Final answer:
Actors achieved professional status when theater admissions were charged, which transitioned acting from low societal standing to a recognized profession. This transformation was part of a broader societal change, where theaters became symbols of power and addressed the dynamic social shifts, including the rise of the middle class.
Step-by-step explanation:
When theaters became enclosed and an admission charge was created, actors achieved a new level of professional status. Unlike earlier when actors had very low societal standing or performed for patronage, the introduction of paid admission elevated them to being professionals. This change reflected the broader shift in societal structures, where performing art became a recognized profession, with actors, directors, and playwrights receiving compensation for their work, thus aligning them with other professional guilds providing legal representation and contract negotiations.
Enclosed theaters signified not just the separation of performers from audience but also a new economic model wherein theaters could charge for entry, thereby establishing a financial basis for the theater industry. As a result, the theater itself transformed into a symbol of urban prosperity and power, reflecting shifts in societal trends like the rise of the middle class and the decline of the nobility. As the theater became more accessible to different social classes, it also began to reflect and address broader societal shifts, dramatically impacting the role and perception of actors.