com·me·dia dell'ar·te 
(kə-mā′dē-ə dĕl-ärtē, -tĕ, -mĕd′ē-ə)
(kə-mā′dē-ə dĕl-ärtē, -tĕ, -mĕd′ē-ə)n.
A type of comedy developed in Italy in the 16th and 17th centuries and characterized by improvisation from a standard plot outline and the use of stock characters, often in traditional masks and costumes.
[Italian : commedia, comedy + dell'arte, of the guild, professional (from arte, art, craft, guild).]
commedia dell'arteThe Actors of the Commedia dell'Arte by Nicolas Lancret (1690-1743)