Spring 2023 Theatre Terms Final Exam

Question 1

Who is Stanislavski?

Answer 1

a Russian stage actor and director who developed the naturalistic performance technique known as the “Stanislavsky Method” or method acting.

Question 2

What did Stanislavski teach us?

Answer 2

taught that actors must build a character’s behavior through specific, concrete, performable actions. The best actions are achievable on the stage, within the world of the play.

Question 3

Objective

Answer 3

what the character wants, or what the character’s goal is.

Question 4

Super Objective

Answer 4

the inner essence, the all-embracing goal, the objective of all objectives, the concentration of the entire score of the role, of all its major and minor units.

Question 5

Tactic

Answer 5

how characters get what they want from other people on stage.

Question 6

Beat

Answer 6

the smallest unit of action in a play (pause)

Question 7

Obstacle

Answer 7

a person or object that stands in the way of your character achieving his or her objective.

Question 8

Magic If

Answer 8

an actor putting him/herself in the character’s shoes within a certain scenario and asking the question ‘how would I react if this happened to me?

Question 9

Given Circumstances

Answer 9

a set of dramaturgical tools an actor might use to determine the wider context of a character or scene. (in the script)

Question 10

Subtext

Answer 10

the underlying meaning or message of a text that isn’t explicitly stated.

Question 11

Props/Costumes

Answer 11

If you wear it, its a costume. If you hold it, its a prop.

Question 12

Cold Reading

Answer 12

reading aloud from a script or other text with little or no rehearsal, practice or study in advance.

Question 13

Time

Answer 13

particular time; time calls are given just before each.

Question 14

Voice

Answer 14

an instrument which allows performers to communicate through speech and song.

Question 15

Slate

Answer 15

the introduction portion of an audition tape or in-person audition for a feature film, television project, voice-over job, or commercial

Question 16

Sides

Answer 16

a small section of the script actors are given before an audition for either a play, film or television show.

Question 17

Crossing

Answer 17

moving from one part of the stage to another.

Question 18

Cheating/Open

Answer 18

is to turn your face or entire body either out to the audience (or camera) to be seen better without completely turning (so it still looks natural, but you are not completely in profile) or to face in to conceal something.

Question 19

Indicating

Answer 19

Showing what your character is feeling or doing without really feeling or doing, leading to a false and shallow performance

Question 20

Proscenium

Answer 20

the frame or arch separating the stage from the auditorium, through which the action of a play is viewed.

Question 21

Black Box

Answer 21

the room is typically, but not always, painted black which gives the appearance of anyplace.

Question 22

Arena/Theatre in the Round

Answer 22

form of theatrical staging in which the acting area, which may be raised or at floor level, is completely surrounded by the audience.

Question 23

Found/Store Front

Answer 23

a space that was not originally built as a theatre.