Theatre final

Realism

A style of theatre that tries to look and feel like real life (natural acting, believable sets, everyday situations).

Non-realism

Any style that is not realistic (can be abstract, symbolic, exaggerated, or fantastical)

Apron

The part of the stage that extends in front of the main curtain

Ground Plan

A top-down drawing of the stage layout showing where everything is placed.

Wagon

A rolling platform used to move scenery on and off stage.

Turntable / Revolving Stage

A circular stage that rotates to quickly change scenes

Proscenium

The “frame” of the stage that the audience looks through (like a picture frame)

Arch

The curved or rectangular opening of the proscenium stage.

Fly System

A system of ropes and pulleys used to lift scenery, curtains, and light

Fly Loft

The tall space above the stage where scenery is stored when lifted.

Grid

A metal framework above the stage used to support rigging equipment

Catwalk

A narrow walkway above the stage for technicians to access lights.

Flat / Flats

Lightweight panels used to create walls or backgrounds

Platform

A raised surface actors can stand on.

Scrim

A thin fabric that can appear solid or transparent depending on lighting

Legs

Tall, narrow curtains on the sides of the stage that hide backstage areas.

Borders

Short, wide curtains that hang above the stage to hide lighting equipment

Wings

Areas on either side of the stage where actors wait to enter.

Backstage

All areas behind and around the stage not visible to the audience

Booth

The control area for lighting and sound technicians

Fire Curtain

A heavy safety curtain that can be lowered to stop fire from spreading.

Prop (Property)

Any object an actor uses on stage (like a book or phone)

Property Master/Mistress

The person in charge of props

Rendering

A drawing or painting that shows what the set or costumes will look like.

Build

constructing the costume

Pull

gathering props or costumes from storage

Build Crew

People who construct the set.

Run Crew

People who manage scene changes and backstage action during the show.

Fly Crew

People who operate the fly system

Costumes

Clothing worn by actors.

Stitcher

A person who sews costumes.

Line

The outline or direction of a costume’s design.

Shape

The overall form of a costume

Silhouette

The outline of a costume seen from a distance.

Color

Used to show mood, character, or theme

Fabric

The material used to make costumes.

Swatches

Small samples of fabric meant to portray the final costume design.

Accessories

Extra items like hats, jewelry, or belts.

Make-up

Cosmetics used to enhance or change an actor’s appearance.

Prosthetics

Special effects pieces (like fake noses or scars) applied to actors.

Scenic Designer

Designs the set and visual environment.

Technical Director

Oversees the construction and technical aspects

Director

Leads the production and guides actors’ performances.

CAD System

Computer software used to design stage layouts and lighting plots

Area Plot

A plan showing how different stage areas are lit.

Light Plot

A detailed diagram showing where lighting instruments are placed.

Cue

A signal for a lighting, sound, or stage change.

Dimmer/Channel Hookup

The system that connects lights to power and control channels.

Gel

A colored filter placed in front of a light.

Gel Holder

The frame that holds the gel in place.

Backlighting

Lighting actors from behind to create depth or silhouette.

Fresnel

A type of spotlight that produces soft-edged light.

Ellipsoidal

A spotlight that produces a sharp, focused beam

Follow Spot

A movable spotlight that follows an actor around the stage.

Ancient Greek civilization

developed early theatre traditions

What role did mythology play in Greek theatre?

Stories were based on myths about gods and heroes.

What were Greek plays performed for

Religious festivals honoring Dionysus.

main types of Greek plays?

Tragedy and Comedy.

tragedy

A serious play with themes of fate, suffering, and downfall.

comedy

A humorous play that often mocks society or politics.

What is the chorus in Greek theatre?

A group that comments on the action and represents society in a play

Dithyrambos

A
song, sung by a
chorus of 50 men
during celebrations
to Dionysus – was
the start of theatre
in the Western
World.

Who influenced Roman theatre?

The Greeks.

How did Roman theatre differ from Greek theatre?

It focused more on entertainment and spectacle.

What were common Roman performances

Comedies, pantomimes, and spectacles

Theatron

Seeing Place

Skene

where the actors would perform, Stone structure to represent buildings
for the plays

Parodos

Entrance/Exit for Chorus

Orchestra

Where the chorus would perform - gave us the
modern orchestra pit

Thespis

very first actor.

Periaktoi

a 3 sided set piece that can
rotate and show 3 different scenic
backgrounds

Choregus

the ‘producer’ who would
fund the rehearsals and performances
by different playwrights in competition

Auditorium

The Hearing Place

What is Everyman about?

A morality play about a man facing death and realizing only his good deeds matter.

Oedipus

cannot escape his fate (killing his father, marrying his mother),

Antigone

Antigone’s defiant stand against state law to honor familial duty and divine law defying King Creon to bury her brother.

Medea

about a woman betrayed by her husband, Jason, who seeks brutal revenge by killing his new bride, her rival, and ultimately her own two children

Lysistrata

the women of Greece, led by the Athenian Lysistrata, stage a sex strike to force their husbands to end the Peloponnesian War

Closet Dramas

performed in wealthy
people’s homes.

Feudal system

Catholicism - the only major religion in
Europe during this time.
King - rules by Divine
Right Pope - rules by
Divine Right

Where were early medieval plays performed

churches. Churches main area to gather and meet.
Services only in Latin

Liturgical Dramas

Local clergy couldn’t get the people interested in
services so they began performing scenes from the
bible to gain interest. Priests performed all roles,
except Jesus

tropes

short scenes of the bible acted out in church/ most famous trope was called Quem Queritis

mansions

The priests would perform these tropes in ‘mansions

Pope Innocent III

Banned theatre in the church

Pageant Wagons

Wagon actors would act on to counteract the ban on acting in church

Renaissance

‘re-birth”, rediscovery of the Greek and Roman literature
It was a large move away from the church and went back to
focusing on ‘domestic’ issues.

What changed in theatre during the Renaissance?

More focus on human experience and complex characters.

3 ways Shakespeare and his contemporaries wrote plays

Verse was rhyming and was written in Iambic Pentameter, Blank Verse was
written in Iambic Pentameter but didn’t rhyme, and Prose had neither Iambic
Pentameter and didn’t rhyme.

Commedia Dell’arte

the first recognized Western
theater that gave us improvisation.

Stock Characters

There were set characters that
would appear in the shows

Raked stage

is created which is where we get our stage directions from. (Lincoln) Movements we have already

Arthur Miller

Biggest modern realism playwright in America

Death of A Salesman
Crucible
All My Sons

August Wilson

wrote Fences, First critically acclaimed black playwright

Lorraine
Hansberry

First critically acllaimed black woman playwright

Anton Chekov

Co-Creator of the Moscow.Art.Theatre.
Plays of Note:
The Cherry Orchard-about a family losing their estate, symbolizing social change in Russia.
The Seagull

Neil
Simon

The Odd
Couple comedy

Tennessee
Williams

The Glass
Menagerie /
Cat on a Hot
Tin Roof /
Streetcar
Named
Desire

absurdism

reflect the existential belief that human life is meaningless, irrational,

Samuel Beckett
British

Waiting for Godot
Endgame