Stage
Roles
Acting
Directing
Other
100
the front of the stage
down or downstage
100
a play's main characters
leading roles
100
diverting attention from the character that the audience should be watching
scene-stealing
100
words, actions, or technical effects that are signals to all onstage that something is about to happen or be said
cue
100
items placed onstage for use by the actors
set props
200
the back of the stage
up or upstage
200
roles that are slightly less prominent than the leading roles but no less important
supporting roles
200
an approach to acting that relies heavily on acting technique and analysis of the play and characters' personalities
technical or objective acting
200
to ad-lib when smoothing over a mistake or to obstruct the audience's view
cover
200
items carried onstage by an actor
hand props
300
for example, picking up a book or opening a letter onstage
stage business
300
a role played by an actor who resembles the character being portrayed
straight part
300
This term refers to the question, "What would I do if the events in this play were happening to me?"
"magic if"
300
The director who developed a theory of acting known as "The Method"
Konstantin Stanislavski
300
repeatedly casting someone in the same type of role
typecasting
400
supplying lines or actions that can be used as fuel for laughs or to make a point
feeding
400
a role played by an actor who does not necessarily resemble the character being portrayed
character part
400
an approach to acting in which actors actually weep, suffer, or struggle emotionally
emotional or subjective acting
400
the speed at which a play moves along
tempo
400
a young female lead between the ages of sixteen and thirty
ingenue
500
the symbol that represents the center of the stage
C
500
a role used for comparison with another character, usually the protagonist
foil
500
Any improvised stage business or conversation
Ad-Lib
500
using increased tempo, volume, and emphasis to bring a scene to is climax
building a scene
500
a young male lead between the ages of sixteen and thirty
juvenile
M
e
n
u