Stage Directions
This area of the stage is closest to the audience.
What is downstage?
This stage type has the audience primarily on one side, viewing through a framed opening.
What is a proscenium stage?
The planned positions and movements of actors onstage are called this.
What is blocking?
A group of performers who work together to create a performance is called this.
What is an ensemble?
Acting that communicates an action or story through physical expression rather than spoken dialogue is called this.
What is pantomime?
This area of the stage is farthest from the audience.
What is upstage?
This stage type has the audience on three sides.
What is a thrust stage?
In this body position, an actor faces directly toward the audience.
What is full front?
What a character wants to accomplish during a scene is called this.
What is a character objective?
For an imaginary object to remain believable, these two qualities should remain consistent.
What are its location and size?
An actor moves from center stage toward the audience. The actor is moving in this direction.
What is downstage?
This stage type has the audience on all four sides.
What is an arena stage?
In this body position, the audience sees one side of the actor's body.
What is profile?
Two characters step away from each other after an argument. Their distance may communicate this.
What is tension in their relationship?
To make an imaginary suitcase seem heavy, an actor should show these physical qualities while lifting it.
What are body tension and resistance?
On a blocking diagram, the abbreviation USR means this
What is upstage right?
This stage type has the audience on two opposite sides.
What is a traverse stage?
Actors rehearse blocking so that planned movement remains these three things.
What are clear, safe, and consistent?
Taking a step back when another character threatens you is an example of this type of movement
What is purposeful movement?
These help communicate a character's feelings in pantomime without spoken dialogue.
What are facial expressions?
Stage left and stage right are determined from this person's perspective when facing the audience.
Who is the actor?
This stage has audience seating on three sides, unlike arena seating on four sides.
What is a thrust stage?
In this body position, the actor's back is toward the audience
What is full back?
In a silent scene, these two physical choices can communicate that two characters trust each other.
What are welcoming gestures and comfortable proximity?
When repeatedly pantomiming the same imaginary door, the actor should keep the doorknob at these consistent qualities.
What are the same height and location?