What is "theater"

Theater \The"a*ter\, Theatre \The"a*tre\, n. [F. th['e][^a]tre, L. theatrum, Gr. ?, fr. ? to see, view; cf. Skr. dhy[=a] to meditate, think. Cf. Theory.]

1. An edifice in which dramatic performances or spectacles are exhibited for the amusement of spectators; anciently uncovered, except the stage, but in modern times roofed.

2. Any room adapted to the exhibition of any performances before an assembly, as public lectures, scholastic exercises, anatomical demonstrations, surgical operations, etc.

3. That which resembles a theater in form, use, or the like; a place rising by steps or gradations, like the seats of a theater.
   --Burns.

   Shade above shade, a woody theater Of stateliest view.
   --Milton.

4. A sphere or scheme of operation. [Obs.]

   For if a man can be partaker of God's theater, he shall likewise be partaker of God's rest.
   --Bacon.

5. A place or region where great events are enacted; as, the theater of war.

late 14c., "open air place in ancient times for viewing spectacles and plays," from Old French theatre (12c., Modern French théâtre, improperly accented) and directly from Latin theatrum "play-house, theater; stage; spectators in a theater" (source also of Spanish, Italian teatro), from Greek theatron "theater; the people in the theater; a show, a spectacle," literally "place for viewing," from theasthai "to behold" (related to thea "a view, a seeing; a seat in the theater," theates "spectator") + -tron, suffix denoting place.\n

\nMeaning "building where plays are shown" is from 1570s in English. Transferred sense of "plays, writing, production, the stage" is from 1660s. Generic sense of "place of action" is from 1580s; especially "region where war is being fought" (1914). Spelling with -re arose late 17c. and prevailed in Britain after c.1700 by French influence, but American English retained or revived the older spelling in -er.

n. 1 A place or building, consisting of a stage and seating, in which an audience gathers to watch plays, musical performances, public ceremonies, and so on. 2 A region where a particular action takes place; a specific field of action, usually with reference to war. 3 A lecture theatre. 4 (context medicine English) An operating theatre or locale for human experimentation. 5 (context US English) A cinema. 6 Drama or performance as a profession or artform.

1. n. a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented; "the house was full" [syn: theatre, house]

2. the art of writing and producing plays [syn: dramaturgy, dramatic art, dramatics, theatre]

3. a region in which active military operations are in progress; "the army was in the field awaiting action"; "he served in the Vietnam theater for three years" [syn: field, field of operations, theater of operations, theatre, theatre of operations]

In warfare, a theater or theatre (see spelling differences) is an area or place in which important military events occur or are progressing. A theater can include the entirety of the air, space, land and sea area that is or that may potentially become involved in war operations.

A theater, theatre or playhouse, is a structure where theatrical works or plays are performed or other performances such as musical concerts may be produced. While a theater is not required for performance (as in environmental theater or street theater), a theater serves to define the performance and audience spaces. The facility is traditionally organized to provide support areas for performers, the technical crew and the audience members.

There are as many types of theaters as there are types of performance. Theaters may be built specifically for a certain types of productions, they may serve for more general performance needs or they may be adapted or converted for use as a theater. They may range from open-air amphitheaters to ornate, cathedral-like structures to simple, undecorated rooms or black box theaters. Some theaters may have a fixed acting area (in most theaters this is known as the stage), while some theaters such as black box theaters, may not, allowing the director and designers to construct an acting area suitable for the production.

In Australia and New Zealand a small and simple theater, particularly one contained within a larger venue, is called a theatrette. The word originated in 1920s London, for a small-scale music venue.

Theater is a former Buffalo Metro Rail station that served the entertainment and theater districts of downtown Buffalo, New York located in the 600 block of Main Street between Chippewa and Tupper Streets at the north end of the Free Fare Zone, where customers traveling north are required to have proof-of-payment.

"Theater" was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, performed in German by Katja Ebstein. This was Ebstein's third Eurovision entry, she had represented Germany in 1970 and 1971, with " Wunder gibt es immer wieder" and " Diese Welt" respectively, both times finishing in 3rd position.

The song was performed twelfth on the night (following Norway's Sverre Kjelsberg & Mattis Hætta with " Sámiid Ædnan" and preceding the United Kingdom's Prima Donna with " Love Enough For Two"). At the close of voting, it had received 128 points, placing 2nd in a field of 19.

The song is a Ralph Siegel- Bernd Meinunger collaboration, with Ebstein singing about the manner in which clowns have to mask their true feelings when performing on stage - a situation which is said to be true of all performers. The four backing singers were dressed as clowns and Ralph Siegel played the piano on stage wearing gloves with small clowns on the fingers. Ebstein also recorded the song in English (as "It's Showtime"), French ("Théâtre") and Italian ("Teatro").

The song was succeeded as German representative at the 1981 Contest by Lena Valaitis with " Johnny Blue".