the term used to describe the movements and positions are decided during rehearsal
What is blocking
100
Fast darkening of the stage.
What is Blackout
100
Dialogue supplied by the actor that has not been rehearsed.
What is ad-lib?
100
The last action or dialogue spoken that initiates action for someone else.
What is a cue?
100
Any conceited or temperamental performer.
What is Prima Donna?
200
The actor is turned to be facing or mostly facing the audience.
What is open?
200
To mark the stage floor to indicate the position of the furniture, properties, or scenery so they will be placed properly during a scene shift.
What is spike?
200
The clear pronunciation of dialogue by the actor.
What is articulation?
200
A long speech by a single character, often an important revealing speech.
What is monologue?
200
Bowing and receiving the audience at the end of a show, or sometimes in the opera at the end of act.
What is curtain call?
300
The actor is turned away or mostly away from the audience.
What is closed
300
A large sheet of painted canvas or "muslin" that hangs at the back of a set.
What is Backdrop?
300
A character's reason for doing or saying things in a play.
What is motivation?
300
An awkward and intentional fall on stage.
What is pratfall?
300
A person who writes plays.
What is playwright?
400
An actor is interrupting the audience's view of another action.
What is Cover?
400
The paper/fabric covered frames that make up the walls of the scenery/stage.
What is Flats?
400
The delivery of volume and clarity of voice for communication to an audience.
What is projection?
400
Person or situation that opposes another character's goal or desire.
What is an antagonist?
400
The final few rehearsals just prior to opening night, in which the show is run with full technical elements, full costume, and make-up are worn.
What is a dress rehearsal?
500
Rotation that does not attract attention to itself while managing to keep the actor in view of the audience. The director might say, "Cheat out", or "Cheat right".
What is Cheat?
500
The process of calling out the lighting, sound and scene-change cues during a performance. Usually done by the stage manager through a headset.
What is Calling a Show?
500
A line which the other characters are not supposed to hear but can be heard by the audience.
What is aside?
500
Old fashioned but still used word for actor. Named after Thespis the first greek dramatist.
What is a Thespian?
500
Gestures are used to express ideas with no dialogue.