Theater Appreciation Review Midterm 1

Immediacy

The quality of being direct and immediate, enhancing the connection between performers and the audience.

Engagement in theater

Active participation and interest from the audience during a performance.

Proscenium stage

A stage that is framed by an arch and separates the actors from the audience, providing a clear viewpoint.

Thrust stage

A stage that extends into the audience on three sides, allowing for a more intimate experience.

Arena stage

A stage surrounded on all sides by the audience, also known as 'Theater in the Round'.

Conflict

The opposition between characters, beliefs, or forces that creates tension and drives dramatic action.

Method Acting

An acting technique that emphasizes emotional authenticity by drawing on the actor's personal experiences.

Director's role

Responsible for overseeing the creative aspects of a theater production and guiding actors in their performances.

Audience size

The number of spectators attending a performance, which can vary significantly between different types of theater.

Playwright

A person who writes plays, creating dialogue and actions that forward the plot and develop characters.

Royalty payments

Fees paid to playwrights for the permission to produce or perform their work; typically collected by organizations handling rights.

Blackbox theater

A versatile performance space painted black, allowing for various staging configurations and audience placements.

Share traits of art

Characteristics that define art, including being artificial, self-aware, and capable of eliciting an aesthetic response.

Dramatic response

The emotional and intellectual reaction an audience has to a theatrical performance, which goes beyond mere entertainment.

Character objectives

The goals or motivations that drive a character's actions in a play.

Training the actor's instrument

Developing the actor's body and voice to enhance performance capabilities.

Previews in theater

Early showings of a play in front of an audience to test and refine the production before opening night.

Technical rehearsal

A rehearsal focused on integrating all technical elements like lighting and sound with the performance.

Table work

Analysis of the script by actors and director to understand the meaning and intentions behind the text.

Opening night

The premiere performance of a play in front of critics and the general public, marking the official start of the show run.

Closing night

The final performance of a play, often accompanied by sentiments of farewell and reflection by the cast and crew.