How do actors, directors, technicians & designers

talk about their work?

They speak the language of

STAGECRAFT©2006 EvaMedia, Inc.

DRAMATIC MEDIA are …

• Means of telling stories by way of stage, film, videotape, DVD, radio, television, or computer.

to AUDITION is …

• To try out for a role

• Also called ‘reading’ for a part

a CALL BACK is …

• Getting a second audition for the same role

• Similar to ‘making the cut’ in a sports tryout

BLOCKING is …

• The path an actor creates on stage

• Usually determined by the director (with assistance from actor)

• Often written down in a script using common theatrical symbols (X R means ‘cross down right’)

a CUE is …• Something that

precedes and prompts the next line or action

• A signal to the actors to begin what happens next

• Can be visual or aural

ELECTRICS are …

• Stage lights, including their mounts and wiring

a BLACKOUT is …• All stage lights

go off simultaneously and suddenly

• More abrupt than ‘fade to black’

PROPS are …

• Any objects, except costumes & scenery, used onstage

• Can be hand props or set pieces

DRESS REHEARSAL is …

• Same as performance, but without an audience (usually)

• A run-through of the whole show with tech, props & costumes in place

DICTION is …

• Selection & clear pronunciation of words

• SPEAKING CLEARLY

PROJECTION is …

• How well the voice carries to the audience

• SPEAKING LOUDLY

ACOUSTICS means …

• The quality of sound in a room, theatre, or performance space

the HOUSE is …

• Where the audience sits

FRONT OF HOUSE is …

• Box office & lobby of a theatre

the STAGE is …• The acting area• Where the actors perform

There are There are 3 kinds of STAGES3 kinds of STAGES::

• ProsceniumProscenium

• ThrustThrust

• ArenaArena

PROSCENIUM is …• The most

common type of stage

• Walls that ‘frame’ the front of the acting area are called the ‘proscenium arch’

P R O S C E N I U M A R C HPROSCENIUM

ARCH

PROSCENIUM

ARCH

STAGE(ACTING AREA)

WINGS(offstage)

APRON HOUSE

(front view)

a THRUST stage is …

• Acting area extended into the house with audience seated on three sidesH

OU

SE

HO

US

E

HOUSE

STAGE

(overhead view)

an ARENA stage …

• Has audience seated on all sides

• Is sometimes called ‘theatre in the round’

STAGE

(overhead view)

BACKSTAGE is …• Hidden by scenery, walls

or proscenium• Where cast & crew

can work unseen by the audience

• Dressing rooms here• Also called ‘wings,’

‘offstage’ or ‘off’

DOWNSTAGE is …

• Area of the stage closest to the audience

(UPSTAGE is stage area farthest from

audience)

STAGE DIRECTIONS …• Standard, universal• Prevents confusion• Saves rehearsal

time• Indicates locations

for actors, props, scenery.

• From actor’s perspective when facing audience

UPUP

RIGHTRIGHT

UPUP

CENTERCENTER

UPUP

LEFTLEFT

RIGHTRIGHT

CENTERCENTERCENTERCENTER

LEFT LEFT

CENTERCENTER

DOWNDOWN

RIGHTRIGHT

DOWN DOWN CENTERCENTER

DOWN DOWN

LEFTLEFT

apron (front-of-stage)

(overhead view)

the COMPANY is …

• Everyone associated with the production