NRHS – Theatre I Dr. Neighbours

1. NRHS – Theatre IDr. Neighbours Common Theatre Language ~ Let’s all talk the same, and know what one another means ~

2. Theatre / Theater • Theatre • USE THIS TERM • (Dr. N’s pet peeve) • This means the “entity” of theatre; theatre as art; the job of theatre; the essence of theatre • Theater • A building • Movie theatre • i.e. Harborview • Do not ever misuse this word

3. Illusion of the First Time- An actor’s tool to make everything new and fresh • Script - The text the playwright gives the actor to work from • Side– A portion of the script; usually used for auditions or when the script is large and the actor only has a bit part. • 16 Bars - In music, this is the usual amount that an actor will sing at the audition Invisible fourth wall This is the imaginary wall between actors and the audience

4. Counter - A type of blocking move where an actor moves to open a window for other actors • Counter Cross- A blocking move across the stage to another position • Windows - Creating pockets on actors onstage so that every actor can be seen • Open Up - Physically turn your body so the audience can see you

5. Proscenium-Type of stage that is shaped like a picture frame • Arena or “In the Round” - Type of stage where the audience surrounds the actors and the action taking place onstage • Thrust - Type of stage that juts out from the proscenium arch 3 Main stages

6. Black Box - Type of theatre (usually used for experimental theatre) where the stage and audience positions can be changed • Prop - Anything the actor picks up with his hands and moves around the stage • Set - The scenery, furniture, etc. that make up what the audience sees onstage; doesn’t move

7. Upstage - The part of the stage farthest from the audience • Downstage - The part of the stage closest to the audience • Center Stage - The centermost part of the stage • Stage Right - Part of the stage to the actors’ right and the audience’s left • Stage Left - Part of the stage to the actors’ left and the audience’s right Basic stage directions

8. Improvisation - No set script; make it up as you go along • Motivation - Why your character does what they do • Pantomime- Using the body to tell a story without words • Reacting - What the actor who is not speaking does while other actors are speaking • Exposition- What we know about each character at the beginning of the action • Protagonist- The hero of the show; main character • Antagonist - Whoever is against the hero/main character • Chorus - (Usually in Greek theatre) the characters without names that move and speak together • Ensemble- All the actors that are not principal players • Climax - The highest point of the action – the turning point

9. ContextThe setting Text The actual language What is given Subtext What is meant The meaning and interpretation