THE 2000 – Theater Appreciation: A Brief Glossary of Theatrical Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering key theatre terms from the lecture notes.

act

a major division of a dramatic work

backstage

behind the part of the theatre in view of the audience; in the dressing rooms, wings, etc.

chorus

(in classical Greek drama) the actors who sang the chorus and commented on the action of the play

cue

to signal (to something or somebody) at a specific moment in a musical or dramatic performance

curtain

a hanging cloth or barrier for concealing all or part of a theatre stage from the audience

curtain call

the appearance of performers at the end of a theatrical performance to acknowledge applause

curtain-raiser

a short dramatic piece presented before the main play

curtain speech

a talk given in front of the curtain after a stage performance, often by the author or an actor

downstage

the front half of the stage

dramatis personae

the characters or a list of characters in a play or story

entr'acte

an interval between two acts of a play or opera

entrance

the coming of an actor or other performer onto a stage

exit

the act of going offstage

first night

the first public performance of a play or other production

flies

the space above the stage out of view of the audience, used for storing scenery, etc.

front of house

the areas of a theatre, opera house, etc., used by the audience

gallery

a narrow raised platform at the side or along the back of the stage for the use of technicians and stagehands

gods

the gallery of a theatre

greenroom

a backstage room in a theatre where performers may rest or receive visitors

house

the audience in a theatre or cinema

lines

the words of a particular role

monologue

a long speech made by one actor in a play, film, etc., esp. when alone

noises off

sounds made offstage intended for the ears of the audience: used as a stage direction

off-Broadway

designating the kind of experimental, low-budget, or noncommercial productions associated with theatre outside the Broadway area in New York

off-off-Broadway

of or relating to highly experimental informal small-scale theatrical productions in New York, usually taking place in cafés, small halls, etc.

offstage

that part of a stage, as the wings, not visible to the audience

opera house

a theatre designed for opera

orchestra pit

the space reserved for musicians in a theatre, immediately in front of or under the stage

overact

to act or behave in an exaggerated manner, as in a theatrical production

prompt

to remind (an actor, singer, etc.) of lines forgotten during a performance

prompter

a person offstage who reminds the actors of forgotten lines or cues

prop

any movable object used on the set of a stage play or film

proscenium arch

the arch separating the stage from the auditorium

role

a part or character in a play, film, etc., to be played by an actor or actress

scene

the stage, esp. of a theatre in ancient Greece or Rome

scenery

the painted backcloths, stage structures, etc., used to represent a location in a theatre or studio

script

written copy for the use of performers in films and plays

soliloquy

the act of speaking alone or to oneself, esp. as a theatrical device

stage

the platform in a theatre where actors perform

stage direction

an instruction to an actor or director, written into the script of a play

stage door

a door at a theatre leading backstage

stage fright

nervousness or panic that may beset a person about to appear in front of an audience

stagehand

a person who sets the stage, moves props, etc. in a theatrical production

stage left

the part of the stage to the left of a performer facing the audience

stage manager

a person who supervises the stage arrangements of a theatrical production

stage right

the part of the stage to the right of a performer facing the audience

stage-struck

infatuated with the glamour of theatrical life, esp with the desire to pursue a career in theatre

stage whisper

a loud whisper from one actor to another on stage intended to be heard by the audience

theatre-in-the-round

a theatre with seats arranged around a central acting area

Thespian

of or relating to drama and the theatre; dramatic

understudy

an actor or actress who studies a part so as to be able to replace the usual actor or actress if necessary

unities

the arrangement of the elements in a work of art in accordance with a single overall design or purpose

upstage

the back half of the stage

wings

the space offstage to the right or left of the acting area in a theatre