Vocabulary
“S” Curve- A method of crossing on the stage which allows the actor to stay open to the audience
Accent- A variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers usually based on region, social status, or ethnicity
Acrobatics/Circus Skills- The Traditional and basic skill sets of circus performers; tumbling, juggling, stilt walking, tight rope, trapeze, clown, etc.
Act (play structure) - The largest unit of action in a play usually ranging from 30 to 90 minutes in length
Acting Coach- A consultant who works with a production to enhance actor performances by working with them on an individual basis on areas of weakness within performance (accents, combat, clarifying acting beats and intentions, etc.)
Acting is Objective overcoming Obstacle to achieve a Desired Result.
Active Hand- The hand(s) that is engaged in the creation of an illusion, usually moving or doing some sort of detail work
Actor Beat Phrase In order to (desired result) I must (objective) in spite of the fact that (obstacle).
Actor Beat- A shift in the personal objectives of a character; changes in mood, subjects, intentions, physical situations, or adding new information
Actor Combatant- A performer who is highly trained in theatrical stage combat
Actor/Actress- A person portraying a character in a production
Ad Lib- to improvise words and actions in a structured scene
Alignment- Arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions
Allegory- A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral lesson or political commentary; ex. tortoise and the hare, the little red hen, Animal Farm
Anchor/Passive Hand- The hand or limb that remains point fixed to maintain the established boundaries of an illusion
Animal Training- Teaching animals specific responses to specific stimuli and situations; useful for getting pets to do needed tricks on stage
Antagonist- A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary
Apron- Any part of the stage that extends past the proscenium arch and into the audience space
Arena Stage- A stage type where the audience completely surrounds the performance space
Articulation- The ability of a voice to speak fluently and coherently
Arts Management- administrative, business or management functions of a theatre production, venue, or company
Aside- The unspoken thoughts of a character delivered directly to the audience with the other characters on stage but unable to hear what is being said
Back Stage – The area of the stage that is unseen by the audience
Balance- The equal distribution of weight and tension throughout the body that allows for complex movements to take place (walking, standing on one foot, etc.)
Beat Change- A change in objective; usually due to an impassable obstacle, the addition of new information or characters to the scene, or a new or greater need takes the place of the current objective
Black Box Stage- A simple square performance space, usually with black walls or curtains and a flat floor that can be adapted to suit many different audience configurations
Blocking – An actor’s directed movement on the stage
Board Operator- The person who controls the light and/or sound board during a production
Body Isolations- To move a single part of the body independently from the rest of the body
Book- A term in Musical Theatre for the spoken dialogue and song lyrics of a musical script
Box Set - a realistic room setting built from flats missing the fourth wall.
Box Office- The place in a theatre where information is distributed and tickets are sold to the public for events in a performance space
Breath Mark (/)- A scoring mark used to show where the actor takes a breath or short pause; a slight lift in momentum
Breath Support/Control- Carefully managing the intake and release of breath through the engagement of the abdominal muscles (including the sides and lower back) during inhalation and exhalation.
Breathing- The essential process of taking air into the body to sustain life
Buoyancy- A quality of movement that is marked by lightness of step and a tendency to bounce while in motion; light and graceful movement
Business- Small actions that are not written into the script that an actor performs without moving from place to place
Center Stage (CC) - The center area of the stage space
Cesura- A text scoring mark that symbolizes mind movement; often associated with vocal trash
Character Actor- A performer who specializes in character driven roles; principal roles that are not the romantic leads
Character Movement- The physical representation of a character’s personality and other character traits
Character Research- To gather information about the setting of the play and any traits of the character that may be important or need extra information (profession, mental state, infirmities, etc.)
Cheat Out- The act of maintaining a connection to a person or object on stage, yet turning the body to face in the direction of the audience
Choreographer- A person who creates and oversees the dance and movement aspects of a production
Clean Release- To let go of an object in your illusion in a way that makes it clear to the audience what the object was, and where it was placed
Climax- The point in a play or story at which the conflict or tension hits the highest point
Clown- A comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc.
Comedy- a play with a mixture of humor and sadness that celebrates irony and the struggles of human existence, and ends happily
Commercials- Television, radio, or printed source advertisements
Composer- A person who writes music
Compression- To press together; to force into less space
Conflict- discord of action, feeling, or effect; antagonism or opposition, as of interests or principles
Consistency- To reliably create and recreate established boundaries and placement of illusions within a performance
Consonants- A speech sound produced by a partial or complete obstruction of the air stream by any of various constrictions of the speech organs
Constantin Stanislavski- Often called, “The Father of Modern Acting,” The Stanislavski method of character creation concentrates on intellectual preparation and intentional beat work; Wrote An Actor Prepares
Convention- A rule, method, or practice established by usage; custom
Costume Designer- The person who researches and designs costumes for a production
Costume Shop Manager- The person who runs the costume shop that is responsible for the construction of costumes for a production
Cross (X) – To move from one place on the stage to another
Cruise Ship- a passenger ship built or used for entertainment cruises, usually taking passengers on an extended cruise with occasional calls in various places of interest.
Cyclorama - a Large curtain usually hung at the back of the stage.
Dance Captain- A performer in a production that is required to know the movement and choreography for every single character in the show. They are responsible for teaching movement to new cast members and giving notes when current performers aren't adhering to the original steps
Deck- The floor of the performance space
Decompression- To relieve pressure; to relax into a normal or neutral state
Desired Result- The expected, wanted, or needed result of any action, objective, or tactic
Dialogue/Lines- The words spoken by the characters in a production
Diction- The clearness of a person's speaking voice shown by crisp consonant sounds and pure vowel sounds
Director- A person who oversees the mounting of a theatre production
Disability- A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities
Downstage (DS) – The front half of the stage
Drama Therapy- using the creative process of theatre, these professionals work closely with a consultation team of medical professionals to treat and rehabilitate people with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities
Drama- a serious form of theatre that has a thoughtful attitude toward its subject matter; it puts the audience in a frame of mind to think carefully about what it sees and to become involved with the characters on stage
Dramaturge- a literary adviser on the staff of a theatre, film corporation, etc., whose responsibilities may include selection and editing of texts, liaison with authors, preparation of printed programs, and public relations work
Dressing Room- The room(s) where actors prepare for a show and get into costume and makeup
Drift- To let a portion of your illusion fall out of alignment through nonessential movement
Dynamic Body Position- A way of holding or shaping the body that is out of the ordinary; used to emphasize a particular gesture or movement
Dynamics- Variations in vocal delivery that influence rhythm, pitch, speed, volume, and intensity when delivering a performance
Elaboration- To add detail and make character choices that give life or meaning to a basic skill; to add or chain difficult skills to the current illusion
Emotional Commitment- The willingness of a performer to fully share their emotional state within a performance; to “go there” mentally and emotionally
Emotional Weight- Mental and emotional burdens that a person or character carries with them that burden their spirit; memories and experiences that make you sad or shape your personality
Engaged Performance- Active and energetic delivery of a performance
Ensemble/Chorus- The group of performers in a production that support the principal characters, often playing multiple small roles in a single production
Establish- To set up an image or idea within an illusion that can be used multiple times in the performance by use of indicating or dynamic body position (establishing a pocket for the balloon)
Exaggeration- To enlarge or increase to an abnormal degree; overstate
Exposition- A literary device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters etc. to the audience or readers
Facility Manager- The person who maintains the theatre space and takes care of all of its backstage and onstage areas
Fairy Tales- Fanciful stories of magic, legendary deeds, and mythical creatures, usually with a moral or happy ending; intended for children
Falling Action- All of the action in a play or story that occurs after the climax
Film Extras- People in the background of movies and television shows that add atmosphere in an attempt to make the scenes fuller and more natural
Flashback/Flash-forward- To move to a different part of the story (forward or back) out of the natural sequence of events
Fluency- The ability to express oneself easily and articulately
Fly System- a system of ropes, counterweights, pulleys, and other such tools designed to allow a technical crew to quickly move set pieces, lights, and microphones on and off stage quickly by "flying" them in from a large opening above the stage
Focal Point- A point set by an actor or director that an actor can focus on during a performance
Foils- A character who contrasts another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character
Forced Arch- A weight bearing foot position on the ball of the foot with the heel off the floor and the knee bent
Foreshadowing- hint of what is to come in a literary work
Front of House- The area outside the house of the performance space that contains the box office, lobby, and rest rooms
Full Body Reaction- A method of emphasis that allows the performer to enlarge their responses beyond a facial expression to incorporate arms, torso, and legs
Gesture- A movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning
Grand Drape/Dress- The front curtain of a performance space that hangs downstage just behind the proscenium arch
Grand Pause Mark (//) – A scoring mark that is used to signify a significant stop in a scene; must be earned; allows the audience to catch up mentally and emotionally
Green Room- the room where actors and other performers wait when they are not needed onstage or in their dressing rooms
Hair and Makeup Stylists- Theatrical professionals who prepare actors’ hair and makeup for productions (film, television, stage, etc.)
House Manager- A person who takes care of the Front of House Staff and handles major audience needs before, during, and after performances
House- The area in a performance space where the audience sits to watch a performance
Illusion of the First Time- a spontaneous quality of response as if this were the first time this situation had occurred
Illusion of Weight- To give the impression that the object in your illusion has actual weight; shown by muscle tension throughout the body as needed based on the “weight” of the object
Illusion- A distortion of the senses; A deceptive appearance or impression
Improvisation- The process of creating a scene without prior rehearsal by inventing dialogue as the scene progresses
Impulse- A sudden and strong urge or desire to move or act
Independent Film- A film made by a small company that can be produced on a limited budget and shown at film festivals with the hope of being picked up by a major distributor
Indicating- To suggest or direct attention to a particular action or gesture; stereotyped gestures that represent a feeling or action
Larynx- The “Voice box,” an organ in the neck of mammals involved in protection of the throat and vocal chords
Leg Curtain- Tall, Narrow stage drapes that are used to conceal the wings of a performance space
Legend- A story from the past that is believed by many people but cannot be proved to be true; An extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field
Lighting Designer- The person who is responsible for researching and designing the theatrical and practical lighting for a production
Mask Work- The practice of using a mask effectively in physical theatre situations, character performance, and in storytelling
Master Electrician- The lighting crew chief who is responsible for installing and maintaining the lighting design for a production
Memorization- The process of committing something to memory; Job one for actors
Monologue- A long, uninterrupted section of dialogue delivered by a single character in a play to other characters that are present in the scene, if not directly listening to the speaker
Motivation- The reasons behind why a character needs to say the words they are saying
Movement Centers- Areas of the body that lead or drive the character when the character is in motion; head centered, chest centered, or pelvic centered movement
Mugging/Face Acting- using excessive, exaggerated expressions to convey thoughts or feelings
Music Director- A person who oversees the musical aspects of a production
Musical Score- A term in Musical Theatre for the Music portion of the musical script including the vocal and orchestra music
Mythology- Traditional stories, usually concerning some being, hero, or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation; centered around deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature
Neutral Body Position- A relaxed standing body position with no defining shapes or characteristics; a resting position
Non-Fluencies- “filler words” that take away from the overall effectiveness of speech; umm, uhh, Like, You Know, etc.
Object Boundaries- A term to describe the physical dimensions of your illusion (sides of a box, length of a stick, thickness of a rope, etc.)
Object Manipulation- To change the physical location or position of an illusion; to hold and use an object in your illusion
Objective- What a character wants at any given moment; intention, purpose, need; this is really the characters entire justification for being on stage...
Obstacle- The person, place, thing, or idea that stands in the way of the character achieving their objective
Oral Tradition- A community's cultural and historical traditions passed down by word of mouth or example from one generation to another without written instruction; sometimes called Folklore or Folktales
Outline- A summary of a subject or topic, usually presented in headings and subheadings; The essential features or main aspects of something under discussion
Pace- Consistent and continuous speed in walking, running, or moving
Pantomime- A performance style where performers use gesture and other physical movement to create the illusion of solid objects or to convey a thought or feeling to their audience
Period Movement- Postures, mannerisms, movements, and social behaviors that are common in a particular historical period
Phrasing- Grouping of Thoughts in text with the arch symbol; thought for thought not sentence for sentence
Physical Theatre- A genre of theatrical performance that pursues storytelling and characterization through primarily physical means
Pitch- How “high” or “low” a voice or tone sounds to the listener while the voice is speaking or singing
Play Beat- A recognizable movement within the story of the play that has more to do with stage-picture and story functionality than with individual characters
Playwright- A person who writes plays
Plot Twist- an unexpected occurrence that shifts the expected outcome of the plot
Plot- The sequence of events in a story
Point Fix- To hold a single part of the body still at a single position while the rest of the body moves
Posture- The position of the limbs or the carriage of the body as a whole
Power Moves- Actions, movements, or body positions that require focus, practice, and precision; Movement that elevates the performance beyond the skill level of the average person
Principal Role- A leading role in a production that is usually associated with a larger line load and greater stage time
Producer- The person or group of people responsible for the overall financial and managerial functions of a production or venue, raising or providing financial backing, and hiring personnel for creative positions (writer, director, designers, composer, choreographer—and in some cases, performers)
Projection- The strength of the voice while speaking or singing whereby the voice is used loudly and clearly
Prop Master- The person who finds, manages, and maintains all the props for a production
Proscenium Stage- A stage type that has an arch or frame separating the stage from the audience through which the play is viewed.
Protagonist- The leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work
Pull Focus- To divert audience attention away from the action of a scene toward oneself
Puppetry- the production or creation of puppets or puppet shows; the art of manipulating puppets
Rehearsal- The process of intellectually, physically, and vocally practicing a performance; this process requires constant personal focus, self-discipline, and commitment to the performance
Relevé- To lift your body weight and rise from flat feet to the balls of your feet; Standing on your “tip toes”
Resolution- The part of the play or story's plot line, typically at the end of the piece, in which the conflict is resolved or worked out
Resonance- The quality in a sound or voice of being deep, full, and reverberating
Rising Action- All of the action in a play or story that occurs before the climax
Sanford Meisner- Often called, “Method Acting,” the Meisner technique of character creation centers on giving natural responses to the world and other people around the performer; Wrote On Acting
Scenario- A plot device or construct given to improvisation performers that they work from to play improv games or create scenes
Scene- A unit of action within an act of a play during which the time and place do not change
Scenic Designer- The person who designs the set and other scenic features of the show
Script- The written instructions for performing a play that include the lines that each of the actors must say and some indication of stage action (stage directions)
Set Dresser- The person who decorates the set. They deal specifically with the elements that actors have little or no interaction with (paintings, furniture, bookshelves, etc.)
Setting- The physical location, historical time period, and time of day that a scene takes place
Skittering- A method of movement used most commonly in pull illusions where the feet stay on the ground and slide, moving the performer in a single direction
Soliloquy- The inner thoughts of a character spoken alone on stage to explore the character’s private thoughts; often lyric in style and highly emotional
Sound Designer- The person who is responsible for researching and designing the audio elements of a production (sound effects, microphones, recordings, etc.)
Spatial Awareness- The ability to see and understand multiple objects in relation to each other and to oneself; understanding of one’s position in space
Speed- How fast or slow an object is moving
Stage - the area where actors perform
Stage Directions- An instruction written into the script of a play, indicating stage actions, movements of performers, or production requirements
Stage Left (SL)- the left side of the stage as the actors look out toward the audience
Stage Manager- A person who provides practical and organizational support to the director, actors, designers, stage crew and technicians throughout the production process
Stage Right (SR) - the right side of the stage as the actors look out toward the audience
Stagehand- A person who works backstage or behind the scenes in theatres, film, television, or location performance. Their work includes setting up the scenery, lights, sound, props, rigging, and special effects for a production.
Standing Leg- The weight bearing leg
Static Scene- A structured or improvised scene with little movement and no drive; to be avoided at all cost
Storytelling- The interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener's imagination
Stunt Work- Acrobatic or dangerous pieces of action in a film, television program, or theatrical production
Style- A particular, distinctive, or characteristic mode of action or manner of acting
Subtext- The inner monologue of the character; these thoughts and feelings bleed through to the surface through our word emphasis
Tactic Shift- A change of strategy or approach while pursuing the same objective; may happen several times before the objective has to change
Tactics- Approaches and strategies used to get a specific response from another character; The way we go about achieving our objectives
Talent Agent- A person or group of people who represent performers in contract negotiations, finding auditions, and providing resources to increase their skills
Tall Tales- A story with unbelievable elements, told to the listener as if it were true and factual; big fish stories
Target Audience- The intended recipient(s) of a performance based on a specific factor; age, gender, social status, economic status, etc.
Teaser/Boarder Curtain- wide, short draperies that span the width of the stage that are used to mask lights and scenery that have been raised into the fly loft.
Technical Director- The person who oversees the technical elements of a production
Telegraph of Speech- The rhythm and pace of our word emphasis while speaking and preparing text; can help us to avoid vocal patterns but if overused can cause vocal patterns
Tension- The state of being stretched or strained
Text Scoring- A formal word for intellectual text preparation; marking the text with known symbols and establishing beats within the text
Theme Park- an amusement park in which landscaping, buildings, and attractions are based on one or more specific themes, as jungle wildlife, fairy tales, or the Old West
Thrust Stage- A stage type where the audience is seated on three different sides of the performance space
Tone- The general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc.
Tracking- To follow the movement of the object in your illusion with your eyes and head
Transition- To move from one plot point to the next within a story
Transitional Device- An aid for transitions that help the audience follow the plot; gestures, props, movement, etc.
Traveling Shows- Small performance groups that perform a variety of different types of attractions that move from place to place on preplanned tours to perform in/for various events and locations
Traveling- To move from one place on the stage to another within an illusion (skittering in a rope pull for example)
Traveler - any curtain or drape that can close or travel across the stage.
Treat Questions- Scoring a question mark in the text as Simple, Demand, or Rhetorical
Triple Threat- A performer who is highly proficient in the three traditional elements of Musical Theatre; Music, Dance, Acting
Unexpected Delivery- To deliver lines and dialogue in a unique and unpredicted way; leads to an engaging performance
Upstage (US) – The back half of the stage
Upstage- To stand in such a way that it forces another actor to turn their back to the audience
Usher- A person who takes tickets and seats audience members for a performance
Uta Hagen- The Method created by Uta Hagen stresses professional discipline and centers on sense/emotional memory and careful crafting of character in their environment; Wrote Respect for Acting
Vocal chords- Either of two pairs of bands or folds of mucous membrane in the throat that project into the larynx. The lower pair vibrates when pulled together and when air is passed up from the lungs, thereby producing vocal sounds. The upper, thicker pair is not involved in voice production.
Vocal Nodules- Blisters or callouses that form on the vocal chords from frequent or sustained vocal abuse that limit or prevent proper vocal function
Vocal Trash- Similar to non-fluencies, these are vocal sounds that signify feelings or the forming of thoughts; typically accompany a cesura
Voice Over- words that are spoken in a stage production, movie, or television program by a person who is not seen (frequently done in documentaries and commercials)
Voice- The sounds that one makes with their mouth and throat when they are speaking, singing, etc.
Vowels- A speech sound created by the relatively free passage of breath through the larynx and mouth, usually forming the most prominent and central sound of a syllable
Weight Shift- The transfer of body weight from one supporting foot or limb to another
Wig Makers- Artisans who create and maintain character hair pieces for performance productions (wigs, beards, moustaches, etc.)
Willing Suspension of Disbelief- The willingness of an audience to overlook the limitations of a performance genre to accept the overall story (actors “dying” on stage or the use of a fly rig for Peter Pan for example)
Wing- The backstage areas on either side of the stage that are typically used for actors preparing to enter the performance space, storing sets and props for scene changes, and the storage of technical equipment
Word/Phrase Endings- Scoring your sentences, phrases, or words with up, down, or neutral endings
Workshop Professional- A performer or person who creates and produces professional development activities that can benefit a group of people or provide essential skills for their workplace