The Why's and What's

At work we are beginning to compose a proposal for a panel for the TCG conference in June. The theme is Roots, Renaissance, Revolution.  Interestingly, theatre seems to historically cycle through these stages -- returning to the roots, the creative burst of Renaissance, and revolution to what is. Sometimes, like now, all 3 seem to be occurring simultaneously.The Why's (why do theatre) directly ties to the Roots of theatre. Why did the first thespians begin to perform?  What did they perform?  What was the place?

Place directly relates to the Whys and the Whats . . . pick an example of a performance you experienced (NOT at Towson). How did the space relate to the performance (the what)? Where do you define the boundaries of that space? The walls of the theatre? The lobby plus the performance space? The parking garage to the lobby . . . .?