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