Elements of Drama 2

proscenium arch

an arch over the front of a stage

wings

Traditionally associated with proscenium theater, ____ are the narrow areas off both sides of the stage where actors wait before making an entrance

apron

the area of a stage that stretches out past the primary playing space or proscenium arch

fourth wall

Theatrical term applied to the realist stage, where actors no longer played directly to the audience but instead focused on each other

downstage

the area on stage closest to the audience

upstage

the area of the stage farthest from the audience

thespian

term for actor (from the Greek performer Thespis)

casting

the process of deciding which actors are to play which parts

dramatis personae

Latin for “people in the drama”

chorus

In Greek drama, a group of singers and dancers who often provide exposition and commentary on the action in the play

dialogue

language spoken by characters on stage

monologue

a long speech or narrative spoken by one character

soliloquy

A monologue uttered by a character alone on stage provides insight into his or her thoughts.

aside

A theatrical convention where a character, unnoticed by the other characters on stage, speaks frankly and directly to the audience to express a thought.

pantomime

both a form of silent acting and relies heavily on gesture, facial expressions, and dance

stage directions

In the text of a play, directions or actions indicated by the playwright that describe the physical movements or emotional responses of the characters on stage

stage business

physical activities or gestures adapted by performers to enhance their level of characterization and help elucidate a play’s subtext

set

the design, decoration, and scenery of the stage during a play

props

any objects used on stage by actors

act

traditional segmentation of a play that indicates a change in time, action, or location, and helps organize a play’s dramatic structure (Shakespeare’s plays usually have 5 of these)

scene

traditional segmentation of a play’s structure to indicate a change in time or location, to jump from one subplot to another, or to introduce new characters

epilogue

A concluding address by an actor or group of actors that is directed toward the audience

deus ex machine

Latin for “a god emerging from a machine”

unities

the principles of structure that requires a plot’s action to be singular (one major actions), complete in a twenty-four hour period, and to take place in one location