Theater Glossary

Whether you're just stepping onto the stage or diving behind the scenes, this glossary is your guide to the must-know terms of the theater world. From "blocking" to "cue," these words and phrases will help you navigate rehearsals, performances, and everything in between.

Stage Directions

These terms help actors know where to move on stage from the audience's perspective. You might also use these terms to help notate your own blocking as an actor, or notate cues or blocking as a member of the crew.

Stage Center (C): The middle of the stage.
Stage Left (SL): The actor’s left side of the stage when facing the audience.
Stage Right (SR): The actor’s right side of the stage when facing the audience.
Upstage Center (USC): The middle of the stage, furthest away from the audience.
Downstage Center (DSC): The middle of the stage, closest to the audience.
Upstage Right (USR): The actor's right side of the stage when facing the audience, furthest away from the audience.
Upstage Left (USL): The actor's left side of the stage when facing the audience, furthest away from the audience.
Downstage Right (DSR): The actor's right side of the stage when facing the audience, closest to the audience.
Downstage Left (DSL): The actor's left side of the stage when facing the audience, closest to the audience.

Stage and Set Terms

Traveler: A curtain that moves horizontally across the stage, usually on a track. Travelers can open and close to reveal or hide parts of the stage during a performance.
Cyclorama (Cyc): A large, white or light-colored backdrop stretched across the back of the stage. It’s often used for lighting effects, projections, or to create the illusion of a sky or infinite space.
Main Curtain or Grade Drape: The large, decorative curtain that hangs at the front of the stage. It typically opens at the beginning and closes at the end of a performance.
Legs: Tall, narrow curtains placed on either side of the stage to hide the wings from the audience’s view.
Wings: The areas on the sides of the stage, just out of the audience’s sight, where actors, props, and crew members wait or prepare for their cues.
Apron: The part of the stage that extends past the main curtain, closer to the audience.
Scrim: A lightweight, semi-transparent fabric that appears solid when lit from the front but becomes see-through when lit from behind. It’s often used for special effects.
Orchestra Pit: A lowered area between the stage and the audience where musicians play during a performance.
Proscenium: The "picture frame" around the stage that separates the performance space from the audience.
Backdrop: A painted cloth or curtain that hangs at the back of the stage to create scenery.
Flat: A lightweight, wooden frame covered with fabric or plywood, painted to look like walls or scenery.
Risers: Platforms used to create different levels on the stage.
Fly System: A series of ropes, pulleys, and weights used to raise and lower scenery, curtains, or lights.
House: The part of the theater where the audience sits.
Backstage: The area behind or to the sides of the stage where the audience cannot see, used for preparation.

Technical Terms

Lighting Cue: A signal for the lighting operator to change the lights during a scene.
Sound Cue: A signal for a sound effect, music, or microphone change.
Gel: A thin colored sheet placed over a light to create colored lighting effects.
Gobo: A stencil or cut-out placed in front of a light to project patterns onto the stage.
Spike: Marks (usually tape) placed on the stage floor to show where actors, props, or scenery should go.
Prop: Short for "property," these are objects actors use on stage, like books, cups, or phones.
Cue: A line, action, or signal that prompts someone to do something (e.g., another actor’s line, a lighting change).

Costume Terms

Costume: The clothing and accessories worn by actors to represent their characters.
Quick Change: A costume change that needs to happen very quickly, usually backstage.
Dressers: Crew members who help actors get in and out of costumes, especially during quick changes.
Costume Plot: A chart or list showing what each character wears in each scene of the show.
Accessories: Items that complete a costume, such as hats, gloves, jewelry, or belts.
Wardrobe: The department or area responsible for organizing, creating, or maintaining costumes.
Fitting: A session where actors try on their costumes to ensure they fit properly before the show.

See more here.

Acting and Performance Terms

Blocking: The planned movements and positioning of actors on stage.
Cheating Out: Turning your body slightly toward the audience so they can see you while you speak.
Fourth Wall: The imaginary wall between the actors and the audience. Breaking it means directly addressing or acknowledging the audience.
Monologue: A long speech performed by one actor.
Dialogue: Conversation or lines spoken between two or more characters.
Pantomime: Acting without words, using gestures, facial expressions, and movement to tell a story. Also a type of Christmas show, popular in Great Britain.
Projection: Speaking loudly and clearly so the audience can hear you.
Stage Whisper: Speaking softly in a way that sounds quiet to the audience but is still heard clearly.
Upstaging: When an actor moves or behaves in a way that pulls focus away from where it should be.
Overacting: When an actor performs in a way that is too big, dramatic, or exaggerated for the scene. It can make the character seem less believable because the emotions or actions are over the top. Good acting feels natural and matches the moment in the story while overacting can distract the audience from what's really happening.

Rehearsal and Production Terms

Tech Rehearsal (Tech): A rehearsal where technical elements like lighting, sound, and set changes are practiced.
Dress Rehearsal: The final rehearsal before a show opens, with full costumes, makeup, and technical elements.
Run-Through: Rehearsing the entire show from start to finish without stopping.
Strike: Taking down the set, props, and technical elements after the final performance.
Call Time: The time actors and crew need to arrive at the theater before a performance or rehearsal.
Full Company: A rehearsal or call where every actor, crew member, and production team member is present.
House Lights: The lights in the audience area that are turned off when the show begins.

Common Theater Colloquialisms and Superstitions

"Break a Leg": A way to wish someone good luck in the theater world without saying the actual words “good luck,” which are considered bad luck.
The Scottish Play: A superstition where saying the name of Shakespeare’s play Macbeth inside a theater is believed to bring bad luck. Instead, it is referred to as “The Scottish Play.”
Ghost Light: A single light left onstage when the theater is empty. Traditionally, it is said to keep theater ghosts happy or protect the space from spirits.
"Line!": What actors say when they forget their line during rehearsal to ask for a prompt.
"The Show Must Go On": A phrase meaning the performance will continue no matter what happens, such as forgotten lines, tech problems, or unexpected mishaps.
Curtain Call: The time at the end of the show when the actors come onstage to take their bows.
"Thank You, Five": A common reply when the stage manager or director announces “five minutes until rehearsal or performance begins,” showing that the actor heard the call.

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