Drama Stage Terms

all terms with * mean that it was mixed up with other things in the past.

(Common theatre terms) What are auditions?

auditions are readings before a director to determine the casting of a play

(Common theatre terms) What are call backs?

an additional audition for the final actors being considered. Similar to semifinals in sports.

(Common theatre terms) What does clear the stage mean?

a direction given to all actors, musicians, and technicians to leave the stage area prior to the beginning of a play

(Common theatre terms) What are places?

the direction for all actors, musicians, and technicians to go to their proper position and be ready for the beginning of a play or scene.

(Common theatre terms) What does strike mean? *

It’s the taking down, changing out, and putting away costumes, props, and sets after a production

(Common theatre terms) Run through

An uninterrupted rehearsal of a scene, act, or the entire play

(Common theatre terms) Curtain calls/bows *

The carefully choreographed appearance of actors on stage after the performance to acknowledge the applause of the audience

Flats

Muslin or plywood covered frames used to build the walls of a stage setting

Props

Small, handheld items used by actors to creat the period, character, or setting.

Platforms

wooden units joined together to build the floors of a stage setting

Costumes

clothing worn by the actors that helps determine character, time, theme, and mood.

Dark

a time when all lights are out of the theater is closed

Stage manager *

Person responsible for the physical set up, actors, and technical cues of a production as it is performed.

Dialog *

Written conversation

Text

written words

script

a complete scene or play in a format to be produced by actors and directors.

Initial incident *

The first most important event in a play from which the rest of the play develops

Exposition/ Given Circumstances *

The who, what, where, why, and when of a play, scene, or character

Preliminary situation *

the story of the play as the curtain rises/ the first thing you see

Climax

the major event in a play/ the turning point of a story.

Rising Action

the series of events following the initial incident. How the story builds towards its climax

Falling action/ Denouement

The series of events following the climax

conclusion

the final outcome of the play

protagonist *

the play revolves around this character. often the good guy, but not always

Antagonist *

This character forces change or creates conflict for the protagonist. Often the bad guy

Theme/message/purpose/ moral

What the play as a piece of art is trying to say to the audience.

Setting

where the play occurs in terms of time in place

Monologue *

A long speech said by a single actor to themselves, the audience, or to another character

Act *

An organization division in scripts

Scene *

An organization division in scripts. Often several scenes make up an ACT

Stage Business *

small actions such as smoking, using a fan, pouring a drink, etc. used to fill time, creat character, and sometimes to make the action “more realistic”.

Open up/ cheat out

Facing as much towards the audience as possible

Take the Stage

what an actor does when they take control of the scene or take focus of the audience

Focus

where the director wants the audience to look. the actors point of concentration.

Diction *

The actor’s ability to be understood by the audience

Volume *

The actors ability to be heard by the audience

Cue

The last words or actions indication the time for another actor to speak up or move

Ad lib

Lines made up by an actor to fill in where there would be an undesirable pause due to dropped lines, technical problems, etc.

Cheating

using a movement or position that may not be realistic but allows the audience to see the action more clearly

Upstage *

The area of the stage that is the furthest from the audience

Downstage *

the area of the stage that is the closest to the audience

Stage right

the right side of the stage from the actor’s POV (facing the audience)

Stage left *

the left side of the stage from the actor’s POV (facing the audience)

Center

the center of the stage

Cross

Movement from one area of the stage to another

Blocking *

the set movement of all actors onstage throughout the play

Wings

The areas to the left and right of the stage out of view to the audience. A part of the blackstage area.

Proscenium

An arched opening through which the audience sees the stage. Also a style of theater with the audience seated predominantly in front of the stage.

Apron

The unusually curved area of the stage closest to the audience

Backstage/ Offstage

usually the entire stage area not visible to the audience

House

the audience area/ where the audience sits

Backdrop

the drop farthest upstage in most settings. Also a large curtain, sometimes with a picture or design

Curtain line

the imaginary line across the stage floor which follows the line of the front curtain

Fly loft *

the area above the stage where the curtains and set pieces are stored and hidden during a production/ where pieces fall from and hang

legs

narrow curtain in the wings to mask the backstage areas.

Cyclorama *

large, usually white, curtain that is lit to create setting and masks the back of the stage behind the set.

trap

an opening in the stage floor for actors to pass through to make entrances and exits.