Final answer:
Elizabethan theater plays were most impacted by audience preferences, which influenced playwrights to create works that catered to the diverse social strata present at performances. While economic resources and patronage were significant, the need to entertain a wide audience base was the paramount factor in structuring the plays.
Step-by-step explanation:
The contributing factor that most impacted the structure of the Elizabethan theater's plays was c) Audience preferences. The Elizabethan theater had to cater to a diverse crowd, which included both the 'groundlings' who stood in the open yard and the wealthier attendees who sat in the balconies above. Playwrights like William Shakespeare tailored their plays to please the entire audience, incorporating elements that appealed to the different social statuses and tastes present at the performances. This demanded proficiency in various theatrical arts such as the delivery of poetic text, dance, music, and convincing swordplay.
While patronage from the monarchy provided protection and respectability for theater companies, it also came with certain restrictions, such as the requirement for plays to be licensed and approved before performance. Economic resources were important for establishing a theater venue like Shakespeare's Globe, which allowed companies to put on their productions more freely. However, it was ultimately the audiences' preferences that shaped the plays' structures and content during the Elizabethan era.