English 120 Final

Representational Acting

Acting style that aims to realistically "represent" life onstage. Actors behave as if the audience is not there, maintaining the fourth wall.

Presentational Acting

Opposite of representational. Actors may acknowledge the audience, break the fourth wall, and emphasize theatricality over realism.

Expressionism

A style that distorts reality to reflect emotional or psychological states. Sets, lighting, and acting may be exaggerated or abstract.

Realism

A genre aiming to depict life truthfully and believably, with attention to everyday behavior, dialogue, and settings. Think: natural-sounding speech, detailed sets

Naturalism

An extreme form of realism, focused on environmental and hereditary influences on human behavior. Characters are shaped by their social conditions.

Comedy

A genre that aims to amuse. It often uses misunderstandings, satire, or exaggerated characters/situations. Ends happily or with resolution.

Satire

A form of comedy that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or expose flaws in individuals, society, or institutions.

Tragedy

A serious drama where the main character suffers a downfall due to a fatal flaw or external forces. Often ends with loss or death.

Tragicomedy

A blend of tragedy and comedy. Contains serious themes but with humorous elements or a hopeful resolution.

The American Musical

A genre combining spoken dialogue, songs, and dance. Often highlights themes of identity, dreams, or social issues. E.g., Hamilton, Oklahoma!

Autobiographical Theatre

A form of performance where the playwright/performer draws from personal life. May be solo or ensemble-based.

Cabaret

A variety-style performance that mixes music, comedy, dance, and drama, typically in an intimate setting with a strong audience-performer connection.

Theatre

Theatre is live storytelling through performance; it involves actors, a space, and an audience. It's a collaborative art form exploring the human condition.

Types of Theatre Stages and Configurations

Proscenium, Thrust, Arena (Theatre-in-the-round), Black Box, Environmental

Proscenium

Audience on one side, like a picture frame.

Thrust

Stage extends into the audience on three sides.

Arena (Theatre-in-the-round)

Audience surrounds the stage.

Black Box

Flexible space with movable seating/staging.

Environmental

Performed in non-traditional spaces; audience may move

Types of Theatres

Professional, Community, Not-for-Profit, Commercial

Professional

Paid actors/staff (e.g., Broadway, regional).

Community

Local, mostly volunteer-based.

Not-for-Profit

Revenue goes back into the theatre; often focuses on mission-driven work.

Commercial

Aims to make profit (e.g., large-scale touring shows).

Vulnerability

A performer’s openness to emotional risk and authenticity on stage. Key to compelling acting.

Dramatic/Theatrical Speech

Dialogue crafted for performance. It may be stylized, heightened, or rhythmically structured (unlike natural speech).

Fatal Flaw (Hamartia)

A personal flaw or error in judgment that leads to a character’s downfall, especially in tragedy. E.g., excessive pride (hubris).

Catharsis

The audience’s emotional release or purging after experiencing the drama, especially common in tragedy.

Unity of Plot

A classical principle (from Aristotle) where a play maintains a single, cohesive story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Subtext

The underlying meaning or emotion beneath the dialogue; what a character really means, but may not say directly.

Fourth Wall

The imaginary barrier between actors and audience. Breaking it means acknowledging the audience (used in presentational styles).

Panoramic Focus

A storytelling method that shifts focus among multiple characters or events, rather than centering solely on one plot or protagonist.

Parallel Monologue

Two or more characters speak simultaneously or in succession, but without directly engaging each other—often reveals internal thoughts.

Central Character

(protagonist): The main focus of the story.

Main oppositional character

(antagonist): The person/force in conflict with the protagonist.

Dramaturg

A theatre professional who researches and supports the development of a production—ensuring historical/contextual accuracy, script analysis, etc.

Colorblind Casting

Casting without considering the actor's race or ethnicity. Aims for inclusion but can ignore cultural context.

Color-conscious Casting

Deliberately considering race/ethnicity in casting to reflect or challenge societal structures—aims for meaningful representation.