All the Worlds a Stage
A stage type with the audience on one side. There is a "picture frame" that frames the stage.
Proscenium Stage
During this genre, the audience often experiences "Catharsis" or a purging of emotions:
Tragedy
The structure or framework for the story:
Plot
A silent, frozen picture made with the body.
Tableau
The area behind the acting area where scenery and props may be stored, actor’s use to get from one side of the stage to the other, etc.
Backstage
The type of stage with audience on 3 sides. The stage "juts itself" into the audience area.
Thrust Stage
A mix between tragedy and comedy. Either a tragic story which contains comedic elements or a serious play with a happy ending.
Tragicomedy
The moment of greatest tension in a story:
Climax
A group of actors working together on a production or acting activity.
Ensemble
The stage area closest to the audience (still part of the acting area)
Downstage
The front area on a proscenium stage that is still visible and available for acting even when the curtain is closed.
Apron
Usually have stereotypical characters representing extremes of good and evil. Contains aspects of both comedy and tragedy. Ex. Soap Opera’s
Melodrama
Another name for "Resolution" is the french term:
Denoument
The planning out of movements for actors on stage.
Blocking
The area directly in front of the stage that is used for musicians to play during a show.
(Orchestra) Pit
A stage with audience completely surrounding it.
Arena Stage
A sub-genre of comedy—ridicules the vain and foolish. Poking fun at a theme or idea presenting it in a foolish, ridiculous way. Ex. Scary Movie.
The event that sets the main character or characters on the journey that will occupy them throughout the story--when the conflict is introduced:
Inciting Incident
A type of comedy that is more intellectual in nature and uses verbal wit.
High Comedy
The stage area furthest from the audience (still part of the acting area):
Upstage
Upstage, downstage, stage right, center stage, etc. are all examples of…
Stage Directions
A sub-genre of comedy—often involves sexual mix-ups, mistaken identity, broad verbal humor and physical comedy. Exaggerated characters in improbable situations. Ex. She’s the Man
The 4 types of Conflict:
Human vs. Human, Human vs Nature, Human vs. Self, Human vs. Society
To turn your body out slightly towards the audience, so you can be seen more clearly by the audience:
Cheat out
Back in Shakespeare’s time stages used to be ________________ (on a slope). Today the audience is.
Raked