Acting Terms Flashcards
Break a leg
Term for good luck because of superstition
Aside
Breaking the forth wall, speaking to the audience without other characters hearing
Monologue
Long speech by characters
Duet
Only two people
Scene
Subdivision of a play where the time and setting don’t change
Beat
Pause for effect
Cue
Signal for a course of action
Blackout
All lights fade to black besides what is needed for safety
Pinnacle
When the tensions are at their highest and the theme is revealed
Believability
Quality that makes a line realistic
Line
Line of dialogue
Call from an actor when they’ve forgotten their next line
Soliloquy
Long speech on stage given to the audience
Blocking
Instructions given to an actor allowing them to communicate subtext and character
Any planned movement on stage
Stage business
Small actions of an actor to communicate subtext and character
Breaking curtain
When an actor, technician, or other person walks across the stage to get backstage or across stage while house is open
Don’t do
Projection
Making your voice loud and clear
Diction/ enunciate
Articulating by speaking clearly and distinctly within a performance with accurate pronunciation
Characteristics
Features or qualities that can be shown through dialogue, movements, costumes, and make-up
Portray
Representing a character
Constructive feedback
Positive feedback to benefit a performance
Pace
Rate of speed at which you move or speak
The speed or flow of a scene or show
Focus
To fix attention on something
Blocking and starring can direct and pull focus
Characterization
Representation of a character through vivid actions, gestures, movement, and speech
