99-101 theatre pgs

ad-lib

to improvise stage business or conversation

at rise

who and what are onstage when the curtain opens

back or backstage

the area behind the set or that part of the state that is not visible to the audience including dressing rooms, sops and offices

bit part

an acting role with very few lines a piece of stage business in one scene backing yourself getting behind furniture or other actors so that you cannot be seen by the audience

building a scene

using dramatic devices, such as increased tempo, volume, and emphasis to bring a scene to a climate

business

any specific action (other than changing location) performed on the stage, such as picking up a book or turning on a television set

countercross

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

cover

to obstruct the view of the audience; use of ab-lib to cover an unexpected unwanted event during a performance

cue

the last, action, or technical effect that immediately precedes any line or business; a stage signal

curtain

the curtain or drapery that shuts off the stage from the audience when written in all capital letters in a script, it indicates that the curtain is to be closed

cut. to stop action

to omit

cut in

to break into the speech of another character

down or downstage

the part of the stages toward the audience

dressing the stage

as a technical term placing furnishings, picture, and similar items to complete and balance a set; keeping the stage picture balanced during the action

enter

to move onto the stage

feeding

giving lines of action in such a way that another actor can make a point or got a laugh

foil

an acting role that is used for personality comparison, usually with the main character

hand props

items (properties) such as tools, weapons, or luggage carried onstage by an individual player

hit

to emphasize a word or line with extra force

holding for laughs

waiting the audience to quiet down after a funny line or scene

leading center

the body part or feature used to reflect a character’s major personality trait

left and right

terms used to refer to the stage from an actor’s point of view, not from that of the audience

master gesture

a distinctive action that serves as a clue to a characters personallity

milk

to draw the maximum response from the audience from comic lines or action

off or offstage

off the visible stage

on or onstage

on the visible stage

overlap

to speak when someone else is speaking

pace

the movement or sweep of the play as it progresses

personal props

small props that are usually carried in an actors costume, such as money, matches a pipe or a pen

places

the stage command for actors to take their positions at the opening of an act or scene

plot

to plan stage business, as to plot the action; to plan a speech by working out the phrasing, emphasis, and inflections

pointing lines

emphasizing an idea

principals

the main characters in a play or the named characters in a musical

properties or props

all the stage furnishings, including furniture and those items brought onstage by the actors

ring up

to raise the curtain

role scoring

the analysis of a character

script scoring/scripting

the making of a script for one character, indicating interpretation, pauses, phrasing, stress and so on

set

the scenery for an act or a scene

set props

properties placed onstage the use of actors

sides

half sheet pages of a script that contain the lines, cues, and business for one character

stealing a scene

attracting attentions from the person to whom the audiences interest legitimately belongs

subtext

the unstated or between the lines meaning that an actor must draw from the script

tag line

the last speech in an act or freedom to more over the entire stage area, usually during a lengthy speech

tempo

the speech of when the action of a play moves along

timing

the execution of a line or a piece of business of a specific movement to achieve the most telling effect

top

to make a line stronger than the line or lines preceding in by speaking at a higher pitch, faster rate or with greater volume and emphasis

up or upstage

the area toward the rear of the stage- away from the audience

upstaging

improperly taking attention from an actor who should be the focus of interest

walk on

a small acting part that has no lines

warn cue

notification of an incoming action or cue, usually indicated in the prompt book