Abstracts Anthropology

THEATRE AS SACRED SPACE: AN EXAMINATION OF THE INTERSECTIONALITY OFRELIGION AND THEATRE

by Amina Siti McIntyre

ABSTRACT THEATRE AS SACRED SPACE: AN EXAMINATION OF THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF RELIGION AND THEATRE By Amina S. McIntyre Theatre as Sacred Space: An Examination of Intersectionality of Religion and Theatre is a thesis that considers theatre as sacred space with attention to ritual location (physical and temporal), ritual activity (performance sequence), and the presence of the sacred (social faith). The study first offers an argument for using religion to survey theatre by offering definitions grounded in sociology, anthropology, theology and performance studies. Using primary ethnographic studies conducted in local Atlanta theatres, this thesis offers theories and methods for studying the relationship between theology and theatre by discussing secularism and the sacred, how they complicate the theatre-theology dyad and possible limits to ethnographic research. Ultimately, this thesis contends that the use of ethnography is a potential method for studying theatre and theology through the lens of the theories presented. TABLE OF CONTENTS  – INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................3  – CHAPTER 1: Backstage: Theatre as Religion....................................................................................................10  – CHAPTER 2: Upstage: The Church as Ritual Location..........................................................................................19  – Case Study I: 30 minutes to Places: A Consideration of the Role of Ritual and Worship in  – Theatrical Space  – CHAPTER 3: Center Stage: The Social Confidence of 'Social Faith'...........................................................................32  – Case Study II: A Rose by Any Other Name: A Study of the Usage of Theatre as Religion in the Horizon Theatre Company Apprenticeship  – CHAPTER 4: Downstage: Meditative Practices as Ritual Activity................................................................................ 50  – Case Study III: Incarnational Sanctuary: A Consideration Of The Establishment And Execution Of Ritual Around Prayer Practices In Theatrical Spaces  – CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................................. 61  – APPENDIXES....................................................................................................................................................................... 68  – APPENDIX A........................................................................................................................................................................ 69  – APPENDIX B.......................................................................................................................................................................... 76  – APPENDIX… Advisors/Committee Members: Lartey, Emmanuel Y (Committee Member), Phillips, Nichole Renee (Thesis Advisor).