Theatre terms
The fictional person an actor portrays on stage
character
Person responsible for overall vision of a production
director
This musical retells the Wizard of Oz from the perspective of one character.
Wicked
Play by Shakespeare featuring witches, ambition and a ruler who lets power go to his head. Don't say this in a theatre!
Macbeth
This is how you say "good luck" in theatre
Break a leg!
Stage term to describe where actors move and stand during a scene
blocking
Person who calls cues and keeps backstage running smoothly
Stage manager
Mean Girls
Comedy by Oscar Wilde uses mistaken identity and witty dialogue to mock high society.
The importance of being Earnest.
The technique we use to ensure an actor does not perform back to the audience
Cheat out
A speech delivered by one character, usually revealing thoughts or emotions
monologue
This element of production can help show a character's personality, status, time period, career, etc.
Costume design
Musical tells a love story between conflicting cultures using dance and music. Hint: two gangs
West Side Story
Play with the famous line "to be or not to be"
Hamlet
This theatre mask is the counterpart of tragedy
comedy
When an actor stops acting like their character during a performance
break character
Visual production element that can instantly change mood, atmosphere, or setting.
Lighting design
This musical hit tells the story of one of America's founding fathers
Hamilton
Musical that tells the story of newsboys' strike with an emphasis on dance.
Newsies
Rehearsal practice where lines are read quickly and with little to no movement or emotion
Italian Run
Written instructions to tell actors how to move, speak or react in the script
stage directions
This process allows actors to refine blocking and choice before opening night
Dress rehearsal
This musical famously asks "Who am I?" (Mrs. Robson sings this a lot)
Les Misérables
Musical featuring a Greek chorus, jazz-inspired music and a tragic love story in the underworld.
Hadestown
When at the very end of a show, actors come to stage to bow.
Curtain Call