Unit 6: THEATRE ARTS Final Exam Review

Improvisation

The spontaneous portrayal of a scene or character without practice or preparation.

Base Reality

The basic context for any improvisational scene: includes the WHO, WHAT, and WHERE.

Yes, And

Accepting an offer and building onto that offer with something CONNECTED to the original offer. (AGREE and ADD)

Short-Form

Style of improvisation that includes mini-games usually with predetermined rules, guidelines and/or gimmicks.

Long-Form

Style of improvisation that includes no set predetermined rules or guidelines. Improvisers set out to discover the games and gimmicks in the moment.

Heighten

Raising the stakes, making your improv scene more interesting by adding conflict or suspense.

Blocking/Denial

Failing to agree with any aspect of the reality established by your scene partner.

Game of the Scene

The unusual thing that is discovered in an improvisational scene. The single idea that makes a scene funny.

Suggestion

Any piece of information used to start an improvisational scene. (usually presented by the audience)

Initiation

The first offer/idea presented by an actor in a scene. Usually is physical, verbal, or emotional

Middle of Things

"Cutting to the chase" by starting in the center of action rather than wasting time on extra lines or questions.

Agreement

Going along with whatever is presented.

Mirroring

When an actor mimics or copies another actor's movement or behavior as a way to show agreement.

Showing

Establishing information through action and physical choices without speaking.

Telling

Simply narrating or talking about what you are doing onstage.

Object Work

When performers mime things that would exist in real life within a scene.

Spontaneous

something unplanned or “off the top of your head.”

Listening

The process of paying attention and focusing on what is happening in the moment.

Back Line

The formation that actors stand in when performing improvisation

Cheating Out

Attempting to bring your actions and object work DOWNSTAGE (towards the audience) rather than UPSTAGE (away from the audience).

Complimenting

When an actor adds something similiar (but different) to another actor's movement or behavior as a way to show agreement.

Give and Take

The ability to communicate effectively through learning when to speak and when to listen. Sharing the process of creating a scene.

Top of your Intelligence

Responding truthfully to any stimulus within a scene. Trying to respond as a real person might respond in a scene.

Character of the Space

Refers to the activity, location and/or environmental condition of the scene. This is one of the most important things to agree with at the start of any scene.

Teasers

The curtains that frame and hide the top of the stage

Vulnerability

The process of remaining open and available to feel and be seen in an emotional or human state.

Lobby

Area of the theater where the audience meets before, in between and after a show

Box Office

The place where tickets of admission are sold or picked up.

Raising the Stakes

Taking the conflict of a story and heightening it to help strengthen the connection and power of the performance.

Investment

Putting adequate time and effort into telling a story with as much intensity as possible.

Concessions

Snack bars that sell refreshments

Text without Feeling

When an actor just "reads" the script with limited feeling, emotion or investment.

Patron

A paying customer

Feeling without Text

When and actor is rambling and wrapped up in so much emotion that they are not delivering the story of the script.

Usher

The person who helps guide patrons to their appropriate seat in the house.

Permission to Feel

The ability to allow oneself to have feelings or present the emotions needed for a particular story.

Sound Board (the desk)

The console that gathers, processes and sends all sounds to the various speakers located through out the theater space.

Text

The story that an actor presents. (scene, script, monologue, song, etc)

Mezzanine Section

The seating areas in the house that are farthest from the stage.

Workshopping

The process of presenting and performing to peers and a teacher for feedback, growth and improvement.

Orchestra Section

The seating areas in the house that are closest to the stage.

Adjustment

Something suggested to an actor to help them drop into the truth of moment.

Raked

The term for something that is sloped, slanted or set at a slight angle

Sight Lines

What the audience sees of the stage from where they are sitting

Beat

A moment or pause where the actor's emotion shifts or changes.

On Breath

The ability to understand and control one's breath while performing.

Green Room

The place where the actors wait before going on stage.

Commitment

When an actor "goes all out" in order to tell a story or share an feeling.

Set Shop

A large area, where the sets are built, containing plenty of tools, hardware, lumber, paint, and everything else needed to create the physical world of the play.

The Moment

The present truth that is happening right now.

Costume Shop

A separate room, usually in the theatre building where costumes are made, altered, and repaired.

Instinct

An actor's true impulse or choice

Proscenium

The "picture frame" opening that helps set the stage and provides a backstage area.

Awareness

The actor's ability to acknowledge and notice details within a text, moment or performance.

Counterweight System / Fly System

A system of lines and weights that give mechanical advantage to raising and lowering of scenery.

Character

The distinctive qualities that describe how a person thinks, feels, and behaves

Fly Space

The area directly above the stage.

The Drop

When an actor starts to authentically feel what the text and moment is asking them to feel.

Pit

The area directly under the stage. Where the orchestra sits while they play for a show.

Dropping In

The process of trying to get an actor to feel what the moment or text is asking them to feel.

Main Curtain

The curtain that is closest to the audience and goes across the proscenium opening.

Resetting

The process of restarting a scene or monologue to start over after an adjustment is given.

Black Box

A theater that is usually small and that allows flexibility in the arrangement of audience to acting space. It is so named because the walls are usually painted black.

Caps

Short for "recap." The time in the workshop where the actors share out their takeaways and shoutouts from the day.

House

The place in a theater where the audience sits for a production

Anchor Point

Where an actor looks when delivering a monologue. Typically NOT a person.

Backstage

The area that is behind the stage and remains hidden from the audience.

Monologue

A speech by one actor in a play or movie.

Stage/Deck

A large platform on which people can stand and can be seen by an audience.

Scene

A performance with two or more people from a play or movie.

Theatre

The art-form of performance

Sides

Short excerpts from scenes used for workshopping and auditions.

Theater

The building where performances take place

Upstage

The area of the stage that is __**furthest**__ away from the audience.

Take

A run through of a scene or monologue.

Cold Read

A performance of a script done without looking at or studying that script in advance.

Downstage

The area of the stage that is __**closest**__ to the audience.

Prepared Read

A performance of script with time and work done in advance.

Traveler Curtain

A full stage curtain that is hung from a track that allows it to open or close.

Slate

The term for sharing basic information about yourself. Typically YOUR NAME + any other information they may ask you to share.

Cyclorama (Cyc)

Curtain or drop across back of stage; can serve as background for some scenes.

Making the Jump

When the teacher asks you to go to a specific part of a side to have you start from there.

Offstage/The Wings

Technically this refers to all stage areas outside the visible acting area.

Intermission

A break between acts of a play or performance during which people are sent out for snacks or bathroom breaks.

Props Loft

The place in our set shop where the objects used onstage are stored and found.

Legs

The curtains used on the sides of the stage to hide the offstage wings.

Catwalk

The platform and walkway above the audience that are used by stage technicians to access lighting, sound and effects instruments.

Front of House (FOH)

The area of the house that includes the sound board, light board and place where technicians sit.

Fixed Mindset

When we believe that our basic abilities, intelligence, and talents, are set in stone and cannot improve.

Growth Mindset

When we understand that our talents and abilities can be developed through effort, practice, good teaching and persistence.

Head Shot

a close up photograph of an actor's head and shoulders.

Slate

When an actor shares their name, title of the piece they are performing and any other important information asked for by the casting director.

Call Backs

Part of the audition process where the actors return for additional tryouts

Improvisational Audition

An audition at which the actor is assigned a character and given a brief description of a situation to perform with no preparation

Cold Read

A first look at a script, seeking an actors interpretation of the text, without rehearsing first; used at an audition.

Prepared Audition

An audition in which the actor uses material that has been memorized and thoroughly practiced.

Closed Audition

Restrictions are placed on which actors/students may try out OR auditions that only include actor and directors.

Open Audition

An audition that allows everyone to participate OR auditions that include all the actors who are auditioning along with the directors.

Audition

The process in which a director makes casting decisions for a program by watching and listening to prospective performers

Casting Director

A specialist in finding actors for specific roles who assists the director in some professional productions.