musical performances, but audience sizes are limited to 400, for conservation reasons. Performances take place in two theatre seasons—classical plays in the autumn and the festival Il Suono dell'Olimpico in the spring. It is not equipped with heating or air conditioning, which could damage the delicate wooden structures. Every June, the theatre is used for the graduation ceremony for students from the American Department of Defense high school in Vicenza.
The Theatre was used as a filming location for films like Don Giovanni (1979) and Casanova (2005).
Read more about this topic: Teatro Olimpico
Famous quotes containing the words history of, history, theatre, opening and/or day:
“Anyone who is practically acquainted with scientific work is aware that those who refuse to go beyond fact rarely get as far as fact; and anyone who has studied the history of science knows that almost every great step therein has been made by the “anticipation of Nature.””
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)
“Philosophy of science without history of science is empty; history of science without philosophy of science is blind.”
—Imre Lakatos (1922–1974)
“The theatre is the involuntary reflex of the ideas of the crowd.”
—Sarah Bernhardt (1845–1923)
“At night thousands of names and slogans are outlined in neon, and searchlight beams often pierce the sky, perhaps announcing a motion picture premiere, perhaps the opening of a new hamburger stand.”
—For the State of California, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“... every day is any day.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)