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Theatre 1 Vocabulary > Vocabulary > Flashcards

Vocabulary Flashcards

1
Q

Emotional Memorty

A

One of the most famous aspects of the Stanislavski method. Through training the actor is able to recall a memory of an emotion similar to the one the character on stage is to feel.

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2
Q

Emphasis

A

Highlighting or accenting a portion or feature of production. An actor may emphasize a key line or word.

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3
Q

Entrance

A

Coming on stage in view of the audience. Also, an opening where an actor may enter or exit.

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4
Q

Exit or Exeunt

A

Leaving the playing area of the stage.

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5
Q

Epilogue

A

A speech written to be delivered to the audience at the end of the play.

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6
Q

Exposition

A

Material in the play that is included to give the audience background. It is often given at the beginning of the play.

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7
Q

Extras

A

Actors who appear in a play with no lines and little characterization. They are frequently needed in crowd scenes.

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8
Q

Farce

A

A type of comedy in which unlikely events and ridiculous behavior are used to cause laughter.

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9
Q

Flat

A

A light wooden frame covered by canvas and painted as scenery.

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10
Q

Flies

A

The space over the stage where scenery may be flown by a system of weights and pulleys.

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11
Q

Floor Plan

A

An outline drawing of the set as it would be seen from above.

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12
Q

Follow Spot

A

A spotlight that is not permanently focused by may follow the action of an actor around the stage.

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13
Q

Fourth Wall

A

The imaginary wall that separates the audience and the playing area. The audience, in effect, views the play through the fourth wall.

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14
Q

Front (front of the house or out front)

A

The auditorium/lobby as distinguished from the stage area.

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15
Q

Green Room

A

Traditionally, the gathering place of actors backstage, often used for social functions.

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16
Q

Grid (gridiron)

A

A system of beams and steel supports for flying scenery.

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17
Q

Heads Up!

A

A warning on stage indicating that a piece of scenery is being flown in or out.

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18
Q

Hold

A

To stop the action or dialogue of the play because of applause or laughter.

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19
Q

House

A

The part of the theatre where the audience is seated.

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20
Q

Improvisation

A

A performance without any predetermined plan other than from the actor’s own creative spirit.

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21
Q

In

A

To the center of the stage.

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22
Q

Intermission

A

A short break between the acts of a play.

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23
Q

Kill

A

To spoil the planned effectiveness of a line, movement, effect, etc., usually by miscalculation in timing.

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24
Q

Lines

A

either (1) the speeches of the actors, or (2) the sets of ropes used in the grid to fly scenery.

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25
Mask
To conceal from the view of the audience any area of the stage not intended to be seen.
26
Method, The
An American school of acting from Constantin Stanislavski which stresses the internal development of the actor's resources for the purpose of properly motivating the character.
27
Monologue
A long speech made by one actor.
28
Mood
The dominant atmosphere created by the various elements in the play.
29
Off Stage
The area not visible to the audience.
30
On Stage
The playing area intended to be seen by the audience.
31
Open
To turn or adjust the body position so the actor may play more directly to the audience.
32
Overlap
To speak or move before the indicated cue.
33
Pace
Overall rate of the production: reading lines, movement, business
34
Pantomime
The acting out of a scene or story without words.
35
Places!
A command to actors and technicians to get in their proper places in order to begin a scene or performance.
36
Play Script
The copy of the play including the dialogue and actor's stage directions.
37
Plot
The story of the play that is developed by the author in a logical sequence of events.
38
Prologue
An explanatory speech that comes before the opening of the play.
39
Project
To make dialogue or movement clear to the audience through proper accentuation and intensification.
40
Props (properties)
All furniture, set pieces, objects seen on stage. Large pieces are stage props and carry-on pieces are hand props.
41
Proscenium
The wall and arch that set off the stage area from the audience.
42
Protagonist
The central figure of the play, from the Greek meaning first actor.
43
Ramp
A sloping platform used in the same function as a step unit.
44
Rehearsal
The organized practice in preparation for a performance.
45
Royalty
A fee charged by the owner of a manuscript so that it may be produced in performance.
46
Scene
Either (1) a portion of an act, or (2) the locale.
47
Setting
The arrangement of the scenery that designates the locale.
48
Soliloquy
A monologue spoken by a single actor, and not directed to, or by convention overheard by, another actor. Longer than an aside.
49
Spotlight
A lighting instrument used to light a small portion of the stage.
50
Stage Directions
Instructions in the script relative to movement, etc.
51
Steal
The act of having one actor assume emphasis by drawing attention away from the character to whom it would normally be given.
52
Step Unit
One group of several stairs used in a stage setting.
53
Strike
To remove the set, scenery, all stage props from the stage.
54
Subtext
In Stanislavski Method it refers to the real meaning underlying the dialogue; the purpose for which the dialogue is spoken.
55
Tag Line
The final line of a character leaving the stage or the last line prior to the fall of the curtain.
56
Teaser
A border drapery that masks the fly space and determines the height of the stage opening.
57
Temp
The impression the audience receives of the general rate of the production. Directly dependent on pace.
58
Theatre in the Round
Staging in which the audience surrounds the acting area.
59
Theme
The central unifying idea of the play.
60
Timing
Execution of a line or business to achieve its greatest effect.
61
Tormentors
Two matching flats, usually black, used to mask the wings or vary the width of the playing area.
62
Tragedy
A play in which the leading character is defeated by life, fate, or his/her own failings.
63
Trap
An opening in the stage floor for special effects ascent/descent.
64
Tryout
The auditioning of actors for roles.
65
Understudy
A person who studies a role so as to be prepared as a replacement for a regular actor if required.
66
Walk-On
A small role without any lines.
67
Wings
The offstage areas to the right and left of the playing area.
68
Act
To perform a part in a play; also, the major divisions of a play
69
Ad Lib
To speak lines invented on the spur of the moment, as when someone has forgotten lines and a gap must be filled in.
70
Analyze
To carefully examine dramatic elements as the parts of a play are studied for better understanding.
71
Antagonist
The hero's opponent, usually a leading character.
72
Applause
Approval shown by audience
73
Apron
Part of the stage between the footlights and the lowered front curtain.
74
Articulation
The clear, crisp, careful pronunciation of words.
75
Auditions
A tryout by an actor for a part.
76
Backstage
A part of the stage not seen by the audience includes dressing rooms, wings, prop areas, shop, etc.
77
Blocking
Coordinating the action of the play with the actor's lines.
78
Border
A curtain hanging behind, but parallel to, the proscenium to aid in masking lights, working rigging, and the fly space.
79
Box Office
The place in the theatre where tickets are sold.
80
Box Set
Interior consisting of three walls and often a ceiling as well.
81
Business
Any action performed on the stage.
82
Build
The increase in energy, tension, or emotion directed toward the climax, either in a specific scene or through the progress of the play.
83
Call
The announcement that warns the actors when they are to be ready for rehearsals, performances, or individual scenes.
84
Clear
Everyone off the stage.
85
Climax
The high point of the action and/or interest in a play, act, scene or speech. The climax will usually occur in the second half. In Shakespearean drama, the turning point of the play.
86
Close
To turn or adjust the body position so that the actor is turned away from the audience.
87
Comedy
A play which ends happily for the hero; usually contains humorous dialogue.
88
Company
The persons involved in the production of a play; may also refer to a group involved in a succession of productions, as a "summer stock company."
89
Counter (Countercross)
A shifting of position to compensate for the movement of another actor in order to achieve balanced blocking.
90
Cover
To obstruct the view of the audience, usually done deliberately so as to mask business like a slap, stabbing, etc.
91
Cross
A movement on stage from one position to another.
92
Cue
The words or business that signals the next line to be spoken or the next business to take place.
93
Curtain Call
An assembling of actors at the end of a play to receive the applause and take their bow.
94
Cyclorama (CYC)
A white muslin backdrop meant to be provide backgrounds of different colors through lighting.
95
Dialogue
The lines of a play spoken between two or more characters.
96
Downstage
The general stage area nearest the audience.
97
Drama Critic
A person whose job it is to watch a performance, then publish his opinion of the play and actors.
98
Drop (Backdrop)
A large canvas or other material behind the stage setting sometimes with a detailed scene painted on it.
99
Dress Rehearsal
A rehearsal prior to the first performance that unites all elements of the production.

Theatre 1 Vocabulary (1 decks)

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