Theatre Vocab 1

The aspects of character that are beyond the character’s or actor’s control: age, sex, state of health, background etc.

Detailed information revealing the facts of a plot.

A play that is a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece.

The areas of the stage not in view of the audience.

The incidents of a play as expressed through the dialogue and movement of the characters.

A long speech by a single character.

The highness or lowness of voice

A person or a situation that opposes another character’s goals or desires.

Coverings worn over the face or part of the face of an actor to emphasize or neutralize facial characteristics.

A fast darkening of the stage.

The planning and working out of the movements of actors on stage.

The orientation of the actor to the audience (e.g., full front, right profile, left profile).

Hinting at future events.

The orchestral beginning of a musical, opera, or play.

Theatre that is produced with the primary goal of making money for investors.

The main subject or idea.

A specific moment in an actor’s speech.

The stage area toward the audience.

The draperies or flats that hide backstage from the audience's view.

To bring a show back on stage, usually an old favorite, after a lapse of time.

Center stage, downstage, stage left, stage right, and upstage are all what?

The right side of the stage from the perspective of an actor facing the audience.

Any light that is coming from downstage of an actor.

A religious drama.

Practice sessions in which the actors and technicians prepare for public performance through repetition.

The pronunciation of words, the choice of words, and the manner in which a person expresses himself or herself.

The placement and delivery of volume, clarity, and distinctness of voice for communicating to an audience.

A comedy with exaggerated characterizations, abundant physical or visual humor, and, often, an improbable plot.

The final resolution of the conflict in a plot.

The part of a plot consisting of complications and discoveries that create conflict.

The place backstage in a theatre where company rules, announcements, notes, and messages are posted

The simple religious drama originating in the 10th century and evolving over 600 years into the great European plays.

Interrelated conditions in which a play exists or occurs.

The art and technique of bringing the elements of theatre together to make a play.

A character’s goal or intention.

A group of actors and technicians working on a show.

A large sheet of of painted canvas or muslin that usually hangs at the back of a set.

The stage representation of an action or a story; a dramatic composition.

Theatre that is done by schools, colleges, and universities in their training programs for students.

A spontaneous style of theatre through which scenes are created without advance rehearsal or a script.

A narrative given by a character alone onstage, usually reflective.

(noun) The major division of a play; (verb) To perform by representing a character in a play.

To improvise words and actions.

Used as a noun, the stage area away from the audience; used as a verb, to steal the focus of a scene.

A drama in which a character becomes a symbol for a concept or idea.

A program usually containing information about the play, cast, crew, supporters, and advertisers.

The clear and precise pronunciation of words.

An American training school devoted to teaching the Stanislavski system of acting.

A special backdrop that can appear both opaque and transparent, depending how the light hits it.

Printed words, including dialogue and the stage directions for a script.

An overhanging canopy or lighted billboard over the main entrance of a theatre which advertises the current production.

The conversation between actors on stage.

The area in which the light and sound operators sit, usually in rear of the theatre.

The purification or purgation of the emotions (such as pity, fear, grief, etc.) affected in a work of tragedy.

The person responsible for designing the set.

Means of communication characterized by the use of technology (e.g., radio, television, and the Internet).

A silent and motionless depiction of a scene created by actors, often from a picture (plural tableaux).

A character’s reason for doing or saying things in a play.

A recurring thematic element or a pattern of repetition of design elements in a work of art.

The particular literary structure and style in which plays are written.

The intervals between the acts or scenes allowing for set changes audience respite, costume change, etc.

The tempo of an entire theatrical performance.

The left side of the stage from the perspective of an actor facing the audience.

A professional representative who take care of bookings and negotiate performance contracts.

A light musical-dramatic work with usually an inconsequential plot, cheerful music and spoken dialogue.

The time period during which the actors are rehearsing and the show is building and designing the show.

The theatre of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and often extended to the close of the theatres in 1640.

The technique of calling upon your own memories to understand a character’s emotions.