Theatre Speak

THEATRE SPEAK

FOR ASPIRING ACTORS (AND THEIR FAMILIES)

A guide to theatre terminology

 

              Well now you’re in theatre, and we really hope the bug bites you. But here are all these people using strange words and phrases in ways you’ve never heard. Like what the heck is a green room, and why isn’t it green? Here’s a listing of some common theatre terms and their definitions to help you understand what is going on.

 

ACT:	1. A major division or part of a play frequently (but not always) separated from other Acts by an intermission (short break). An act usually encompasses a period or time  or a location and all action that occurs within the time period or location. An act is usually comprised of one or more scenes. Most plays are of 1, 2, or 3 acts but may be more. 2. the art and craft of portraying a character, other than yourself, in a play.
APRON:	The part of the stage in front of the curtain.
ARENA THEATRE  (THEATRE IN THE ROUND):	A type of theatre layout in which the audience is seated all around the stage with the acting being done in the center. Note: this is more difficult to stage and to act but, when done well makes the audience feel more a part of the action.
BACK WALL:	The wall farthest away, or up stage, from the audience. This could be either the stage wall or the wall of a scene.
BACK STAGE:	Any part of the stage area not seen by the audience. Usually including the wings on either side and the area behind the backdrop. Theatre people often use the term to include the green room, dressing room, scene shop and all areas of thetheatre not seen by the public.
BLOCKING:	Laying out the movement and positions of the actors on stage at any specific time within the show. 2. Giving the actors directions for their movements and positions during a show.
CALL:	The time designated for actors or techs to be at the theatre for rehearsal or show.
CATWALK:	A walkway above the floor either on stage or in  the house usually used to work on lights or set pieces from overhead.
CHOREOGRAPHER:	The dance designer and dance director of a show.  An accomplished dancer who will develop the dances for a show and teach the dances to the actors.
CHORUS:	A group of actors who support the main speaking roles by being a presence on stage for the actors and audience to react to. A chorus or some of its members may have individual lines or speak as a group or may not speak at all. Also called “villagers” or “townspeople” etc. A chorus may be one person. In musicals, the chorus sings in the background or does some songs as a group.
CLOSED:	A position taken by an actor in which he/she is facing away from the audience or to the side in a way that their face and front are not easily seen by the audience.
CROSS:	A stage movement where an actor moves from side to side on stage either a short distance or completely across the stage.
COSTUMES:	Clothing worn on stage by the actors to assist in portraying their characters. Costuming can set the time period, social position, location, and many other aspects of the character being portrayed. Good costuming can also set the tone of the play through color, relationship to the characters etc.
CYCLORAMA (CYC):	A large flat curtain extending completely across the open area of the stage serving as a backdrop to mask the back wall of the stage. Cyc’s frequently have lights projected on them to simulate the sky or a visual effect.
DIRECTOR:	The person whose job it is to interpret the script of a play and “direct” or coordinate the movements and speech of the actors in order to tell the story to the audience in a clear, artistic, entertaining way. The director also coordinates the work of the choreographer, music and tech directors, costumer, props master and all other specialized skills to insure that the production is smooth and unified.
DOWN STAGE:	That part of the stage closest to the audience. The direction toward or facing the audience.
DRESS REHEARSAL:	The final tech rehearsal(s) of a play done in full costumes and makeup to allow the actors to become used to being and moving in costume and allow the production staff to visualize the play in its final form.
DROP:	1. A flat set piece or curtain which is suspended from an arrangement pulleys and wires attached to the ceiling of the stage, often intended to be raised and lowered with scene changes. Drops often have scenes or settings painted on them to depict a location that would be to complicated or costly to create or to save space on stage.  2. Anything that is lowered or raised from the flys.
ENCORE:	A repeat of a particular musical number by the performer(s) to show appreciation for an exceptional audience response to a show. This is not often done in musical theatre but is nearly always done in concerts.
ENTRA’ ACTE:	A brief musical prelude to the second act or that portion of the show following the intermission
FLY (noun):	1. also Flys, fly space: The area above the stage out of sight of the audience from which drops, curtains, etc. are lowered. 2. Another word for drop or any set piece that is raised or lowered.
FLY (verb):	1. To raise or lower a set piece, drop or even an actor by use of pulleys and wires. 2. To move an actor or object around on stage using pulleys and wires from the flys or grid. 3. What Chanticleer’s bats do at sometimes inappropriate times.
FOLLOW SPOT:	A spotlight mounted on a stand designed to be moved around to its light can follow an actor on stage.
GEL: (or COLOR MEDIUM)	A colored filter used to change the color or effect of lights on a stage.  Nearly all lights on a stage are “gelled” in some way even if they look white.
GRAND CURTAIN:	Also called the “Grand” or “Main”. The primary curtain separating the stage from the audience used to hide the set until the show starts.
GREEN ROOM:	A waiting room or lounge used by the actors after they are in costume and makeup to wait for their cue to go on stage. The term “green” relates to their state of readiness not the color of the room. (They’re very seldom green)
GRID:	The network of beams and trusses in the ceiling of the stage or fly space from which the pulleys, wires, drops etc. are suspended.
HOUSE:	1. The theatre building. 2. That part of the theatre building occupied by the audience, including the auditorium, lobby etc. 3. The number of people in the audience.
INTERMISSION:	A break near the middle of a show to allow the audience a chance to stand up, stretch and refresh themselves. (More importantly, a chance for the actors to get a short break and major scene changes to be made)
MASK:	A curtain, flat, or any other device used to hide lights, rigging or other equipment on stage, or to hide the backstage areas
MUSIC DIRECTOR:	The person responsible for interpreting and coordinating the music in a show and coaching the actors and musicians in the music for a show.
OPEN:	The position taken by an actor in which he or she is facing the audience or their face or front are in view of the audience and their bearing is open.
ORCHESTRA:	1. A group of musicians playing together as the musical background for a theatrical work. 2. The audience seating on the main floor of a multi level theatre.
OVERTURE:	A musical prelude or introduction to a theatrical work, usually a musical production. In most cases the overture consists of short pieces from each musical number in the show.
PROSCENIUM:	The type of stage in which an arch separates the audience from the stage almost like a window through which the audience can view the action on stage. The arch at the edge of the stage is called the Proscenium arch.
PRODUCER:	The person or group responsible for managing the business or financial aspects of a show including funding the costs of the show, setting the budget etc.
PROPS:	Short for properties. Moveable set pieces, decorations, and hand held items used by the actors. Any item used by a person on stage as part of the show. The telephone a character uses on stage or a cup a character drinks from on stage are examples of hand props.
REPRISE:	Replaying a specific part of the show, often a specific musical number, to emphasize a theme or a part of the plot.
SCENE:	1. A division of an “ACT” in a production. normally consisting of a specific period of time or piece of action. Transition between scenes is often done by a change in lighting or scenery while the audience is watching or by a blackout then bringing the lights up. Sometimes the audience is not even aware of moving to a different scene.  2. The picture presented on stage by the set, lighting, actors, and effects,
SCRIM:	A curtain or piece of cloth which can be seen through or appear solid depending on whether it is lit from the front or from behind. This can make the scrim very useful for special effects or scene changes by lighting in front for one scene and behind for the next.
SET:	A construction on stage to simulate a particular location such as a room, a forest, or a castle. Any combination of elements which make the audience  believe they are in a specific place.
SPIKE:	A small piece of tape on the floor of the stage to mark the location of a set piece, prop, or even an actor. Spikes insure that the object or person gets into the exact same place and position every performance.
SPOT (noun):	A specific marked location on a stage for an actor or a set piece to be placed.
SPOT (verb):	To place an item (or person) on their specific location.
STAGE LEFT:	The area to an actor’s left when they are facing the audience. That part of the stage to the left of center as seen by an actor facing the audience.
STAGE MANAGER:	The person actually responsible for the running of the show during performances. The stage manager insures that all parts of the show; actors, lighting, sound, scene changes etc. flow smoothly together and occur at the right times. The stage manager is a critical part of the show from the very beginning, handling much of the show’s day to day business, leaving the director free to direct the show.
STAGE RIGHT:	The area to an actor’s right when they are facing the audience. That part of the stage to the right of center as seen by an actor facing the audience.
STRIKE:	The process of dismantling a stage set. This is usually done immediately after the audience has left the theatre on the closing night (or day) of a performance. The actors are traditionally to help with the strike in community theatre.
TEASER:	A hanging running across the stage immediately behind the arch to hide the lights or drops.
TECH (noun):	A person involved in the technical side of the show, such as set crew, lighting crew, light board operators, sound system operators, props master, etc. All come under the supervision of the Tech Director. Also called Techies (often other names by actors) They are every bit as vital and important to a show as are the actors, and their performances can be as artistic even though they are seldom seen.
TECH (verb):	To perform the technical jobs in a show such as shifting sets, running rigging, lights or sound.
TECH DIERCTOR:	The person responsible for the construction of, and often the design of, the set for a show. Also for the selection of and coordination and supervision of the tech crew.
TECH REHEARSAL:	Rehearsal(s) of the technical aspects of a production including set changes, sound and light cues, and all the fine details needed to make the show run smoothly.  “First Tech” or “Tech Rehearsal” is often the first opportunity to put the technical elements and the acting elements of the show together at the same time.
THRUST:	A platform or projection extending from the front of the stage out toward the audience as an acting or performance space.  Usually it is at the same level as the stage.
TORMENTER:	Hangings on either side of the stage to mask the wings, side lights and off stage equipment from the audience.
UP STAGE:	That area of the stage between the center of the stage and The back wall. Moving away from the audience on stage.
WAGON:	A rolling platform on which a set or part of a set is constructed allowing the set piece to be moved around on stage easily.
WINGS:	The areas off stage on either side of the stage and hidden from the audience. These are areas where actors wait for their cue to go on stage and set pieces are kept until needed on stage.