Theatre and Stage Terms
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joanna chriswellTheatre and Stage Terms
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joanna chriswellName: ______________
Theatre and Stage Terminology
Use the stage glossary to label the following with the correct term.
1. An organizational division in scripts. ___________________
2. An organizational division in scripts. Often several scenes make up an ACT. ___________________
3. The carefully choreographed appearance of actors on stage after the performance to acknowledge the applause of
the audience. ___________________
4. An uninterrupted rehearsal of a scene, act, or the entire play. ___________________
5. The direction for all actors, musicians, and technicians to go to their proper position and be ready for the beginning
of a play or scene. ___________________
6. Readings before a director to determine casting of a play. ___________________
7. Written conversation. ___________________
8. A complete scene or play in a format to be produced by actors and directors. ___________________
9. The major event in a play, the turning point of the story. ___________________
10. What the play as a piece of art is trying to say to the audience. ___________________
11. Wooden units joined together to build the floors for a stage setting. ___________________
12. The clothing worn by the actors that helps determine character, time, theme and mood. ___________________
13. The series of events following the climax. ___________________
14. The final outcome of the play. ___________________
15. The series of events following the initial incident. How the story builds towards its climax. ___________________
16. Where the play occurs in terms of time and place. ___________________
17. A long speech said by a single actor to the audience, or to another character. ___________________
18. Taking down, changing out and putting away costumes, props and sets after a production. ___________________
19. The play revolves around this character. Often the “good guy” but not always. ___________________
20. This character forces change or creates conflict for the protagonist. Often the “bad guy.” ___________________
21. Muslin or plywood covered frames used to build the walls of a stage setting. ___________________
22. Props: Small hand held items used by actors to create the period, character or setting. __________________
23. Person responsible for the set up, actors, and technical cues of a production as it is performed. ___________________
24. Where the director wants the audience to look. The actors point of concentration. ___________________
25. The actors ability to be heard by the audience. ___________________
26. Using a movement or position that may not be realistic but allows the audience to see action clearly. _____________
27. An additional audition for the final actors being considered. Similar to semifinals in sports. ___________________
28. The who, what, when, where, why of the play or scene or character. ___________________
29. The last words or actions indicating the time for another actor to speak or move. ___________________
30. A time when all lights are out or the theater is closed. ___________________
31. A story or action performed without words relying on body language. ___________________
32. Small actions such as using a fan, pouring a drink, etc. Used to fill time, create character, and sometimes to make
the action “more realistic.” ___________________
33. Facing as much towards the audience as possible. ___________________
34. What an actor does when they take control of the scene or take focus of the audience. ___________________
35. The area of the stage that is the furthest from the audience. ___________________
36. The area of the stage that is the closest to the audience. ___________________
37. The right side of the stage from the actor’s point of view (facing the audience.) ___________________
38. The left side of the stage from the actor’s point of view (facing the audience.) ___________________
39. Movement from one area of the stage to another. ___________________
40. The set movement of all the actors onstage throughout the play. ___________________
41. The areas to the left and right of the stage out of view to the audience. A part of the backstage area. ________________
42. An arched opening through which the audience sees the stage. Also a style of theater with the audience seated
predominantly in front of the stage. ___________________
43. Usually the entire stage area not visible to the audience. ___________________
44. The audience area. ___________________
45. The drop farthest upstage in most settings. Large curtain, sometimes with a picture or design. ______________
46. The imaginary line across the stage floor which follows the line of the front curtain. __________________
47. The area above the stage where curtains and set pieces are stored and hidden during a production. _____________
48. The front, often decorative, curtain of a stage. ___________________
49. A large, usually white, curtain lit to create setting and masks the back of the stage behind the set. _________________
50. An opening in the stage floor for actors to pass through to make entrances and exits. ___________________