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Creative Arts > Theatre Vocabulary 01 & 02 > Flashcards

Theatre Vocabulary 01 & 02 Flashcards

1
Q

Blocking

A

The director’s arrangement of the actors’ movements on stage with respect to one another and the stage space

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2
Q

Stage right

A

The actor’s right as he stands onstage facing the audience

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3
Q

Stage left

A

The actor’s left as he stands onstage facing the audience

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4
Q

Downstage

A

Toward the audience

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5
Q

Upstage

A

Away from the audience

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6
Q

Below

A

Toward the audience. Same as “downstage of”

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7
Q

Above

A

Away from the audience. Same as “upstage of”

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8
Q

In

A

Toward the center of the stage

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9
Q

Out

A

Away from the center of the stage

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10
Q

Dress stage

A

A direction requesting the actors to adjust their positions to improve the compositional effect of the stage picture

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11
Q

stage business

A

small actions, such as smoking, eating, slapping, falling, telephoning, etc.

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12
Q

hand props

A

small objects the actors handle onstage, such as teacups, letters, books, and candles

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13
Q

personal props

A

hand props that are carried on the actor’s person and are used by them (watches, spectacles, and cigarette holders); actors are usually responsible for taking care of their own during rehearsal and performances

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14
Q

costume props

A

costume accessories used by the actor in executing business–fans, walking sticks, gloves, and handbags

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15
Q

stage props

A

objects for dressing the staged not used by the actors in executing their business (vases of flowers, lamps, clocks)

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16
Q

prop table

A

tables are usually placed offstage right and left to accommodate props the actors carry on and off the set

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17
Q

ad lib

A

lines supplied by an actor wherever they may be required, as in crowd scenes or to fill in where there would otherwise be an undesirable pause

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18
Q

aside

A

a line that the other actors onstage are not supposed to be hearing

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19
Q

build

A

to increase the tempo or the volume or both in order to reach a climax

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20
Q

cue

A

the last words of a speech, or the end of an action, indicating the time for another actor to speak or act

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21
Q

Curtain line

A

the imaginary line across the stage floor that the front curtain touches when it is closed

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22
Q

Dialogue

A

the lines spoken by the characters in a play

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23
Q

Double

A

to play more than one role in a single play

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24
Q

Ensemble acting

A

a theatrical presentation in which the stress is on the performance of the group rather than the individual

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25
Q

exit

A

to leave the stage; an opening in the setting through which actors may leave

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26
Q

extra

A

a small nonspeaking part: soldiers, townspeople, ladies-in-waiting, and so forth

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27
Q

flats

A

the canvas-covered frames that constitute the walls of a stage setting

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28
Q

flies

A

the space above the stage in which scenery is suspended

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29
Q

fourth wall

A

in an interior setting, the imaginary side of the room toward the audience

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30
Q

front curtain

A

a curtain closing the proscenium opening that hang immediately behind the asbestos. it is usually used as the act drop

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31
Q

given circumstance

A

any unchangeable fact that affects the playing of the scene

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32
Q

green room

A

a room located close to the stage in which the actors may await entrance cues and receive guests after the performance

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33
Q

gridiron

A

a contrivance located in the flies for suspending scenery

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34
Q

ground plan

A

the arrangement of doors, windows, steps, levels, furniture, and so forth for a stage setting; also a diagram showing the arrangements

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35
Q

improvisation

A

spontaneous invention of lines and business by performers

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36
Q

indicating

A

performing an action without an intention

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37
Q

intention

A

the actor’s real reason for performing an action

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38
Q

motivation

A

why the character acts

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39
Q

mugging

A

a derogatory term for exaggerated facial expressions

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40
Q

pacing

A

although some directors attempt to distinguish between pace and tempo, for practical purposes they both mean the rate of speed at which the actors speak their lines, pick up their cues, and perform their actions–the length and number of pauses

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41
Q

places

A

a direction given by the stage manager for everyone to be in his proper position for the beginning of an act

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42
Q

proscenium

A

the wall dividing the stage from the auditorium

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43
Q

proscenium opening

A

the arched opening in the proscenium wall through which the audience can see the stage

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44
Q

run-through

A

an uninterrupted rehearsal of a scene or an act

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45
Q

apron

A

the stage floor between the front edge of the stage and front curtain

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46
Q

arena stage

A

staging in the center of a room with the audience sitting on all sides of the playing area

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47
Q

aside

A

words spoken by a character to the audience rather than to the other characters, who supposedly do not hear the speech

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48
Q

audition

A

a tryout for a part in a play

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49
Q

backdrop/drop

A

a painted canvas or muslin curtain hung from a batten to form part of the scenery

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50
Q

backstage

A

the area behind the scenery not visible to the audience

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51
Q

batten

A

a horizontal pipe suspended over the stage, from which scenery, lights, or curtains are hung

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52
Q

blocking

A

the director’s planned movement for the characters

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53
Q

build

A

to make a costume from scratch; the increase of vocal intensity toward a climactic point

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54
Q

casting

A

the process of selecting actors for various roles

55
Q

cold reading

A

when an actor auditions for a role without having read the script beforehand

56
Q

counter-cross

A

moving in the opposite direction–and out of the way– of another actor who is moving across the stage

57
Q

counterweight system

A

a system that uses lines, cables, and weights to raise and lower the battens that hold scenery, drops, and lights

58
Q

cross

A

when an actors moves from one side of the stage to the other

59
Q

cyc/cyclorama

A

a curtain or wall that surrounds the backs and sides of the stage

60
Q

dimmers

A

controls that change the level of lighting intensity

61
Q

downstage

A

the area of the stage that is closest to the audience

62
Q

ellipsoidal reflector spotlight (ERS)

A

a spotlight with an ellipsoidal reflector, usually hung from the auditorium ceiling to light downstage acting areas

63
Q

external traits

A

characteristics that make up a character’s physical appearance , such as posture, gestures, mannerisms, voice, and clothing

64
Q

floodlights

A

lights that illuminate broad areas of the stage

65
Q

fly space

A

the area above the stage where scenery, drops, and lights are hung when not in use

66
Q

fourth wall

A

the imaginary wall through which the audience views the play

67
Q

Fresnel

A

a spotlight with a step-lens that throws an efficient and soft beam, usually hung from the teaser batten to light upstage areas

68
Q

full back/full front

A

facing completely away from or completely toward the audience

69
Q

gelatins (gels)

A

transparent color sheets inserted into a frame in front of a spotlight or floodlight

70
Q

going up

A

forgetting one’s lines during a rehearsal or performancing; also called blanking

71
Q

greenroom

A

a room where actors relax before and after performances

72
Q

house

A

another name for auditorium, the place where the audience sits

73
Q

house lights

A

auditorium lights used before and after the play and during intermission

74
Q

illusion of the first time

A

the actor’s ability to perform in a show over and over while making it appear that the dialogue and situations are happening for the first time

75
Q

instrument

A

term used to refer to a stage light

76
Q

method acting

A

an approach that calls on the actor to use personal experience and sense memory to develop a character

77
Q

monologue

A

a long speech by one character

78
Q

off book

A

having a part memorized so that a script is no longer needed

79
Q

offstage

A

any part of the stage where the audience cannot see

80
Q

onstage

A

any part of the stage that is visible to the audience

81
Q

pantomime

A

telling a story or presenting an idea through bodily movement and expression rather than words

82
Q

project

A

increase voice and actions so they will carry to the audience

83
Q

prompt book

A

a book (usually a three-ring binder) that contains the script annotated with the director’s ideas and blocking notations

84
Q

props/properties

A

set furnishings; set props include furniture, pictures, ornaments, drapes; hand props are items handled by actors such as books, glasses, etc.

85
Q

proscenium stage

A

a stage with a permanent framed opening through which the audience sees the play

86
Q

raked stage

A

a slanted stage, where upstage is slightly higher than downstage

87
Q

readers theatre

A

a form of drama in which actors are seated and read aloud from a script

88
Q

role

A

a part in a play

89
Q

scenery

A

the background pieces such as flats and drops that create the play’s setting

90
Q

scoring a role

A
  1. marking the script with notes on blocking and delivery 2. analyzing the script as an aid to character development
91
Q

scrim

A

a loose-weave curtain on a batten used for “vision”, “flashbacks” and so on

92
Q

sense memory

A

memory that uses the senses to recapture an experience

93
Q

sightlines

A

imaginary lines indicating visibility of stage areas from different points in the house

94
Q

soliloquies

A

speeches in which one actors speaks aloud revealing his or her inner thoughts

95
Q

stage left

A

the left side of the stage from the actor’s perspective as he/she faces the audience

96
Q

stage right

A

the stage area to the actor’s right as he or she faces the audience

97
Q

teaser

A

the overhead curtain that masks the first batten of lights and that adjusts the height of the proscenium opening

98
Q

thrust stage

A

a sage that juts out into the audience area, with the audience usually sitting around its three sides

99
Q

tormentors

A

side curtains or flats that adjust the proscenium width

100
Q

trapdoor

A

an opening in the stage floor where actors can enter and exit

101
Q

upstage

A

the stage area farthest away from the audience, toward the backstage wall

102
Q

upstaging

A

drawing the audience’s attention to yourself when it should be focused on another character

103
Q

voice-over

A

the voice of an unseen character

104
Q

wings

A

offstage to the right and left of the acting area

105
Q

stealing

A

taking the audience’s attention when it should be elsewhere

106
Q

straight part

A

a role without marked eccentricities

107
Q

strike

A

the direction given by the stage manager to change the setting for another scene or to dismantle it at the end of a performance

108
Q

subtext

A

the actor’s continuous thoughts that give meaning to the dialogue and the stage directions

109
Q

trap

A

an opening in the stage floor

110
Q

walk-on

A

a small part without lines; an extra

111
Q

pick up cues

A

a direction for the actor to begin speaking immediately on cue without allowing an lapse of time

112
Q

pointing

A

giving special emphasis to a word or phrase

113
Q

tag line

A

the last lime of a scene or an act

114
Q

telescoping

A

overlapping speeches so that one actor speaks before another has finished

115
Q

top

A

to build a line higher that the one that preceded it

116
Q

asbestos

A

the fireproof curtain that closes the proscenium opening and separates the stage from the auditorium in case of fire

117
Q

backing

A

a drop or flats used outside an opening in the setting, such as a door or window

118
Q

bit part

A

a small part with few lines

119
Q

call board

A

a backstage bulletin board on which notices of concern to the actors are posted

120
Q

character part

A

a role usually depicting an elderly or unusual or eccentric individual

121
Q

cheating

A

when an actor plays in a more open position than complete realism would permit

122
Q

clear stage

A

a direction to leave the stage given by the stage manager

123
Q

company

A

a group of actors who perform together either in an individual play or an for a season

124
Q

concentration

A

giving complete attention to something

125
Q

crowd scenes

A

scenes involving a number of extras or bit players

126
Q

curtain call

A

the appearance of actors onstage after the performance to acknowledge the applause of the audience

127
Q

curved cross

A

in crossing to a person or an object above or below you, it is necessary to cross in a curve so you do not arrive either upstage or downstage of the person or object

128
Q

cover

A

when another actors moves into a position between another actor and the audience

129
Q

open

A

a position in which the actor is facing toward the audience, or nearly so

130
Q

closed

A

a position in which the actor is turned away from the audience

131
Q

share

A

when two actors are both open to an equal degree

132
Q

give, take

A

when two actors are not equally open and one receives a greater emphasis than the other

133
Q

upstaging

A

when one actor takes a position that forces the second actor to face upstage or away from the audience

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