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Theatre Def. Flashcards
A few common vocabulary words from Theatre
52
Film, Theatre & Television
10th Grade
04/13/2015

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Term
Actor/Actress
Definition
A male or female person who performs a role in a play, work of theatre, or movie.
Term
Antagonist
Definition
A person or a situation that opposes another character’s goals or desires
Term
Articulation
Definition
The clear and precise pronunciation of words
Term
Blocking
Definition
The planning and working out of the movements of actors on stage.
Term
Center stage
Definition
The center of the area defined as the stage.
Term
Character
Definition
A personality or role an actor/actress re-creates
Term
Characterization
Definition
The development and portrayal of a personality through thought, action, dialogue, costuming, and makeup.
Term
Climax
Definition
The point of greatest dramatic tension or transition in a theatrical work.
Term
Cold reading
Definition
A reading of a script done by actors who have not previously reviewed the play.
Term
Conflict
Definition
Opposition of persons or forces giving rise to dramatic action.
Term
Creative drama
Definition
An improvisational, process-centered form of theatre in which participants are guided by a leader to imagine, enact, and reflect on human experiences.
Term
Crisis
Definition
A decisive point in the plot of a play on which the outcome of the remaining action depends
Term
Critique
Definition
Opinions and comments based on predetermined criteria that may be used for self- evaluation or the evaluation of the actors or the production itself
Term
Cue
Definition
A signal, either verbal or physical, that indicates something else, such as a line of dialogue or an entrance, is to happen
Term
Denouement
Definition
The final resolution of the conflict in a plot
Term
Dialogue
Definition
The conversation between actors on stage
Term
Diction
Definition
The pronunciation of words, the choice of words, and the manner in which a person expresses himself or herself
Term
Downstage
Definition
The stage area toward the audience
Term
Dramatic structure
Definition
The particular literary structure and style in which plays are written
Term
Dress rehearsals
Definition
The final few rehearsals just prior to opening night in which the show is run with full technical elements.  Full costumes and makeup are worn
Term
Elizabethan theatre
Definition
The theatre of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and often extended to the close of the theatres in 1640
Term
Emotional memory
Definition
The technique of calling upon your own memories to understand a character’s emotions.
Term
Ensemble
Definition
A group of theatrical artists working together to create a theatrical production.
Term
Exposition
Definition
Detailed information revealing the facts of a plot
Term
Farce
Definition
A comedy with exaggerated characterizations, abundant physical or visual humor, and, often, an improbable plot.
Term
Gesture
Definition
An expressive movement of the body or limbs.
Term
Greek theatre
Definition
Theatrical events in honor of the god Dionysus in Ancient Greece and included play competitions and a chorus of masked actors
Term
Improvisation
Definition
A spontaneous style of theatre through which scenes are created without advance rehearsal or a script
Term
Kabuki
Definition
One of the traditional forms of Japanese theatre, originating in the 1600’s and combining stylized acting, costumes, makeup, and musical accompaniment.
Term
Level
Definition
The height of an actor’s head actor as determined by his or her body position (e.g., sitting, lying, standing, or elevated by an artificial means). 
Make
Term
Monologue
Definition
A long speech by a single character
Term
Motivation
Definition
A character’s reason for doing or saying things in a play
Term
Musical theatre
Definition
A type of entertainment containing music, songs, and, usually, dance
Term
Objective
Definition
A character’s goal or intention
Term
Pacing
Definition
The tempo of an entire theatrical performance
Term
Pantomime
Definition
Acting without words through facial expression, gesture, and movement
Term
Pitch
Definition
The highness or lowness of voice
Term
Projection
Definition
The placement and delivery of volume, clarity, and distinctness of voice for communicating to an audience
Term
Protagonist
Definition
The main character of a play and the character with whom the audience identifies most strongly
Term
Rising action
Definition
The part of a plot consisting of complications and discoveries that create conflict
Term
Run-through
Definition
A rehearsal moving from start to finish without stopping for corrections or notes
Term
Sense memory
Definition
Memories of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures.  It is used to help define a character in a certain situation.
Term
Stage crew
Definition
The backstage technical crew responsible for running the show.  In small theatre companies the same persons build the set and handle the load-in.  Then, during performances, they change the scenery and handle the curtain.
Term
Stage manager
Definition
The director’s liaison backstage during rehearsal and performance.  The stage manager is responsible for the running of each performance
Term
Stage left
Definition
The left side of the stage from the perspective of an actor facing the audience.
Term
Stage right
Definition
The right side of the stage from the perspective of an actor facing the audience
Term
Stock characters
Definition
Established characters, such as young lovers, neighborhood busybodies, sneaky villains, and overprotective fathers, who are immediately recognizable by an audience
Term
Subtext
Definition
Information that is implied by a character but not stated by a character in dialogue, including actions and thoughts
Term
Theatre
Definition
To imitate or represent life in performance for other people; the performance of dramatic literature; drama, the milieu of actors, technicians, and playwrights; the place where dramatic performances take place
Term
Theatre games
Definition
Noncompetitive games designed to develop acting skills and popularized by Viola Spolin
Term
Vocal quality
Definition
The characteristics of a voice, such as shrill, nasal, raspy, breathy, booming, and so forth
Term
Volume
Definition
The degree of loudness or intensity of a voice
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