Theater Vocabulary

The characteristics of a voice, such as shrill, nasal, raspy, breathy, booming, etc.

a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending

Memories of sights, sounds, smells, tastes & textures used to help define a character situation

To imitate or represent life, by dramatic literature, in performance; location of performance

Clothing worn by an actor on stage during a performance

A reading of a script done by actors who have not previously reviewed the play

The orientation of the actor to the audience (ie. full front, right profile, etc)

The conversation between actors on stage

A character's goal or intention

A spontaneous style of theater through which scenes are created without rehearsal or script

The height of an actor's head as determined by his/her body position (ie. sitting, standing)

A person who writes plays

The stage representation of an action or a story

The center of the area defined as the stage

The written text of a play

The person who oversees the entire process of staging a production

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

A signal, verbal or physical, indicating something else,such as line of dialogue or an entrance

The development & portrayal of personality through thought, action, dialogue, costuming, makeup

Two or more people working together in a joint intellectual effort

A personality or role an actor/actress re-creates

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

A rehearsal moving from start to finish without stopping for corrections or notes

The highness or lowness of voice

A male or female person who performs a role in a play, work of theater, or movie

Creative process of developing & executing aesthetic or functional design in a production

Cosmetics & hairstyles an actor wears on stage to emphasize facial features, history, etc.

The tempo of an entire theatrical performance

A theatrical work that is intentionally humorous

A long speech by a single character

Items carried on stage by an actor; small items on the set used by the actors

The stage area toward the audience

A group of theatrical artists working together to create a theatrical production

Practice sessions in which actors & tech crew prepare for public performance through repetition

Placement & delivery of volume, clarity, & distinctness of voice for communicating to audience

Theater that focuses on public performance in front of audience

Final rehearsals prior to opening night, run with full technical elements, costumes, makeup,etc

The degree of loudness or intensity of a voice

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

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

An expressive movement of the body or limbs

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

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

The director's liaison backstage during rehearsal and performance; runs performances

A type of entertainment containing music, songs and dance

Opposition of persons or forces giving rise to dramatic action

The area where actors perform

Noncompetitive games designed to develop acting skills

The backstage technical crew responsible for running the show

The pronunciation of words

A theatrical performance focusing on small presentations usually not intended for public view