[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-409779-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-409779-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","list-of-theatrical-terminology","List of Theatrical Terminology","","Comprehensive glossary of theatrical terms used in stagecraft and performance. Covers spatial concepts (e.g., upstage, apron, acting area), production elements (curtains, act changes, painted drops), and performance practices (acting, ad lib, auditions). Includes backstage and technical roles and functions, plus historical and organizational references such as professional actor unions and training institutions. Provides plain-language definitions explaining how terminology applies during rehearsals and performances.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/literature/","Literature",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/list-of-theatrical-terminology/409779/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/list-of-theatrical-terminology/409779.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Genevieve","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-31","2026-09-28",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",7,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What does “upstage” mean in theatre terminology?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"“Upstage” refers to the area of the stage farthest away from the audience. A stage direction may use it to indicate an actor should move “above” or toward that side.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What is an “abstract stage”?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"An “abstract stage” uses the bare minimum of setting, such as free-standing doors or limited furnishings. It emphasizes stylistic rather than realistic representation.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What is “acting area” and why do lighting designers use it?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"An “acting area” is a small stage zone that has its own set of lights. Lighting designers divide the stage this way to create balanced lighting for performers.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},409779,1790822336,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,91,95,100,105,109,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":89,"slug":90},80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":92,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":110,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":26,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":89},1374391974585,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","List of Theatrical Terminology  \n(A)  \nabove--that area of the stage farthest away from the audience. A written stage direction might call for an actor to \"cross above table. \" Also called upstage. Term originated from original raked stage which was angled to give audience member a better view of entire stage.  \nabstract stage--one in which the bare minimum of setting is used such as free-standing doors, free-hung windows, limited furnishings; stylistic rather than realistic.  \nacetone--strong solvent used to remove spirit gum or other adhesives used in makeup.  \nacoustics--the total effect of sound in a theatre, affected by size and shape of a space as well as its furnishings and floor coverings.  \nact--1. the major division of a play; [2. to](2. to) perform by representing a character in a play. act change--a change of setting, props, lights, and/or costumes between acts.  \nact curtain--the front of main curtain on a prescenium stage directly behind the grand drapery.  \nact drop--the painted curtain closing the proscenium between the qacts of a play, so-called ruing the latter part of the eighteenth century.  \nacting--creating an illusion with behavior attributed to a particular character, project by voice and movement to an audience.  \nacting area--a small area of the stage that has its own set of lights. Lighting designers often divide the stage into acting areas in order to create balanced lighting.  \nacting edition--softbound copy of the script which often contains the stage directions, sound and light, cues, prop lists and costume descriptions from the prompt script of the world premier production. It is important to note that this added information was not provided by the playwright.  \nacting play--one having a wide variety of dramatics as opposed to a literary play which depends on the effective delivery of lines for success.  \naction--the incidents of a play as expressed through the dialogue and movement of the characters.  \nactor proof--a term meaning the script is so good that any actor, regardless of his ability, could succeed in using it.  \nactors-- individuals who, within the performance contract, enact characters or situations other than their own, using as the materials of the art, their own body and voice. The term“actor” applies to both women and men.  \nActor’s Equity Association--165 West 46 Street, New York, New York 10036. Founded in 1912, this organization serves as a labor union for professional actors.  \nActor's Studio--a well-known American training school devoted to teaching the Stanislavski system of acting.  \nactor trap--a slang term assigned to any technical situation that will trip up an inattentive actor ,e.g., an uneven step on a staircase.  \nactress--a female actor.  \nad lib--to improvise words and actions  \nadaptation--a play taken from a novel, a movie or other literary material; pdates of earlier plays; musical adaptations of straight plays.  \nadvance--refers ot tickets sold before the productgion begins  \nadvance man--someone who travels ahead of any traveling production arranging for the theatre, publicity, housing, etc.  \naesthetic distance--a detachment that allows a viewer's attention to be held, and his emotions appealed to while the viewer is aware that he is a spectator in the theatre.  \nagent--a professional representative who take care of bookings and negotiate performance contracts.  \nal fresco--open air theatre.  \nallegory--a drama in which a character becomes a symbol for a concept or idea.  \namateur--an actor who is not a member of one of the acting unions.  \namber--the yellow-red light filter varying from light straw to dark flame.  \nAmerican Educational Theatre Association (AETA) --organization in support of educational theatre found in universities, high schools, and community theatres.  \namphitheatre--an oval or round structure having levels of seats rising outward from an open space or arena.  \nangel--someone who provides financial support to a company or production.  \nan","cbCaimXyUGFsQtLI","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaimXyUGFsQtLI","pdf",363166,52,"English","# A\n## acting area\n## acting edition\n## acting play\n## act curtain\n## act drop\n## act change\n## acting\n## act\n## acoustics\n## adaptation\n## advance\n## advance man\n## aesthetic distance\n## agent\n## al fresco\n## allegory\n## amateur\n## amber\n## American Educational Theatre Association (AETA)\n## amphitheatre\n## angel\n## antagonist\n## anti-climax\n## anti-type casting\n## apron\n## arbor\n## architectural set\n## arena stage/theatre-in-the-round\n## aria\n## aside\n## assistant stage manager\n## atmosphere\n## at rise\n## auditions\n## avant garde\n# B\n## baby spot\n## backdrop\n## backing\n## back light\n## backstage","[{\"question\":\"What does “upstage” mean in theatre terminology?\",\"answer\":\"“Upstage” refers to the area of the stage farthest away from the audience. A stage direction may use it to indicate an actor should move “above” or toward that side.\"},{\"question\":\"What is an “abstract stage”?\",\"answer\":\"An “abstract stage” uses the bare minimum of setting, such as free-standing doors or limited furnishings. It emphasizes stylistic rather than realistic representation.\"},{\"question\":\"What is “acting area” and why do lighting designers use it?\",\"answer\":\"An “acting area” is a small stage zone that has its own set of lights. Lighting designers divide the stage this way to create balanced lighting for performers.\"}]","List of Theatrical Terminology | PDF",1790583239]