Acting Vocabulary
up*stage (noun): the acting area farthest from the audience and closest to
the rear wall of the stage. (verb transitive) 1 : to draw attention away from
2 : to force (an actor) to face away from the audience by staying upstage
Downstage down*stage (noun): the acting area closest to the audience.
Stage Right (noun): the acting area to the right of the actor when facing
the audience.
Stage Left (noun): the acting area to the left of the actor when facing the
audience.
Proscenium pro*sce*ni*um (noun): the picture frame that separates the
audience from the stage.
Apron (noun): the edge of the stage that thrusts forward in front of the
proscenium arch.
Wings: the areas to the right and left of the stage which are not in view of
the audience.
Blocking (noun) or to block (verb): the actors' movements, entrances, and
exits. Blocking can be created by the director, by the actor, or by a
collaboration of actor and director -- depending upon the director's way of
working.
Blocking (in improvisation): thwarting another actor, turning away another's idea.
Cross (noun) or to cross (verb): any movement toward another actor or area
on stage. Usually combined with a specific stage direction, such as "Cross
Upstage Right."
Open out, Cheat out, Turn out: three ways of asking an actor to play more
toward the audience than to another actor. Physically speaking, it means to
direct the torso and feet out to the audience, which allows more facial
expressions to be seen by the audience. It also helps vocal projection.
Acting (noun): the art of transforming into a character. Wendy's
definition: "Acting is learning to walk in another person's shoes, speak
with another person's voice, and feel another person's feelings."
Physicalization fiz i ka li za' shun (noun) or to physicalize fiz' i kal ize
(verb): acting with the whole body. Creating a way of moving, walking,
gesturing that suits the character. To express character and emotion through
the body.
Projection pro*jec*tion (noun) or to project (verb): The ability to speak
with enough power so that everyone in the audience, no matter where they are
seated, will hear each word. To send the voice out to the audience.
Articulation ar*tic*u*la*tion (noun) or to articulate ar*tic*u*late (verb):
speaking words clearly without slurring sounds together or dropping the end
sounds off of words. To articulate is to utter clearly all consonant sounds.
Improvisation im*pro*vi*za*tion (noun) or to improvise im pro vize or improv
im prov (verb): Spontaneous acting without a script. Actors are given a
Who/What/Where and must immediately play a scene.
Drama Vocabulary
Actor (noun): performers who portray characters on stage. An actor can be
either male or female. "Actress" is no longer considered appropriate in
today's theatre world, since there is no good reason to distinguish a female
person who acts from a male person who acts. This change is a recent one and
based upon the fact that there are no other gender specific words in the
theatre such as Directoress, Produceress, Stage Mangeress, etc.
Drama (noun): from the Greek word "dran" meaning to act, do, or perform. A
composition written to be performed on a stage.
Theatre: from the Greek word "theatron" meaning a place for viewing. The
physical structure in which plays are performed. US spelling is "theater,"
which is used by newspapers and general publishers. Most theatre people
prefer the original English spelling, "theatre."
Protagonist pro*tag*o*nist (noun): the main character in a play.
Antagonist an*tag*o*nist (noun): the main character working against the
goals of the protagonist.
Comedy com*e*dy (noun), plural -dies: a play that deals with characters and
situations in a humorous way, with a happy ending.
Tragedy trag*e*dy (noun), plural -dies: a play in which the protagonist
fails to achieve desired goals or is overcome by opposing forces, and
resulting in a disasterous ending.
Commedia dell'Arte com*me*dia del*l'ar*te (noun): professional improvised
comedy dating from the Italian Renaissance. The actors play stock characters
using scenarios rather than scripts.
Scenario sce*nar*io (noun), plural -i*os: an outline or synopsis of a play;
especially : a plot outline used by actors of the commedia dell'arte
Pantomime pan*to*mime (noun): the art of acting without words or sounds.
Soliloquy so*lil*o*quy (noun), plural -quies: a speech delivered by an actor
alone on stage which reveals the character's inner-most thoughts.
Technical Theatre Vocabulary
Producer pro*duc*er (noun): the person who is responsible for all the
financial arrangements for each production.
Angel (noun): patron of the arts who contributes money so that a show may be
produced.
Director (noun): the person who is responsible for all artistic decisions of
a production. Ms Duke's personal definition: "The director is the actor's
eyes and ears, because an actor cannot see or hear her/himself from the
audience's point of view. The relationship between the director and actor
(and designers and crew) is one based upon trust, respect, and open
communication."
Stage Manager (SM): the person who is in complete charge backstage during
the rehearsals and performances. A stage manager usually works with an
assistant stage manager (ASM) who is responsible for the side of the stage
opposite the stage manager.
Technical Director (TD): the person in charge of executing the scenic and
lighting designs. All technical crews work for and report to the TD.
Running Crew: backstage workers responsible for moving scenery during
technical rehearsals and performances.
Props (noun): all objects used by actors on stage. Props are kept on prop
tables during the run of a show. The prop crew is responsible for
collecting, organizing and maintaining props, and handing them to actors
during rehearsals and performances.
Costumes (noun): clothing designed and selected for specific characters in a
play. A costumer is a designer of costumes. The costume crew build (another
word for "sew") the costumes in the costume shop. The Wardrobe crew are
responsible for the finished costumes during the run of the show. They wash,
iron, and mend the costumes. A Dresser is a member of the Wardrobe crew who
assists actors during costume changes.
Scenery scen*ery (noun): platforms, backdrops, walls and all other elements
that make up a set. A scenic designer creates drawings, models and
blueprints for the TD and the set crew to build.
Sound crew: technicians responsible for operating the sound board, setting
up microphones, and putting body mics on actors.
Light crew: responsible for hanging and focusing lights, and operating the
light board, spotlights and other special lights.
