Vocab
the parts of the theatre behind the proscenium, or behind the stage setting
Back of House
a period when all stage lighting is turned off
Blackout
the complete absence of stage lighting; the act of turning off or fading out stage lighting.
blackout
the principal avenue running through the theatre district of New York City near Times Square, and thus the district, and collectively the theatres on or near this avenue; by extension, the commercial theatre of New York.
Broadway
the actors taking part in a play, film, or other production.
Cast
one who designs (and often directs) the dances and stage movement in a musical production
Choreographer
the composition and arrangement of dances
choreography
the last words of one actor's spoken dialogue, which the next actor to speak needs as a signal to begin; the spoken or written command given to technical staff to carry out a particular operation during a performance.
cue
the area toward or at the front of a theatrical stage
Downstage
a representation on a stage by actors before an audience; a piece of writing, particularly one of marked emotional intensity
Drama
a call by an audience for the reappearance of performers in order to repeat a portion of a musical or dance number; an additional performance following the conclusion of a show
Encore
a cast of characters, except for the principals; the grouping of the whole stage picture, involving actors and set; the chorus in a musical, sometimes including soloists; said of acting or a cast in which group interaction and support is more important than individual performances.
Ensemble
an imaginary wall between the cast and audience which completes the area in which a piece is set
Fourth Wall
to improvise is to invent lines or business not in a script; to ad-lib
improvise
a principal role; also an actor who plays a principal role
lead
a musical or dramatic performance or social or public event held in the daytime and especially the afternoon
matinee
a song or dance in a musical production, so called because each musical selection is numbered for the convenience of the orchestra
number
an actor or cast who has memorized their lines; to memorize ones lines to the end of no longer requiring the use of a script to perform
off book
towards the nearest side of the stage from the center; the area out of sight of the audience
off-stage
the height to which a voice is raised in tone; to raise or lower the voice, not in volume, but according to the musical scale
pitch
a coarse gauze-like material used as a drop.
Scrim
the left part of a stage from the viewpoint of one who faces the audience
stage left
the right part of a stage from the viewpoint of one who faces the audience
stage right
pertaining to acting, or an actor. Derived from the name of Thespis, a Greek tragic poet of the sixth century BC, who is said to have first introduced an actor into dramatic presentations, which until then had been performed only by a chorus with a leader.
thespian
a building or area for dramatic performances; a place or sphere of enactment of usually significant events or action
theater