QUANTUM THEATRE: A LANGUAGE FOR THE VOICES
OF CONTEMPORARY THEATRE

A Thesis
Presented to
The faculty of the Department of Television, Radio, Film and Theatre
San Jose State University

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Arts

by
Carol Anne Fischer
May 2004

ABSTRACT

QUANTUM THEATRE: A LANGUAGE FOR THE VOICES
OF CONTEMPORARY THEATRE
by Carol A. Fischer

“All the world’s a stage, and all men and women merely players,” (As You Like It 2.7.139-140) distills a predominant ideology of Shakespeare’s time, that life is deterministic; an individual pursues the role that has been determined for him by the gods/God. In similar fashion, nuances of theatre theory shift according to the nuances of cultural ideology within a given social, historical setting shaded by particular influences and events. The millennial shift into the 21^st century is such a time of shifting for theatre theory.

The 20^th century changes in science, particularly discoveries in the quantum, sub-atomic world and development of chaos theory – the “new” sciences – are exerting influence onto broader ideologies within our culture, and thoughts of non-deterministic concepts have invaded the arts. This thesis explores how the language and concepts of quantum physics theory serves theatre theory and criticism through analogy and inspiration. Works of theatre practitioners Anne Bogart and Naomi Iizuka are subjects for demonstration and practice of the application of such Quantum Theatre.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

page

INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER ONE: THE JOY OF QUANTUM 14

CHAPTER TWO: CREATING A QUANTUM THEATRE THEORY 32

CHAPTER THREE: ANNE BOGART IN A QUANTUM WORLD 62

CHAPTER FOUR: EXPLORING NAOMI IIZUKA’S PLAYS

WITH QUANTUM 90

CHAPTER FIVE: THE STAGE IS A WORLD 108

WORKS CITED AND BIBLIOGRAPHY 116

WORKS CITED AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

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