Stage Terms
The imaginary wall through which the audience watches the action of the play
The fourth wall
The central artist of the theatre who creates a dramatic story on the stage through words and gestures
Actors
The offstage areas to the right and left of the set
Wings
To move from one position to another on stage
Cross
UC
Upstage center
A long range lighting instrument capable of picking up or following a person moving on the stage
Follow spot light
To improvise stage business or conversation, especially when an actor has missed or forgotten lines and other actors must supply the missing information
Ad-lib
Narrow drapes, usually hung in pairs, stage left and stage right, to mask the backstage area
Legs
The last words, action, or technical effect that immediately precedes any line or business
Cue
DC
Downstage center
A transparent color medium placed on lighting instruments to produce different colors
A Gel
A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.
Antagonist
A large square room with black walls and a flat floor
Black box theater
To stop action
Cut
RC
Right Center
A stencil placed in the gel holder of a spotlight to project a pattern
A Gobo
An advocate or champion of a particular cause or idea
Protagonist
A stage without a proscenium arch and with seats on three or four sides, allowing close association between actors and spectators
Arena Theater
Language spoken by 2 or more characters in a play
Dialogue
DL
Downstage Left
Sets made up of three flats, shaped as triangles mounted on a wheeled carriage that can be pivoted
Periaktoi (Prisms)
An actor
Thespian
A white background curtain on which lights or other effects can be projected
Cyclorama (Cyc)
A speech by a single actor
Monologue
C
Center stage