Grade 8 Drama Notes; Copy
at least twenty of the most important notes into your notebook.
ACT
1) Subdivision between sections of a play. A short play is a
"One-Act-er", a play with one interval has two Acts etc. Acts are
subdivided further into Scenes.
ACTING AREA
That area within the performance space within which the actor may move in
full view of the audience.
AD LIB
The presence of mind by an actor to improvise when;
1) another actor fails to enter on cue
2) the normal progress of the play is disturbed
3) lines are forgotten
4) It may also be a bad habit developed by some actors whereby unnecessary
'gags' are introduced into the dialogue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWA7DONUG8Q
Section of the stage floor which projects towards or into the theatre
from the PROSCENIUM ARCH.
The part of the stage and theatre which is out of the sight of the
audience. The service areas of the theatre.
A spreadsheet that points out which actors are in each scene. A
schedule.
BEGINNERS
A call given by the SM to bring those actors who appear in the first part
of a play to the stage. e.g. "Act One Beginners to the stage, please".
The actors/actresses are then called by name.
Complete absence of stage lighting. Blue working lights backstage should
remain on except during a Dead Blackout (DBO), when there is no onstage light.
Exit signs and other emergency lighting must remain on at all times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuifmT8DgHw
1) Black clothing worn by stage management during productions. A
key to some magic tricks.
2) Any black drapes or tabs, permanently or temporarily rigged. They are used for masking
technical areas from being viewed by the audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geujnsOaUN8
BLOCKING
The process of arranging moves to be made by the actors during the play,
recorded by stage management in the prompt script. (using terms such as
"Gardner X DSL" meaning the Gardener crosses to downstage left.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuMgRN2Atvk
BOOK
FLAT
Two-fold piece of scenery. Book flats are free-standing when angled open,
allowing quick setting and compact storage.
BOX
SET
Naturalistic setting of a complete room built from flats with only the
side nearest the audience (the fourth wall) missing.
BREAK
A LEG
A superstitious and widely accepted alternative to "Good Luck"
(which is considered bad luck).
CAST
The members of the acting company.
CASTING
The process of the director choosing actors to perform the characters in
the play.
CATWALK
Any high area used for lighting or other technical needs. It is very
narrow and dangerous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xytUwJ3Xwhc
CHORUS:
They may or may not sing. These are actors that have no lines
other than singing in big production numbers. They are often seen as
unimportant, but they help the principles act by reacting to the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maNMQcuyoLk
COMIC RELIEF
A comic scene (or line)
included in an otherwise straight-faced play to provide a relief from tension
for the audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hashPaU7Dpk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07LFBydGjaM
COMPANY
The cast, crew and other staff associated with a show.
CUE
The command given to technical departments to carry out a particular
operation. E.g. Sound Cue. Normally given by stage management, but may be taken
directly from the action (i.e. a Visual or Audio Cue).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZfsQoHD3kw
CURTAIN
CALL
At the end of a performance, the acknowledgement of applause by actors -
the bows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeJM-7GDgy0
DIALOGUE
The spoken text of a play - conversations between characters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8wuxz-84nA Cut at 2:30 for time's sake.
DIRECTOR
Boss in charge of the actors and how they perform.
DIVA
A singer or actress that is excellent, but is difficult in a group setting because they
demand all of the attention.
DRAMA
QUEEN:
A person that is always involved in controversy and is always seeking
attention.
DRESS
REHEARSAL
A full rehearsal, with all technical elements, costumes, and props brought together. The
performance as it will be "on the night".
ENSEMBLE
An acting group. Normally used to describe a group of actors who work well
together, with no-one outshining the others.
FRONT
OF HOUSE (FOH)
1) Every part of the theatre in front of the stage. Includes foyer areas
open to the general public, and the outside of the theater.
This includes the MARQUEE.
This area can promote the show and sell tickets.
The
backstage areas of the theatre are known as Rear of House (ROH).
FLYING
PIECE
An object, actor, or piece of scenery that hangs or flies into the acting
area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNMJkAJpnpQ
Gel
A colored plastic sheet that goes over the lighting to
create effects.
IN
THE ROUND
Theatre in the Round is a form of audience seating layout where the
acting area is enclosed on all sides by seating.
INTERVAL/
INTERMISSION
Break between sections of a performance, normally half way through a
standard length performance (approx 1 hour each half) and is usually 15 or 20
minutes in duration.
MATINÉE
Afternoon performance of a show. (From the Latin for "of the
morning", but who does theatre in the morning?)
MONOLOGUE
Where the actor talks directly to the audience. Timing issue: Cut at
1:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KFVLWX7eEY
OVERTURE
Introductory musical
piece played before a musical which contains many of the musical motifs and
themes of the score.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEh3U1s10qo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEh3U1s10qo
PRODUCER
Boss in charge of organizing all of the details and people that put on the show.
Working with the DIRECTOR they decide how and what to build/ buy, when to
rehearse each part, and anything else the DIRECTOR needs. Above STAGE
MANAGER, but equal to the DIRECTOR- Just don't tell them that.
PROSCENIUM
ARCH
The arch above the stage that hides the curtain/TABS, CATWALK, and technical
equipment from the audience.
PROPS
(Properties) Furnishings, set dressings, and all items large and small which
cannot be classified as scenery, electrics or wardrobe.
1) A sequence of performances of the same production. (e.g. "How long is
the run of this show?" or "This show runs for two weeks")
2) A rehearsal of the whole show or a section of it (e.g."This afternoon's
rehearsal will be a run of Act II followed by notes").
1) To prepare the stage for action. (verb) - e.g. "Have you set the chairs
for Act 1?"
2) The complete stage setting for a scene or act. (noun) - e.g. "Change to
the bedroom set."
SIDES
Sides are a portion of the play or another play,
that the actors will use during the casting process. This allows the
producer and director to see what talents the actors have so they can cast the
play correctly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIvpOIUqKKA
SOMEBODY
The jerk that screws-up. When notes are given after a
rehearsal or performance, they are the un-named person that should have avoided
an error- but we all know who it was. "SOMEBODY was playing with the
props and broke the arm off of the prop baby. It totally ruined the next
scene!"
SPIKE
A piece of colored tape on the stage to indicate where items of scenery or
actors are to be placed.
STAGE
CREW/ CREW
All of the people that help with the technical parts of the show. They
may handle sound, lights, movement of props and furnishing. They work very
hard, and their hours are longer than the actors. The STAGE MANAGER is
their boss. Their attention to detail, memory, and speed are necessary to
do the job well.
STAGE LEFT / RIGHT
Left/ Right as seen from the actor's point of view on stage. ( Stage Left is
the right side of the stage when looking from the auditorium.) The
STAGE
MANAGER
They have the loudest voice in the company and will use it to get the job
done. They show up early, stay late, and will even sweep the floor because
they know it always needs to be done. A thank-less job that demonstrates
that they care about the show more than anyone. They keep everything, and
everyone in line. Stay out of his or her way.
Any stage curtains including a vertically flying front curtain (house tabs) and
especially a pair of horizontally moving curtains which overlap at the center.
A trap door hidden in the stage so that "Things" may
magically appear or disappear.
TYPECAST
An actor who is regularly cast in the same kind of roles is said to be TYPECAST.
If an actor has played similar roles for a while (e.g. muscle-bound baddie) and
is cast in a completely different role (e.g. a nanny) he's said to have been
cast "AGAINST TYPE".
UPSTAGE
1) The part of the stage furthest from the audience.
2) An actor drawing attention to himself away from the main action (by moving
around, or over-reacting to onstage events) is upstaging.
A cue taken by a technician from the action on stage rather than being cued by
the stage manager. Often abbreviated to "
WALK-ON
A small acting role with
no lines. Also known as SPEAR CARRIER.