acoustics
The science of sound as applied to theaters, relating to how sound travels and reverberates.
Out-of-place laughter by an actor on stage.
breaking up
curtain up
The start of a performance, whether or not an actual curtain exists in front of the stage.
The area of the stage closest to the audience.
downstage
monologue
A speech used by an actor to demonstrate his or her ability at an audition.
audition
the opportunity for an actor to display his or her talents when seeking a role in an upcoming production of a play; as a verb, to give a brief performance at such an occasion.
A request that an actor return for an additional audition.
call back
diaphragm
The lower part of the lungs, filling the abdominal space, that supports the voice when actors and singers breathe correctly on stage.
A theatrical production that fails to draw an audience, regardless of whether the critics liked it or not.
flop
off-book
When an actor knows his or her lines and no longer needs to carry the script.
backstage
The entire area behind the stage of a theater, including dressing rooms.
An audition open to anyone, regardless of experience.
cattle call
diction
Clear, sharp pronunciation of words, especially of consonants.
An actor who gives a very broad or exaggerated performance.
ham
offstage
The area immediately behind or to the sides of the stage area; also used more generally to talk about an actor’s everyday life.
blocking
Stage movements by actors, including entrances, exits, and any steps taken in any direction across the stage.
Delivering a speech or acting a scene at an audition without having read it beforehand.
cold reading
director
The person charged with staging a play or musical, who coordinates all onstage aspects of the production, including the performances of the actors.
Gestures, facial expressions, and vocal tricks that a particular actor uses again and again in different roles.
mannerisms
pace
The speed at which a scene is played.
body language
Bodily movements, large or small, which indicate what a person is thinking or feeling.
A line of dialogue, action, or sound, onstage or off, that tells an actor it is time to enter, exit, move across stage, or—most commonly—begin speaking.
cue
double-take
An exaggerated facial response to another actor’s words or actions, usually used for comic effect.
An actor’s ability to sound and/or look like someone else, usually a famous person.
mimicry
Bonus 1000 if Correct :3
pausing for effect
A deliberate pause within or between lines, used by an actor to call special attention to a moment.