Parts of the Theatre
Downstage
The most common type of theatre, inspired by the original Greek theatres.
Proscenium Theatre
Projection
The movement of actors on stage
Blocking
Titus Andronicus
William Shakespeare
The areas on either side of the stage, where actors and set pieces are hidden and wait
Wings
This stage is surrounded on three sides by audience
Thrust
The speed at which an actor delivers their lines
Pace
How an actor uses their body, movement, and presence to portray a character, including gestures, posture, gait, and facial expressions
Physicality
The Crucible
Arthur Miller
The area of stage in front of the grand drape
Apron
This type of stage is surrounded by audience on all sides, allowing actors to engage at all angles.
Arena, or Theatre in the Round
The clear articulation of words, helping to convey meaning and be understood by the audience.
Diction
Nonverbal movements used by actors to convey a character's emotions, actions, and relationships with other characters and the audience
Gesture
Fences
August Wilson
The "frame" through which the audience views the show
Proscenium Arch
This type of theatre can be easily adapted to fit the needs of the production
Black Box, or Flexible Theatre
Resonance
The impression of character and/or attitudes conveyed in the manner in which an actor walks and moves in the space.
Gait
The Seagull
Anton Chekhov
Short drape curtains that mask light equipment and rigging
Borders
The production is staged in a location that enhances or supports elements of the context or script.
The rise and fall of pitch within a sentence, which can add emphasis and convey emotion
Intonation
A system for describing, conceptualizing, and interpreting human movement, used in various fields like dance, acting, and even therapy to understand and express emotions and intentions through movement.
Laban Movement Analysis
A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry