Theatre Vocabulary

Theatre Vocabulary Some key words and phrases we will be using this year…

Actor Vocabulary- terms about the person… • Positions on stage- different ways of facing the audience Full Back Quarter Down- Right Full Front Profile Quarter Down- Left Quarter Up- Right Quarter Up- Left

Actor Vocabulary • Areas of the Stage- the stage is divided into nine areas… Backstage Wings Wings Audience

Proscenium- audience on one side Audience

Stadium - Audience on Two Sides Audience Audience

Thrust- audience on three sides Audience Audience Audience

Arena –audience on all sides Audience Audience Audience Audience

Actor Vocabulary • Upstage- away from the audience (when facing the audience) • Downstage- towards the audience (when facing the audience) • Stage Left- the actor’s left (when facing the audience) • Stage Right- the actor’s right (when facing the audience) • Set- the actual furniture, platforms, and flats on stage that help tell the story • Setting- the imaginary place and time the stage area represents; includes details of the place and time, such as the year, the time of day, the weather, region, feeling, and atmosphere

Vocabulary • At-Rise - on stage when the curtain opens, the play begins, or the lights go up • Black Out – the lights go out to signal the end of an act, a scene, or a play • Blocking- the planned movement of all actors onstage (emotional and physical changes in plays or scenes) • Cue- signal to begin action, dialogue, or lighting/sound effect • Dialogue- Spoken words between two or more people • Monologue- one person speaking for a length of time • Prop- an object that can be easily manipulated by an actor, can be imaginary • Ad-Lib – covering for a mistake

Characters – a person or an animal that takes part in a story or play • Flat character – one-sided stereotypical • Round character – fully developed, shows many traits (both good and bad) • Static character – a character who does not change • Dynamic character – changes or grows during the story or play • Characterization – creating and developing a character • Antagonist – a character or force in conflict with a main character, or protagonist • Protagonist – the main character in a literary work; can be a person or animal

Comedy – a light, humorous or satirical play that ends happily • Tragedy – a story or play that results in a catastrophe for the main character(s) • Drama – a story written to be performed by actors or read with imagined action • Screenplays – scripts for movies; include camera angles and allow for more scene changes than a stage play • Teleplays – scripts for TV • Radio plays – performed on radio, no set or costumes, but uses more sound effects

Playwright – a person who writes plays • Scenes – a selection of uninterrupted action in an act of a play • Acts – units of action in a drama • Stage directions – notes included in a drama to describe how the work is to be performed or staged; describes movements, costumes, emotions, sound and light changes, and ways of speaking • Script – written form of a play

Plot – the sequence of events in a story or play; exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution • Given Circumstances or Exposition- all of the information given at the beginning of the play which tells about the setting, characters, and situation • Conflict – a struggle between opposing forces; the problem in a story, novel, or play that causes action • External Conflict – a struggle between two people or a person vs. nature • Internal Conflict – a struggle in the mind of a character (to make a decision, take action, or overcome a feeling • Resolution – the outcome of the conflict in a plot; the solution or end to a story, novel, or play

Theatre Vocabulary