Theater Terms
This imaginary wall separates actors from the audience.
What is the 4th wall?
This person is considered the first actor in history.
Who is Thespis?
This musical tells the story of the founding fathers.
What is Hamilton?
She directed The Lion King on Broadway.
Who is Julie Taymor?
This concept is the emotional release an audience feels after tragedy.
What is catharsis?
Term for what a character really means beneath their dialogue.
What is subtext?
A hymn sung to Dionysus and the root of Greek drama.
What is dithyramb?
She is the mother in 'Water by the Spoonful'.
Who is Odessa?
These three men are the best-known Greek tragedians.
Who are Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides?
Stanislavski's tool for actors to imagine themselves in a role.
What is the Magic If?
Planned movements of actors on stage.
What is blocking
The chorus in Greek plays primarily served this purpose.
What is to comment on the action/provide context?
Theme of identity is central to this play about a boy with autism.
What is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time?
They coordinate cues, safety, and scheduling during shows.
Who is the stage manager?
Name 3 of Aristotle’s 6 elements of drama.
What are plot, character, theme (or any 3 of: plot, character, theme, diction, music, spectacle)?
A recurring element that supports a theme.
What is a motif?
Excessive pride, often a tragic flaw.
What is hubris?
This play uses puppetry to represent animals.
What is The Lion King?
This concept is the emotional release an audience feels after tragedy.
What is catharsis?
A physical, disciplined acting method rooted in Japanese tradition.
What is the Suzuki Method?
Lighting that shifts to reflect mood or time.
What is dynamic lighting
A comic play featuring satyrs and crude humor.
What is a satyr play?
Written by Sophocles and features a defiant daughter.
What is Antigone?
Stanislavski's tool for actors to imagine themselves in a role.
What is the Magic If?
This theory explains how audience members can watch without real fear.
What is the Safe Distance Hypothesis?