Common Theatre Terms
Small hand held items used by actors to create the period, character, or setting.
Props
Where the play occurs in terms of time and place.
Setting
Projection/Volume
The area of the stage that is the closest to the audience.
Downstage
The audience area.
House
The direction for all actors, musicians, and technicians to go to their proper position and be ready for the beginning of a play or scene.
Places
An organized division in scripts. Often several of them make up an Act.
Scene
Facing as much towards the audience as possible.
Open Up/Cheat Out
The left side of the stage from the actor’s point of view (facing the audience).
Stage Left
The drop farthest upstage in most settings. Also a large curtain, sometimes with a picture or design.
Backdrop
The carefully choreographed appearance of actors on stage after the performance to acknowledge the applause of the audience.
A long speech said by a single actor to themselves, the audience, or to another character.
Monologue
Small actions (such as using a fan, pouring a drink, washing dishes, etc.). Used to fill time, create character, and sometimes to make the action more realistic.
Stage Business
Facing the audience.
Full Front
Narrow curtains in the wings to mask the backstage areas.
Legs
Taking down, changing out, and putting away costumes, props, and sets after a production.
Strike
This character forces change or creates conflict for the protagonist. Often the “bad guy”.
Antagonist
Lines said to the audience that other actors onstage are not supposed to be hearing.
Aside
The set movement of all the actors onstage throughout the play.
A large, usually white, curtain that is lit to create setting and masks the back of the stage behind the set.
Cyclorama (Cyc)