Physical Acting
Breakdown of a Script/Play
Character Study
Genres and Other Acting Tools
Types of Stages
100

A distinctive and individual gesture or trait; idiosyncrasy (unusual habits or characteristics).

What is a Quirk/Mannerism?

100

An organized reading of a script in which the speaking parts, stage directions, voiceover, and scene headings are read out loud.

What is a Read-Through?

100

The art of developing a character; bringing a character to life.

What is Characterization?

100

A genre of dramatic performance having a light or humorous tone that depicts amusing incidents and in which the characters ultimately triumph over adversity.

What is a Comedy?

100

The most common and traditional type of theatre, with the audience sitting on ONE side of the stage. The opening of the stage is framed on the outside.

What is Proscenium Theatre?

200

The actor’s basic stage positioning or movement, given to the actor by the director or used in self-direction.

What is Blocking?

200

The division of an act or of the play itself. Normally represents actions happening in one place at one time.

What is a Scene?

200

A goal or a particular need or want of a character.

What is an Objective?

200

A genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character.

What is a Tragedy?

200

A large, simple room painted black, with no fixed seating. Allows the director to be creative with ANY seating arrangement and blocking.

What is a Black Box Theatre?

300

Extending your voice outward beyond you. To throw the voice to the farthest person in the audience.

What is Projecting?

300

A large part of a play defined by elements such as rising action, climax, and resolution. It includes multiple scenes within it.

What is an Act?

300

A person, place, or thing that gets in the way of characters reaching their objective.

What is an Obstacle?

300

A type of comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable.

What is a Farce?

300

A central performance area completely surrounded by the audience on ALL sides.

What is an Arena/Theatre-in-the-Round?

400

To turn your face or entire body out to the audience to be seen better without completely turning.

What is Cheating/Cheat Out/Cheat In?

400

An instruction written into the script of a play, indicating stage actions, movements of performers, or production requirements.

What are Stage Directions?

400

The means (strategy or plan) by which a character seeks to achieve their objective, the selection of _________ are based on the obstacle presented.

What is a Tactic?

400

The speed at which a play or scene is performed. It can be used to create a sense of urgency, to heighten drama, or to slow down the action to create a more reflective mood.

What is Pace/Pacing?

400

A performance platform that projects outward into the audience. Audience members sit on THREE sides of the stage.

What is a Thrust Stage?

500

To draw attention away from another actor. To force (an actor) to face away from the audience by staying upstage.

What is Upstaging?

500

The underlying actions and events that have happened before the play, story, or devised piece begins.

What are Given Circumstances?

500

Reasons why a character behaves or reacts in a particular way in a scene or play; the reason for an action.

What is Motivation?

500

The action or words that signals what happens next.

What is a Cue?

500

A theatre performance floor that slopes upward, which gets taller further away from the audience.

What is a Raked Stage?

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