Drama, as a word, is derived from ancient Greek meaning "to do" or "deed" and forms the historical basis for what in modern times is referred to simply as theater. Greek influence is felt throughout the history of drama, dance and theater, even the term "thespian" is taken from the first actor, Thespis.
"The earliest origins of drama are to be found in Athens where ancient hymns, called dithyrambs, were sung in honor of the god Dionysus," according to pbs.org. "One of these, the 'City Dionysia,' a festival of entertainment held in honor of the god Dionysus, featured competitions in music, singing, dance and poetry. And most remarkable of all the winners was said to be a wandering bard called Thespis." His style was brash and emotive with the young Greek leaping onto carts throughout town to recite poetry as if he were interacting with the crowd. The performances were so striking that it lead poets to consider the idea of full scale events based from Thespis' nearly conversational style. From this we see the birth of theater, and acting.
As the Roman empire expanded, it eventually encountered lands controlled by Greece and, thus, discovered Greek drama. As Greece became assimilated into the vast territories occupied by the Romans, drama evolved. Roman takes on drama and theater incorporated the tragic and comedic story lines pioneered by Greek playwrights with added musical elements. Though, whereas the Greeks encouraged thought-provoking drama such as the great plays of Euripides and Aeschylus, Roman theater was more state controlled. Theaters were constructed the day of performances and torn down by nightfall. Attendees were not permitted to sit during the productions either as the Roman Senate feared Greek influence on its populace.
Roman plays tended toward that of the circus, religious event, or broad comedy with most of the Greek elements of tragedy being ignored due in part to the government's fear of its effect on the average Roman citizen.
As a result of Rome's expanse, drama and theater reached England, one of Rome's farthest territories. Theater exploded in England during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558 to 1603) seeing the works of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe held through time as the theater's highest expression of its art. Theater in England was able to get away from the religious and state-motivated productions in part due to the Roman empire's death centuries earlier and England's division from the Catholic church.
Theater in Elizabethan England saw the rise of the art form as a stationary space with permanent play houses being built such as the famous Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's plays were performed. These plays (such as "Romeo & Juliet," "Hamlet" and "Titus Andonicus") built upon the tragic and comedic themes brought forth in Greek drama and showed their Roman roots as well by maintaining religious overtones. It is through these building blocks that virtually all modern theater, drama and dance are based.
Theater became a big business in the modern world where audiences flocked to playhouses to see the latest productions. "...commercial theatre advanced full force, manifesting itself in the development of vastly popular forms of drama such as major musicals (theater composed of song and dance) beginning with Ziegfield's Follies and developing into full-blown musical plays such as 'Oklahoma!' 'Porgy and Bess' and 'Showboat,'" according to msuiit.edu.
The burgeoning money-maker that was modern musical theater lead to greater technological advances for the stage allowing productions like Phantom of the Opera, and Miss Saigon. These advances served two purposes: to allow for greater depth in plot, performance and staging; and to compete with theater's latest competitor, film.
The advent of the "Musical" saw the world of theater, drama and dance move beyond the artful arenas and open spaces into the mainstream of American society in the 20th century. Musical Theater rose to greatest prominence in New York's famous Broadway, a row of theater's and playhouses that attracted audiences from around the world in ways that the ancient Greeks and Romans could never have imagined. The basic elements of expression remained intact, however, regardless of the size and scope of a given musical number, scene or show, the desire is still to communicate with those watching the performance. In this, theater is truly timeless.