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Theatre 1 Vocabulary > Vocabulary > Flashcards

Vocabulary Flashcards

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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
Q

Mask

A

To conceal from the view of the audience any area of the stage not intended to be seen.

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26
Q

Method, The

A

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.

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27
Q

Monologue

A

A long speech made by one actor.

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28
Q

Mood

A

The dominant atmosphere created by the various elements in the play.

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29
Q

Off Stage

A

The area not visible to the audience.

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30
Q

On Stage

A

The playing area intended to be seen by the audience.

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31
Q

Open

A

To turn or adjust the body position so the actor may play more directly to the audience.

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32
Q

Overlap

A

To speak or move before the indicated cue.

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33
Q

Pace

A

Overall rate of the production: reading lines, movement, business

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34
Q

Pantomime

A

The acting out of a scene or story without words.

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35
Q

Places!

A

A command to actors and technicians to get in their proper places in order to begin a scene or performance.

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36
Q

Play Script

A

The copy of the play including the dialogue and actor’s stage directions.

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37
Q

Plot

A

The story of the play that is developed by the author in a logical sequence of events.

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38
Q

Prologue

A

An explanatory speech that comes before the opening of the play.

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39
Q

Project

A

To make dialogue or movement clear to the audience through proper accentuation and intensification.

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40
Q

Props (properties)

A

All furniture, set pieces, objects seen on stage. Large pieces are stage props and carry-on pieces are hand props.

41
Q

Proscenium

A

The wall and arch that set off the stage area from the audience.

42
Q

Protagonist

A

The central figure of the play, from the Greek meaning first actor.

43
Q

Ramp

A

A sloping platform used in the same function as a step unit.

44
Q

Rehearsal

A

The organized practice in preparation for a performance.

45
Q

Royalty

A

A fee charged by the owner of a manuscript so that it may be produced in performance.

46
Q

Scene

A

Either (1) a portion of an act, or (2) the locale.

47
Q

Setting

A

The arrangement of the scenery that designates the locale.

48
Q

Soliloquy

A

A monologue spoken by a single actor, and not directed to, or by convention overheard by, another actor. Longer than an aside.

49
Q

Spotlight

A

A lighting instrument used to light a small portion of the stage.

50
Q

Stage Directions

A

Instructions in the script relative to movement, etc.

51
Q

Steal

A

The act of having one actor assume emphasis by drawing attention away from the character to whom it would normally be given.

52
Q

Step Unit

A

One group of several stairs used in a stage setting.

53
Q

Strike

A

To remove the set, scenery, all stage props from the stage.

54
Q

Subtext

A

In Stanislavski Method it refers to the real meaning underlying the dialogue; the purpose for which the dialogue is spoken.

55
Q

Tag Line

A

The final line of a character leaving the stage or the last line prior to the fall of the curtain.

56
Q

Teaser

A

A border drapery that masks the fly space and determines the height of the stage opening.

57
Q

Temp

A

The impression the audience receives of the general rate of the production. Directly dependent on pace.

58
Q

Theatre in the Round

A

Staging in which the audience surrounds the acting area.

59
Q

Theme

A

The central unifying idea of the play.

60
Q

Timing

A

Execution of a line or business to achieve its greatest effect.

61
Q

Tormentors

A

Two matching flats, usually black, used to mask the wings or vary the width of the playing area.

62
Q

Tragedy

A

A play in which the leading character is defeated by life, fate, or his/her own failings.

63
Q

Trap

A

An opening in the stage floor for special effects ascent/descent.

64
Q

Tryout

A

The auditioning of actors for roles.

65
Q

Understudy

A

A person who studies a role so as to be prepared as a replacement for a regular actor if required.

66
Q

Walk-On

A

A small role without any lines.

67
Q

Wings

A

The offstage areas to the right and left of the playing area.

68
Q

Act

A

To perform a part in a play; also, the major divisions of a play

69
Q

Ad Lib

A

To speak lines invented on the spur of the moment, as when someone has forgotten lines and a gap must be filled in.

70
Q

Analyze

A

To carefully examine dramatic elements as the parts of a play are studied for better understanding.

71
Q

Antagonist

A

The hero’s opponent, usually a leading character.

72
Q

Applause

A

Approval shown by audience

73
Q

Apron

A

Part of the stage between the footlights and the lowered front curtain.

74
Q

Articulation

A

The clear, crisp, careful pronunciation of words.

75
Q

Auditions

A

A tryout by an actor for a part.

76
Q

Backstage

A

A part of the stage not seen by the audience includes dressing rooms, wings, prop areas, shop, etc.

77
Q

Blocking

A

Coordinating the action of the play with the actor’s lines.

78
Q

Border

A

A curtain hanging behind, but parallel to, the proscenium to aid in masking lights, working rigging, and the fly space.

79
Q

Box Office

A

The place in the theatre where tickets are sold.

80
Q

Box Set

A

Interior consisting of three walls and often a ceiling as well.

81
Q

Business

A

Any action performed on the stage.

82
Q

Build

A

The increase in energy, tension, or emotion directed toward the climax, either in a specific scene or through the progress of the play.

83
Q

Call

A

The announcement that warns the actors when they are to be ready for rehearsals, performances, or individual scenes.

84
Q

Clear

A

Everyone off the stage.

85
Q

Climax

A

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
Q

Close

A

To turn or adjust the body position so that the actor is turned away from the audience.

87
Q

Comedy

A

A play which ends happily for the hero; usually contains humorous dialogue.

88
Q

Company

A

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
Q

Counter (Countercross)

A

A shifting of position to compensate for the movement of another actor in order to achieve balanced blocking.

90
Q

Cover

A

To obstruct the view of the audience, usually done deliberately so as to mask business like a slap, stabbing, etc.

91
Q

Cross

A

A movement on stage from one position to another.

92
Q

Cue

A

The words or business that signals the next line to be spoken or the next business to take place.

93
Q

Curtain Call

A

An assembling of actors at the end of a play to receive the applause and take their bow.

94
Q

Cyclorama (CYC)

A

A white muslin backdrop meant to be provide backgrounds of different colors through lighting.

95
Q

Dialogue

A

The lines of a play spoken between two or more characters.

96
Q

Downstage

A

The general stage area nearest the audience.

97
Q

Drama Critic

A

A person whose job it is to watch a performance, then publish his opinion of the play and actors.

98
Q

Drop (Backdrop)

A

A large canvas or other material behind the stage setting sometimes with a detailed scene painted on it.

99
Q

Dress Rehearsal

A

A rehearsal prior to the first performance that unites all elements of the production.

Theatre 1 Vocabulary (1 decks)

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