S
off the visible stage
offstage
to move onto the stage
enter
the area behind the set or that part of the stage that is not visible to the audience
backstage
on the visible stage
onstage
to leave the stage
exit
to obstruct the view of the audience; use of ad-lib to cover an unexpected, unwanted event during a performance
cover
to stop action; to omit
cut
a movement in a direction opposite to a cross to balance the stage picture
counter-cross
to improvise stage business or conversation
ad-lib
the movement by an actor from one location onstage to another
cross
giving lines and action in such a way that another actor can make a point or get a laugh
feeding
waiting for the audience to quiet down after a funny line or scene
holding for laughs
the last words, action, or technical effect that immediately precedes any line or business
cue
items such as tools, weapons, or luggage carried onstage by an individual player
hand props
an acting role with very few lines; a piece of stage business in one scene
bit
to emphasize a word or line with extra force
hit
getting behind furniture or other actors so that you cannot be seen by the audience
blocking yourself
using dramatic devices such as increased tempo, volume, and emphasis to bring a scene to a climax
building a scene
to draw the maximum response from the audience from comic lines or action
milk
to speak when someone else is speaking
overlap