Download Basic Theatre Terms 6th

Basic Theatre Terms
Hamilton Middle School 6th Grade Theatre Arts
2 Sections
Section 1
Act: 1) Subdivision between sections of a play. A short play is a 'One-Act-er', a play with
one interval has two Acts etc. Acts are subdivided further into Scenes.
2) The thing Actors can do which makes them different from Techies (!!).
Actor: This term can be used for both male and females.
Aisle: A passage through seating.
Audition: A tryout for a part in a play.
Backstage: The area behind the scenery not visible to the audience.
Blocking: The director’s movement instructions for the actors.
Box Office: Where the audience can purchase tickets.
Build: To make costumes, props, and sets from scratch.
Cast: The members of the acting company.
Casting: The process of selecting who will play the characters.
Cheating Out: An actor term for “facing the audience”.
Costumes: Clothes worn by the actors onstage.
Cross: When an actor moves from one side of the stage to another
Curtain Call: At the end of the performance-when the audience acknowledges the
actors for their performance via applause.
Downstage: The area of the stage closest to the audience.
Dress Rehearsal: A full rehearsal including all elements just as it would be for a public
performance.
Section 2
Green Room: A room where actors relax and prepare before and after a performance.
House: Another name for the auditorium. Where the audience is seated.
Improvisation: Where actors make up dialogue and action without preparation or “on
the spot”.
Monologue: A long speech by one character
Off Book: Having the script memorized. No longer using the script onstage.
Offstage: Any part of the stage where the audience can not see.
Onstage: Any part of the stage where the audience can see.
Pantomime: Telling a story or presenting an idea without words.
Project: To increase voice or actions so they will carry out into the audience.
Props: Items that are not classified as parts of the set but are used by the actors-also
known as personal props.
Proscenium Stage: A stage with a permanent framed opening
Reader’s Theatre: A form of performance drama where actors are seated and read
aloud from the script.
Role: A actor’s part in the play.
RunThrough: A rehearsal without interruption
Scene: A small section of the script.
Set: The play’s setting
Stage Left/Right: Left/Right as seen by the actor’s point of view onstage.
Tech: Short for technical rehearsal or a member of the technical crew.
Upstage: The area of the stage furthest away from the audience.
Upstaging: Drawing the audience’s attention to yourself when it should be elsewhere.
Wings: Offstage to the right and left of the acting area.