Theater and stage jargon

About this list

Stage terms, backstage superstitions, and the words actors use about each other. A backstage scene lives or dies on getting these right.

198 terms, A to Z

act curtain

Synonym of front curtain.

ad lib

An instance of something improvised, especially a line.

angel

To support by donating money.

assistant stage manager

A backstage worker whose main responsibility is the maintenance and supply of props.

at liberty

Unemployed; out of work.

auguste

A kind of clown, usually serving as an anarchic foil to the whiteface.

bald-headed row

The front row of a theatre, traditionally occupied by elderly men and playboys.

behind the scenes

behind the scenery and stage area; backstage; among the actors; during the production or rehearsal

ben

A benefit (performance to raise funds).

bio box

A room, overlooking the theatre from the back, from which projection, lighting and sound are controlled.

bit part

A minor role, generally not assigned a name.

bit player

An actor who has a minor role in a production.

blackout skit

A skit after which all the lights are extinguished.

boat truck

A low wheeled platform used to move scenery.

book-bearer

A theatrical prompter.

Boston version

A bowdlerized version of a play to appeal to puritanical sensibilities.

box plan

An official seating chart, reservation ledger, or physical booking schedule used to map out and sell reserved seats for a performance.

break character

To fail to act as a certain character; to be or act out of character.

breeches role

A role in a theatrical production in which an actress appears in male clothing.

by-play

Action carried on aside, commonly in dumb show, while the main action proceeds; action not intended to be observed by some of the persons present.

camp it up

To act a part in an exaggerated or affected manner.

catch-breath

A pause to take a breath.

center stage

The area in the center of the stage, especially one towards the front.

cheat out

To face or turn toward the audience more than would be natural, for instance in a staged conversation.

citronella circuit

The round of summer stock theater performances.

coffee and cakes

A meagre salary.

comedy and tragedy

The genres of comedy and tragedy.

comedy mask

A mask representing comedy.

commedia dell'arte

An early form of Italian theatre characterised by stock characters in a variety of masks, popular in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century.

control booth

A room or area in a theater or studio which contains technical equipment for controlling things like lighting and sound for productions.

costar

A person who shares star billing with another.

cough and a spit

A minor role.

cross-cast

To cast an actor of the opposite gender to play a part.

cue-to-cue

Of a rehearsal: moving from one cue to the next, so that lighting etc. can be tested, without rehearsing scenes in their entirety.

curtain time

The time at which a play or performance is scheduled to commence.

dance drama

A theatrical form in which drama is conveyed through dance movements, frequently accompanied by costume, dialogue, and scenery.

deckhand

A stagehand.

diction

Enunciation, pronunciation, or both.

director of music

Synonym of musical director.

distancing effect

According to Bertold Brecht, performance in such a way that the audience is hindered from simply identifying itself with the characters in the play, and must evaluate their actions on an overt, conscious level.

docudrama

A type of drama (a film, play, television show, etc.) that combines elements of documentary and drama, to some extent showing real events and to some extent using actors performing recreations of documented events.

dog town

A town at which a play is performed for a less important audience to gauge the likelihood of general success.

drama mask

A mask associated with drama and acting; either a comedy mask or a tragedy mask.

dramatic beat

The smallest division of action in a play, film or other work of drama; The moment at which increasing dramatic tension produces a noticeable change in the consciousness of one or more characters.

dramaturgy

The art of dramatic composition for the stage.

dress the house

To position oneself, or others, so as to make the auditorium appear fuller than it really is.

drive-in theatre

An outdoor theater designed for concerts, stage plays, and similar events, featuring a parking lot where patrons can watch performances from their cars.

dry tech

A technical rehearsal without actors, focusing purely on integrating technical elements like lighting, sound, scenery shifts, and special effects to work out cues, timing, and transitions before performers are involved.

dumb show

A performance during which the players do not speak; mime.

exit

Used as a stage direction for an actor: to leave the scene or stage.

falling action

The events of a drama after the climax (or crisis) but before the denouement (or resolution).

fight choreography

The art of arranging and designing sequences of staged combats, such as for use in theatre or film productions.

fill light

A light that may be used to reduce the contrast of a scene to match the dynamic range of the recording media and capture the amount of detail typically seen by eye in average conditions.

final curtain

The last time the curtain is lowered, after a performance and any curtain calls.

fit-up

A portable stage that can be disassembled and taken from one venue to another.

five and nine

Basic facial greasepaint makeup.

flicker wheel

A rotating perforated disc that gives a flickery effect to light coming from behind it.

flown

Suspended in the flies.

fluff one's lines

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: To stumble over or otherwise misspeak one's lines.

four-waller

A company that rents a cinema or theater under a four-wall arrangement.

fourth wall joke

A joke that intentionally draws attention to the illusion of separation between the audience and the fiction itself.

front curtain

The curtain or curtains at the very front of the stage, separating it from the house.

front-of-house curtain

Synonym of front curtain.

garrulous

Excessively wordy and rambling.

ghost character

A character who is mentioned as appearing on stage, but does not do anything and seems to have no purpose.

ghost light

A light that is left energised on the stage of a theatre when the theatre is unoccupied and would otherwise be completely dark.

go to Cain's

To close a show.

god mic

A microphone typically kept backstage or in the control booth for speaking to the audience from offstage.

grand drape

Synonym of front curtain.

green man

In performances and pageants, a character adorned in foliage often carrying a club, who represents a wild man of the woods.

half

A call reminding performers that the performance will begin in thirty minutes.

ham

An overacting or amateurish performer; an actor with an especially showy or exaggerated style.

ham it up

To deliberately exaggerate one's emotions or movements, or to overact or act hammily.

hold the book

To act as prompter.

hold the stage

To continue to be produced.

house curtain

Synonym of front curtain.

improv

A form of live entertainment characterized by improvisation and interaction with the audience.

in character

Acting as the character, not as oneself.

ingenue

A dramatic role of such a woman; an actress playing such a role.

iron curtain

A barrier made of iron in a theatre, lowered between the stage and the auditorium for fire safety or to prevent communication.

jeune premier

actor who plays young hero/lover roles

jukebox musical

A musical consisting predominantly of songs that had been previously released and are well-known to the public, usually with a plot specifically written to accommodate them in the story.

keep the book

Synonym of hold the book (“to act as prompter”).

kitchen sink

Of or pertaining to a mid-20th-century (especially 1950s–1960s) genre of drama, fiction, etc., in Britain depicting the harsh lives of working-class people; also, of or pertaining to a film, novel, play, etc., of this…

kitchen sink realism

A British cultural movement that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s, characterized by its depiction of the gritty, often bleak, realities of working-class life.

legit

A legitimate; a legitimate actor.

light engineering

The technical discipline of the installation of lighting equipment and its utility on a set.

line

Expresses that the speaker has forgotten their dialogue and needs to be prompted with it.

logie

A piece of fake jewellery, typically made from zinc.

Macbeth trap

A kind of stage trapdoor rigged to drop below floor level and slide to one side.

Macready pause

A brief pause during the delivery of a speech in a play, to make the speaking seem more natural.

main curtain

Synonym of front curtain.

main drape

Synonym of front curtain.

main rag

Synonym of front curtain.

make an entrance

To enter the stage.

makeup call

A verbal or written request, or a scheduled time, for actors or models to be available for the application of cosmetics, hairstyling, etc. prior to a performance or photography session.

manet

Used in stage directions; literally, he, she or it remains. Compare exit, exeunt.

masking piece

Any scenic element, structure or object used to conceal unwanted areas of the stage, backstage, lighting equipment, or offstage space from the audience's view.

method acting

An acting technique in which the actor fully immerses themselves into the character they are playing.

miscue

To give an incorrect cue.

monodrama

A play in the form of a monologue

mug up

To paint one's face or put on a costume for the purpose of impersonation.

nervous hit

A production which receives generally favorable notice, but is not assured of success.

noises off

Sound effects produced offstage.

non-Aristotelian

Whose dramaturgical structure departs from the features of classical tragedy in favour of the features of the epic.

non-equity

Of a production: open to performers who are not members of the Actors' Equity Association union.

off book

No longer needing the script to rehearse.

off script

Saying words that are different than those that are written on a script.

off-book

Able to perform scripted material from memory, without need to refer to the text.

off-script

Saying words that are different than those that are written on a script.

olio drop

A large canvas or drop that is attached at the bottom to a long rigid tube rigged to roll as it rises out, used in vaudeville theater.

on book

Referencing a script; not recited from memory.

on the book

Acting as a prompter.

out of character

Not in character; not in the zone; not successfully performing within the mindset of a given character in a theatrical performance.

packed house

Synonym of full house; an event for which every seat is sold out, completely filled with an audience for a play, concert, or movie, creating a successful, packed venue.

pants role

A breeches role.

park and bark

Denoting a performer who speaks or sings while stationary, without moving or dancing.

parterre

A part of the section of theater seats located on the ground floor, on the same level as the orchestra.

persona muta

A nonspeaking role, a silent actor.

play a role

To portray a character in a performance.

points

Exaggerated speech or gestures used for emphasis during a performance.

poison at the box office

An unappealing play or film that sells very few tickets.

problem play

A form of drama that emerged in the 19th century as part of realism, dealing with contentious social issues through debates between the characters on stage, who typically represent conflicting points of view within a…

prop

An item placed on a stage or set to create a scene or scenario in which actors perform.

prop master

Clipped compound of property master.

property master

The person in a film or theatrical production responsible for the props.

props master

Clipped compound of property master.

proscenium arch

The arch that frames a theater stage, and separates it from the auditorium.

proscenium curtain

Synonym of front curtain.

regie-book

A director's notebook detailing the development of a production.

responsible

An actor taking on the lesser roles in repertory theatre.

restaging

A subsequent performance on the stage.

return piece

Synonym of jog (“type of flat”).

revenge tragedy

A theatrical genre in which revenge and its fatal consequences are the principal themes.

revolve

The rotation of part of the scenery within a theatrical production.

rock opera

A collection of rock songs which tell a story, often released as a single album.

run lines

To practice or memorize one's lines from a script outside of rehearsal, usually with another person.

satyr play

In ancient Greece, a genre of play featuring comedic dialogue and situations involving a chorus of satyrs, and performed following a trilogy of tragedies.

scene pack

A set of flats stored together for use in a particular scene.

scenic design

The creation of scenery for theatrical productions including plays and musicals.

scissor cross

Synonym of countercross.

scripter

A scriptwriter.

set design

Synonym of scenic design.

set dresser

A person who prepares the set with props and furniture to give it the correct appearance and to make sure that each item is in the correct position for each performance.

set dressing

The process of furnishing and decorating a film, TV, or theatre set with all the items that aren't held or used by actors to create a realistic, lived-in environment, and convey character, time period, mood, and story…

sit on one's hands

To fail to applaud when expected to.

soliloquy

The act of a character speaking to themselves so as to reveal their thoughts to the audience.

space work

The skill of handling imaginary objects and locations as part of a performance, especially in improv acting.

special effect

An effect that cannot be reasonably achieved by normal means, as for example by the digital manipulation of previously filmed footage.

spit take

A take (recorded performance), generally expressing surprise or disbelief, in which the actor in the act of drinking spits out the drink.

stage business

Actions performed by an actor on stage done for dramatic effect; especially, action carried out with a prop or piece of clothing, usually away from the focus of the scene, with or without any dialogue.

stage combat

The art of arranging, designing or performing sequences of simulated fighting, especially in theatrical productions.

stage crew

The crew of stagehands that work behind the scenes to make a show happen.

stage design

Synonym of scenic design.

stage flat

Broadway flat

stage left

The area to the left of the stage when looking towards the audience.

stage manager

A person responsible for the organization of a stage production, and who is in charge of the stage during the performance.

stage right

The area to the right of the stage when looking towards the audience.

stage screw

A forged, or sometimes cast low thread count cut thread screw with a handle (sometimes made up of three holes) used to hold scenery in place in theaters (mostly prior to the 1990s).

stage whisper

A line that is performed on stage as if it were whispered, but is spoken loud enough for the audience to hear.

stage-stricken

Synonym of stagestruck.

stagger-through

The rehearsal of an entire show.

straight play

A play that is not a musical

studio flat

Hollywood flat

Sturm und Drang

A proto-Romantic movement in German literature and music which occurred from the late 1760s to the early 1780s, emphasizing individual subjectivity and the free expression of emotions.

sung-through

Being entirely sung; featuring no spoken dialogue (except for recitative).

tab

A tableau curtain.

tableau curtain

A stage curtain of a kind that rises diagonally, not revealing the entire stage.

tear a cat

To overact; to violently rant and rave on stage.

tear-cat

An overactor.

tear-mouth

An overactor.

tear-throat

An overactor.

technical rehearsal

A rehearsal that focuses on the technological aspects of the performance, such as lighting and stage arrangement.

tentpole

A large-scale entertainment production that is a major source of revenue for its studio, television network, or investors.

Thalia and Melpomene

Synonym of comedy and tragedy (all senses).

the ghost walks

The manager comes to pay the company's salaries.

the show must go on

Regardless of what happens, whatever show has been planned still has to be staged for the waiting patrons.

three-sheet

To exaggerate, hype up, or show off.

thrust stage

A stage that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its upstage end.

top billing

The most prominent name on lists of cast and crew, or in advertising.

tragedy mask

A mask representing tragedy, depicting a weeping face.

tragic hero

A hero who suffers from a tragic flaw that eventually causes his downfall.

tragic heroine

A heroine who suffers from a tragic flaw that eventually causes her downfall; a female tragic hero.

trouser role

A breeches role.

trunk-maker

A critic who pounds upon the benches in a show of approval.

unity of action

The classical unity that states that a play should have one action that it follows, with minimal subplots.

unity of place

The classical unity that states that a play should exist in a single physical space and should not attempt to compress geography, nor should the stage represent more than one place.

unity of time

The classical unity stating that the action of a play should take place over no more than twenty-four hours.

upper circle

the gods

upstaging

A stealing of the spotlight, as (or as if) one performer eclipses another in the audience's attention.

vampire trap

A kind of trapdoor with spring leaves, giving the illusion of the user passing through the solid wall or floor.

variety show

A type of entertainment featuring a succession of short, unrelated performances by various artistes such as (depending on the medium) acrobats, comedians, dancers, magicians, singers, etc.

walking gentleman

A male actor who usually fills subordinate parts which require a gentlemanly appearance but few words.

walking lady

A female actor who usually fills subordinate parts which require a ladylike appearance but few words.

well firmed

Well prepared, having thoroughly memorized one's part.

wet tech

The first full technical rehearsal that includes actors, costumes, props, lighting, and sound working together.

word-perfect

Having memorized one's lines perfectly; letter-perfect.

yes and

To go along with what is offered, especially in a performative context, and to accept and expand upon it; to go with the flow; to take it in stride.