stage terminology quiz 1

act

main division of a play/musical

actor

person whose profession is acting

apron

part of the stage in front of the curtain (between the proscenium arch and the edge of the stage)

aside

short remark made to the audience by one of the characters in the play

belt

style of singing in which a large full tone voice is used. usually found in music theater

blackout

quickl cutting the lights to make the stage area completely dark

blocking

providing the actors with their locations on stage and their actions

book

the dialogue/music of a script

break a leg

saying, meaning good luck

breakaway

costume/prop designed to come apart easily

callback

when a director selects performers who auditioned to return for a second audition

characterization

adding the traits, quirks, and mannerisms and psychology of a particular character

cold reading

reading a part from a script that hasn’t been rehearsed or looked at before

company

any performers, crew, stage hands, etc. associated with a particular show

cue

the signal for when to enter, exit, play music, change lighting, etc.

curtain call

final bows at the end of a performance

director

the person who orchestrates the mounting of a production

double

to play more than one role in the same production

dress rehearsal

final rehearsal without an audience with full make-up, costumes, sets, lighting, effects, sound, etc

extra

a person who is used to provide proper background but who doesn't have lines

ensemble

group of actors, musicians, or dancers who perform tgth

front of house

includes the lobby and box office. a place where audience members can mingle before the performance starts

green room

backstage space/room/lounge for performers, waiting to go on

house

the place where the audience is seated (often refers to audience itself)

houselights

the lights that illuminate the audience area and are turned off before the show commences

improv

short for improvisional. improv in the theater is actors performing on spot without a script

ingenue

a young girl’s role (often the romantic lead)

orchestra pit

a sunken area at the front of house where the musicians and conductor are housed. the conductor is elevated so that both musicians and performers can see him

off book

at a stage in rehearsals when the actors are no longer using their scripts as lines have been committed to memory

proscenium

an arch that separates the stage from the audience

run

the number of performances of a particular production

run-through

a rehearsal of a part of the script (without interruption)

set

the furniture, props, backdrops, etc. that transform the bare stage into the proper location for the performance

scrim

a gauze or net curtain that becomes transparent when lit from behind

spike

marking the stage with tape to indicate positions of props, furniture, etc. (also referred to marking out)

stand by

actor dressed like the lead in the show, waiting to go on in case something happens to the lead right before or during the performance

strike

to dismantle the set and pull down the set and props

swing

a performer who understudies several chorus parts and who substitutes for missing company members

technical rehersal

a rehearsal where lighting, scene changes, sound cues, and special effects are rehearsed

timing

being able to deliver words or actions at the most effective moment

thrust stage

a stage area where the audience sits on 3 sides

trap

an opening in the stage floor where performers and/or props etc. can disappear

understudy

a performer who is ready to take over a specific role if the original performer is unable to do a performance

wings

space at the sides of the stage, just behind the curtains. performers enter and exit and do quick changes from the wings