Stage Positions and Areas
Roles
Body Position
Lines and Dialogue
Miscellaneous Terms
100
When an actor is behind an object.
What is below?
100
This person manages all the cues in the play, and is in charge of dealing with the set pieces, making sure they come on and off in time.
What is the stage manager?
100
This body position is facing away from the audience. When the director says to become this word, you turn away from the audience.
What is closed?
100
Lines that are supplied by the actor that have not been rehearsed, and are not part of the script.
What is ad-lib?
100
This is a fall for comedic affect.
What is a pratfall?
200
The band usually plays here during most performances.
What is the pit?
200
This person is in charge of both lights and sound.
What is the technical director?
200
This is to turn towards the audience.
What is open?
200
To make yourself loud enough, and give power to your voice so everybody can hear you onstage.
What is projection?
200
This is looking twice at something, at first not noticing it, but on the second glance being shocked or surprised.
What is a double take?
300
This is the part of the stage that is closer to the audience.
What is downstage?
300
This person is in charge of all the makeup and costumes for the show.
What is the costume designer?
300
This is to perform a small, natural looking movement to become more open.
What is a cheat?
300
An extensive speech by a single character.
What is a monologue?
300
This is somebody who is full of themselves, and is usually the lead role in the play.
What is a primadonna?
400
The areas offstage, to the left and right of the stage, where actors wait for their cue to go onstage.
What are the wings?
400
This person oversees all creative elements of the play, including guidance for the actors, the technical design, and the costume design.
What is the director?
400
This is the term that is used to describe the movements and positions of an actor during rehearsal.
What is blocking?
400
A character's reason for doing something in a play.
What is motivation?
400
This is the person who opposes the main character of the play.
What is the antagonist?
500
This is where the lights and sounds are manipulated during the show.
What is the booth?
500
An actor who is not paid to act.
What is an amateur?
500
To turn completely to the left of the actor, making it o your shoulder faces the audience.
What is profile left?
500
To pronounce each syllable with clarity.
What is articulation?
500
In a play, this is the main character.
What is the protagonist?
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