Drama Vocabulary

Front 1

the producer

Back 1

pays for show

Front 2

the director

Back 2

has the vision for show

Front 3

sound design

Back 3

selects and composes sound

Front 4

lighting design

Back 4

creates and uses light technology

Front 5

gobo

Back 5

a cut piece of metal used to project an image on stage

Front 6

gel

Back 6

a piece of cellephane used to project color

Front 7

costume design

Back 7

creates and designs costumes

Front 8

make-up design

Back 8

creates cosmetic effects

Front 9

setting

Back 9

where/when the story occurs

Front 10

set design

Back 10

the elements on stage used to create a setting

Front 11

backdrop

Back 11

a painted wall dropped behind a scene

Front 12

masking

Back 12

anything used to hide the backstage

Front 13

props

Back 13

anything used by an actor

Front 14

set decoration

Back 14

anything not used by an actor

Front 15

role

Back 15

something played by an actor

Front 16

understudy

Back 16

an actor who learns the role in case the actor can't go on

Front 17

audition

Back 17

the process of trying out for a role

Front 18

callback

Back 18

a 2nd audition for actors still being considered

Front 19

read-through

Back 19

the first time the actor reads the script

Front 20

cold reading

Back 20

reading lines never seen before

Front 21

blocking rehearsal

Back 21

planning the movements

Front 22

working rehearsal

Back 22

developing the personality

Front 23

stumble-through

Back 23

the 1st time the cast does the play without scripts

Front 24

run through

Back 24

the cast goes through the play without stopping

Front 25

dry tech

Back 25

all tech is rehearsed without actors

Front 26

technical rehearsal

Back 26

the show is run with actors and tech

Front 27

dress parade

Back 27

actors parade in front of directors

Front 28

dress rehearsal

Back 28

the show is run with actors in costume

Front 29

call

Back 29

the time the actors show up for performance

Front 30

curtain

Back 30

the time the show begins

Front 31

arena stage

Back 31

the audience on all four sides

Front 32

thrust stage

Back 32

audience on three sides

Front 33

proscenium stage

Back 33

audience on one side

Front 34

black box theater

Back 34

flexible seating

Front 35

backstage

Back 35

anywhere the audience can't see

Front 36

wings

Back 36

the left and right sides of the performing space

Front 37

stage geography

Back 37

terms that describe where an actor is on stage

Front 38

preparation

Back 38

anything done to create a character

Front 39

discipline

Back 39

commitment to the work that must be done

Front 40

trust

Back 40

dependence on one another

Front 41

sense memory

Back 41

using a personal experience to sense what the character experiences

Front 42

emotional recall

Back 42

using a personal experience to develop the character

Front 43

staying in character

Back 43

being the character at all times

Front 44

subtext

Back 44

the thought behind the line

Front 45

block

Back 45

planning the movement of the characters

Front 46

choreograph

Back 46

to plan stage combat or dance

Front 47

enter/exit

Back 47

to come on or off a set

Front 48

cross

Back 48

to move across the stage

Front 49

counter

Back 49

to move opposite to another actor's movements

Front 50

cheat out

Back 50

to turn slightly toward the audience

Front 51

upstaging

Back 51

to force another actor to turn their back OR to steal the focus

Front 52

gesture

Back 52

any movement that helps express an emotion