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Theater Terms

QuestionAnswer
Action The physical pursuance of a specific goal. What the character does to achieve an objective.
Actor/Actress A male or female person who performs a role in a play, work of theatre, or movie.
Beat A single unit of action. A scene may comprise one or more of these.
Beat Change The point during a scene where a new action begins. It occurs when a new piece of information is introduced or an event takes place over which the character has no control and which by its very nature must change what the actor is doing.
Blocking The planning and working out of the movements of actors on stage.
Cap The event or condition indicating that an actor has succeeded in doing his action.
Center stage The center of the area defined as the stage.
Character Person in a play, story, novel, etc.
Cold reading A reading of a script done by actors who have not previously reviewed the play.
Diction The pronunciation of words, the choice of words, and the manner in which a person expresses himself or herself.
Downstage The stage area toward the audience.
Essential Action The single element that defines what the character is doing in a scene, without which the scene will not work.
Given Circumstance Any piece of information or activity written into the script or demanded by the director comprising the imaginary framework within which an action is performed.
Improvisation A spontaneous style of theatre through which scenes are created without advance rehearsal or a script.
Living In The Moment Reacting impulsively to what the other actor in the scene does, according to the dictates of your action.
Mnemonic A device designed to help someone remember something: a fact, idea, condition, etc.
Monologue A long speech by a single character
Objective What the character wants.
Physical Activity A specific bit of stage business the actor chooses to aid his action.
Play The stage representation of an action or a story; a dramatic composition.
Playwright A person who writes plays.
Position The orientation of the actor to the audience (e.g., full front, right profile, left profile).
Projection The placement and delivery of volume, clarity, and distinctness of voice for communicating to an audience.
Props Items carried on stage by an actor; small items on the set used by the actors.
Rehearsal Practice sessions in which the actors and technicians prepare for public performance through repetition.
Script The written text of a play.
Stage left The left side of the stage from the perspective of an actor facing the audience
Stage right The right side of the stage from the perspective of an actor facing the audience.
Technique A knowledge of the tools that may be used and an understanding of how to apply those tools
Through Action The single overriding action that encompasses all the actions an actor pursues from scene to scene, from the beginning of the play to the end.
Theatre games Noncompetitive games designed to develop acting skills and popularized by Viola Spolin.
ACTION The physical pursuance of a specific goal. What the character does to get what they want.
ANALYSIS The process whereby the action of a scene is determined. It is derived from these three questions literally doing?, essential action of what the character is doing in this scene?, the action like to me? It’s as if…
AS-IF The answer to question 3 of the analysis. It is a simple fantasy that makes specific for you the action you have chosen in step 2 of the analysis; it is a mnemonic device serving to bring the action to life for you.
BEAT A single unit of action. A scene may comprise one or more of these.
BEAT CHANGE The point during the scene where a new action begins. It occurs when a new piece of information is introduced or an event takes place over which the character has no control and which by its very nature must change what the actor is doing.
CAP The event or condition indicating that an actor has succeeded in doing his action.
CHARACTER The illusion created by the words and given circumstances supplied by the playwright and director combined with the actions and externals of the actor.
ESSENTIAL ACTION The single element that defines what the character is doing in a scene, without which the scene will not work.
GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCE Any piece of information or activity written into the script or demanded by the director comprising the imaginary framework within which the action is performed.
LIVING IN THE MOMENT Reacting impulsively to what the other actor in a scene does, according to the dictates of your action.
MNEMONIC A device designed to help someone remember something: a fact, idea, condition, etc.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY A specific bit of stage business the actor chooses to aid his action.
TECHNIQUE A knowledge of the tools that may be used and an understanding of how to apply those tools.
TOOLS OF ACTION The different ways an actor might go about doing an action.
TOOLS OF THE CRAFT The various skills and devices an actor has at this disposal.
THROUGH ACTION The single overriding action that encompasses all the actions an actor pursues from scene to scene, from the beginning of a play to the end.
Created by: user-1881968
 

 



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