Theatre

improvisation

acting without a script

accept the offer

accept others' creative ideas even if we don't like or understand the ideas or if we think we have a better idea.

accept an offer

moves a scene forward

expert

someone who has studied an object extensively

endow

to give scene information

active choice

help to move a scene forward and make it interesting

ask for

asking the audition for some information about the scene

body language

Communication of information through body positions and gestures.

gestures

motions of a speaker's hands or arms

facial expressions

facial gestures that convey emotions and attitudes

exposition

characters, location, situation, basics are introduced

initial incident

the action that really sets the story off and running

rising action

everything that leads up to the climax

climax

usually the most dramatic moment; the turning point

falling action

Events after the climax, leading to the resolution

conclusion

the ending

blocking

major actor movements such as entrances and exits

stage business

small character defining movements

stage crosses

indicated by "X," are movements from one stage area to another

counter cross

a movement in a direction opposite to a cross to balance the stage picture

personal business

Activities an actor uses to expand and clarify his character, such as arranging clothing

quality

the individual sound of a particular voice

resonance

the vibrant tone of the voice

nasality

the sound when the vowel sounds are diverted into the nasal cavities, cutting down the resonance and leaving the voice flat

pitch

the relative highness or lowness of the voice

inflection

variety in pitch

monotone

lack of infliction

volume

the strength, force or intensity with which sound is made

rate

the speed at which words are spoken

diction

selection and pronunciation of words and their combination in speech

voiceless

a consonant that has no vibration of the vocal cords

voicead

a consonant that does have vibration of the vocal cords

diaphragm

the muscle in the abdomen that expands during breathing

what makes an effective voice

Body Relaxation, Proper Breathing and Good Posture

What creates sound waves when air passes over them?

larynx

Which part of the body is a resonator?

mouth

What does IPA Stand for?

International Phonetic Alphabet

what parts of the body should be relaxed and/or open

Open and relaxed throat, relaxed jaw

problem consonants

R, L and combinations

nasal consonants

m, n, ng

higher pitch

anger, excitement

rising inflection

timidity, questioning

up and down inflection

sarcasm

fast rate

nervous and comic

monotone

tired, bored, depressed

emotion

affects the quality of the voice

what makes a good voice?

consistency, great volume, ability to adapt to any emotion

resonator

cavities or open areas used to create a fulling sound

projection

filling a space with sound

articulation

the clear, precise, pronunciation of speech

expulsive

smooth release of air

explosive

forced release of air

resonators include

chest, throat, mouth, nasal cavities, head

articulators

lips, teeth, tongue, jaw, hard and soft palate

Why is posture important in helping you speak well?

if you have bad posture, it will affect how you speak. You can not get enough air into your lungs to produce any good sound.

3 major parts of a theatre

acting arena, auditorium, and scenic background

arena

audience on all 4 sides and difficult to block the action because the actors will have their back to some part of the audience at any given moment

open stage

audience seating is restricted to less than 180 degrees and no proscenium is present

Proscenium

the part of a theater stage in front of the curtain

thrust

stage with audience on 3 sides

black box

usually has a lighting grid above and you have totally flexible seating

Multi-purpose rooms

use dividers to create an auditorium but acoustic challenges

plaster line

imaginary line drawn from one side of the stage to the other, upstage of the proscenium arch

center line

imaginary line drawn from the back to front of the stage, centered in the proscenium opening

apron

the acting area of the stage that extends beyond the proscenium arch

auditorium

the area of the theatre where the audience sits

backing

fabric OR a flat that is positioned behind a door opening, window or any other space so that the audience can't see backstage

back wall

wall separating the stage house from the backstage area. Doors in the back wall allow large pieces of scenery to be brought on stage

backstage

all areas of a stage other than the acting area that are out of sight of the audience

balcony

upper floor in an auditorium that projects out over the main floor and provides additional seating for the audience

batten

wood or metal pipe from which stage lights, drops, and scenery are hung

border teaser

short curtain hung across the stage above the acting area to mask the overhead lights

counterweight system

a system of ropes, steel cables,pulleys and weights used to raise and lower battens on which lights, scenery and drops are hung

cyclorama

A background drop or curtain hung at the rear & sometimes around the sides of the stage often used to project light on it to provide a "sky" or neutral background for a play

drop or backdrop

large canvas or muslin curtain that hangs at the back of the stage setting; scenery is painted on this

electric

pole that has sockets in it so that lights can be plugged into it and receive power

fire curtain

Thick burlap material that separates the house from the stage in case of fire

fly space

the area above a stage where lights, drops, and scenery may be flown or suspended on wire ropes

fourth walla

the imaginary wall between the audience and the actors in a representational play

grand drape

front curtain on a stage, usually made of luxurious fabric in deep colors

grand valance

the border that goes with the grand drape

green room

the lounging area for the actors where they can meet or rest during the show

grid

steel framework above a stage to which lines are attached to fly scenery

house

the auditorium, or the area where the audience sits

legs

black curtains usually hung in pairs (stage left and right) that don't move and mask the backstage area

orchestra

seats in an auditorium that are nearest the stage, a group of musicians who play during a performance

orchestra pit

area directly in front of the stage where the orchestra sits

Proscenium Arch

frame around a proscenium stage

raked stage

a slanted stage

scrim

drop that is made of gauze-like material and is transparent when lit from behind

sight lanes

lines indicating visibility of onstage and backstage areas from various points in the house

stage

area of a theatre where the actors perform

stage door

private theatre entrance for actors and other theatre personnel

stage managers booth

place from which the stage manager calls the show

traveler

curtain that can be opened or closed to mask scenery

wings

the left and right sides of a stage immediately outside the scenery

art director

person who determines the overall look of the play by working closely with the director and the makeup, costumingand lighting designers to achieve the desired effects in production

assistant director

he person who acts as the liaison between the director & cast/crew & who takes charge of the rehearsalwhen the director is absent

business manager

person who is responsible for the financial arrangements of a production

choreographer

person who designs dance for the stage