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Dram 202 Exam 1
Dram 202 Exam 1
115
Fine Art
Undergraduate 4
02/23/2009
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Term
Apron
 Definition
The portion of the stage nearest to the audience and in front of the proscenium arch or house curtain
Term
Area
 Definition
a portion of the stage that has been designated for use during the playing of a scene. the stage is divided into specific "___", such as down, right, up, left etc.
Term
Aside
 Definition
A short speech intended only for the ears of the audience, and by convention not heard by other characters on stage. A typical device, for example, of nineteenth century melodrama, it may be used to impart information of expose the secret thoughts of the speaker.
Term
Backdrop
 Definition
Usually a large piece of canvas or other material behind the stage setting, sometimes with a detailed scene painted on it.
Term
Backstage
 Definition
The area in back or to the sides of the setting not seen by the audience.
Term
Balance
 Definition
The equalization of attention by brining actors, properties, set pieces, and other elements into harmony so as to achieve the required physical equilibrium.
Term
Below
 Definition
A position or area nearer to the audience. The downstage area is "___" the upstage area.
Term
Blackout
 Definition
Throwing the playing area into complete darkness by the sudden turning off of all stage lights.
Term
Blocking
 Definition
The planned movement and stage compositions of the production as developed during the early rehearsals.
Term
Border
 Definition
A curtain hanging behind but parallel to the proscenium to aid in masking lights, the working rigging, and the fly space.
Term
Box Set
 Definition
Interior setting consisting of three walls and often a ceiling as well. One of the most common of realistic settings.
Term
Build
 Definition
The increase in energy, tension, or emotional key directed toward a climax, either in a specific scene or through the progress of the play.
Term
Business
 Definition
Detailed pieces of action developed to enhance characterization, establish mood, and so on. Not the same as the basic stage movement.
Term
Call
 Definition
The announcement that warns actors when they are to be ready for rehearsals, performances, and individual scenes.
Term
Climax
 Definition
the high point of interest and/or action in a play , act, scene, or speech. The "___" of a play will invariably occur in the second half of the piece after the rising action and before the falling action
Term
Close
 Definition
To turn or adjust the body position so that the actor is turned away from the audience
Term
Closed Turn
 Definition
A turn on stage in which the back of the actor is seen by the audience during the turn.
Term
Company
 Definition
The persons involved in the production of a play. May also refer to a permanent group involved in a succession of productions, as a "summer stock" "___".
Term
Counter
 Definition
A shifting of position to compensate for the movement of another actor in order to re-achieve a balanced and pleasing stage composition.
Term
Cover
 Definition
To hide from view of the audience another actor, property, or piece of business. Often used deliberately so as not to make obvious the faking of an extremely difficult piece of business, as in a stage fight, stabbing, and so on.
Term
Cross
 Definition
A movement on stage from one area to another.
Term
Cue
 Definition
The action or dialogue that signals that the next line is to be spoken or certain business and movement is to take place.
Term
Curtain Call
 Definition
The receipt of applause by the cast as the curtain is raised at the end of the play.
Term
Cyclorama
 Definition
A backdrop surrounding the setting on three sides. Occasionally used to represent the sky, it is nonspecific in detail.
Term
Dialogue
 Definition
The words spoken by the actors in the play.
Term
Downstage
 Definition
The general stage area nearest to the audience.
Term
Dress Rehearsal
 Definition
A rehearsal prior to performance that unites all the elements of the production exactly as they will function during actual performance.
Term
Emphasis
 Definition
The highlighting or accenting of a particular portion or feature of the production. The actor may give "___" to a specific action or to a key line and even to one word.
Term
Entrance
 Definition
Coming on stage in view of the audience. Can also refer to the opening in the setting that permits the actor to make his or her way on stage.
Term
Exit
 Definition
Leaving the playing area of the stage. It can also refer to the doorway or other opening in the setting through which the actor leaves.
Term
Exposition
 Definition
Material in the play that is included to give the audience the background required in order to understand the development of the story. Often refs to action that has occurred prior to the beginning of the play. Hence the "____" in a play is most likely to occur in the opening scenes.
Term
Extras
 Definition
Actors who appear in a play with no lines and little or no characterization. They are needed to perform a certain function in the play, as in the case of a member of a crowd scene.
Term
Falling Action
 Definition
The decrease in energy, tension, or emotional key after a climax.
Term
Flat
 Definition
A light wooden frame covered by canvas that constitutes the primary unit used to build such settings as a box set.
Term
Flies
 Definition
he area immediately over the stage where scenery can be raised by a system of pulleys and counterweights.
Term
Floodlight
 Definition
A large lighting used for illumination of broad portions of the stage, general rather than specific in the area it lights, as it cannot be focused.
Term
Floor Plan
 Definition
An outline drawing of the setting indicating only the design of the setting as it would be seen from above.
Term
Flub
 Definition
A blunder during performance, such as a missed line or one that is garbled in its execution.
Term
Focal Point
 Definition
The point of greatest interest on stage during the playing of a scene.
Term
Follow Spot
 Definition
A spotlight that is not permanently focused on one position but can follow the movement of an actor about the playing area.
Term
Footlights
 Definition
Lights located in the stage floor at the edge of the forestage and permitting general illumination.
Term
Forestage
 Definition
See apron: The portion of the stage nearest to the audience and in front of the proscenium arch or house curtain
Term
Front
 Definition
The auditorium and/or lobby, as distinguished from the stage. Used in such terms as "__" of house and out "__".
Term
Give Stage
 Definition
To change stage position so as to permit greater emphasis to be focused on another actor.
Term
Green Room
 Definition
Traditionally the gathering place for actors in the backstage area, often serving a social function as well.
Term
Grid (Gridiron)
 Definition
A framework of steel beams above the stage that supports the rigging required to fly scenery.
Term
Heads up!
 Definition
A warning indicating a piece of scenery or other object is falling or being lowered.
Term
Hold
 Definition
To stop the action of the play, whether movement or diaglogue, usually because of applause or laughter.
Term
House
 Definition
The part of the theater in front of the footlights, as opposed to the stage and backstage areas. Usually the auditorium, as in "How's the "___" tonight? Meaning many seats are filled.
Term
In
 Definition
Toward center of the stage.
Term
Kill
 Definition
To spoil the planned effectiveness of a line, a movement, a piece of business, or a technical effect, usually be miscalculation in timing.
Term
Lines
 Definition
Either 1 the speeches of the actors, or 2 the sets of ropes supported by the grid that are used to fly in scenery.
Term
Mask
 Definition
To conceal from the view of the audience any area of the stage not intended to be seen.
Term
Melodrama
 Definition
A serious play in which the primary emphasis is on spectacle and contrived action rather than logical character development and relationships.
Term
Move on
 Definition
A movement on the same plane toward the center of the stage, either from stage left or stage right.
Term
Off stage
 Definition
the area of the stage not visible to the audience.
Term
On stage
 Definition
The area of the stage intended to be visible to the audience.
Term
Open
 Definition
to turn or adjust the body position so that the actor can play more directly to the audience.
Term
Open Turn
 Definition
A turn on stage in which the audience sees the front of the actor during the turn.
Term
Out
 Definition
A direction away from the center stage
Term
Overlap
 Definition
To speak or move before the indicated cue, or before another speech or movement is completed.
Term
Overplay
 Definition
To give to a scene, dialogue, or action greater exaggeration and emphasis than is required.
Term
Pantomime
 Definition
The acting out of an incident or story with out words
Term
Parallel Movement
 Definition
The movement on stage of two or more characters in the same direction at the same time.
Term
Pick up
 Definition
A command to increase the pace of the playing, often in reference to the shortening of the interval between the cue and the next line or action.
Term
Places!
 Definition
A command instructing the company that an act, in rehearsal or performance, is about to begin and each member is to take the proper position.
Term
Plant
 Definition
To call attention to an object or fact that will have special significance later in the play.
Term
Play Script
 Definition
The copy of the play including the dialogue and author's stage directions.
Term
Play up
 Definition
To emphasize a key line, movement, or piece of business so that it will have greater significance.
Term
Plot
 Definition
The story of the play that is developed by the playwright in a logical sequence of events.
Term
Practical
 Definition
A functioning prop that can actually be used by the actor rather than one that is ornamental and cannot be used, in the literal sense. A window that opens, a tap that runs water, are "___".
Term
Precast
 Definition
To choose actors for specific roles before the tryout period is held.
Term
Production
 Definition
All the various elements that make up the finished play ready to be seen by an audience.
Term
Prompter
 Definition
The person who aids a forgetful actor by reading aloud key words or lines from off stage, usually from the wings.
Term
Props
 Definition
All the furniture, set pieces, and objects that are seen on the stage. Large pieces or "__" that are not used by the actors are called stage "__". Small "__" used by actors are called hand "__". "__" used only by one character and brought on stage by the actor are termed personal "__".
Term
Proscenium
 Definition
The wall and arch that set off the stage area from the audience.
Term
Protagnonist
 Definition
The central figure or hero of the play, from the Greek term meaning the first actor.
Term
Ramp
 Definition
a sloping platform used to serve the same functions as a step unit.
Term
Rehearsal
 Definition
The organized periods during which the cast prepares the play for production.
Term
Return
 Definition
a flat set parallel to the footlights and at the downstage edge of the setting running of into the wings, just above the tormentor.
Term
Rising Action
 Definition
the increase in energy, tension, or emotional key directed toward a climax
Term
Routine
 Definition
A specially rehearsed sequence of actions, as a dance or song number.
Term
Run-Through
 Definition
A rehearsal in which an entire scene or act is played without any interruptions.
Term
Scene
 Definition
Either 1 a portion of an act, which be the nature of the action, or some arbitrary division, is a distinct unit by itself, or 3 the locale indicated by the setting, as in the "__" is et in a small living room
Term
Set
 Definition
Either 1 to make permanent the reading of lines or movement and business after a series of rehearsals or 2 an abbreviation for setting, the arrangement of scenery and properties that designate the locale of the action
Term
Setting
 Definition
The arrangement of scenery and properties that designate the locale of the action
Term
Share
 Definition
To take a position on stage so that equal emphasis is afforded two or more actors.
Term
Sides
 Definition
A typed script that includes only the speeches of one actor and the relevant cues.
Term
Sight lines
 Definition
The visibility of the playing area from the audience, usually from the seats on the extreme right and left sides of the house.
Term
Soliloguy
 Definition
A monologue spoken by th eactor as an extension of his or her thoughts and not directed to, or by convention overheard by an other actor. It is longer than an aside, and usually the actor delivering the "__" is alone on stage.
Term
Spotlight
 Definition
A lighting unit used to light only a small section of the stage.
Term
Stage Directions
 Definition
Instructions in the play script relative to movement, business, and so on.
Term
Stage left, stage right
 Definition
To the left and right of the actor when facing the audience
Term
Static Scene
 Definition
A scene with little or no movement and often having a slow pace.
Term
Steal
 Definition
The act of having an actor assume emphasis by drawing attention away from the character to whom it would normally be paid. The term is often used in a derogatory sense.
Term
Step unit
 Definition
one group of several steps used in the stage setting
Term
Stock Company
 Definition
A permanent group of actors that puts on a number of different plays during a comparatively brief period of time, as in a summer season.
Term
Strong
 Definition
Having high attention value, as in strong position or area.
Term
Subordination
 Definition
To treat any element of the production as of minor or secondary importance so as to focus emphahsis elsewhere.
Term
Tag line
 Definition
The final line of a character when leaving the stage or just prior to the fall of the curtain.
Term
Take Stage
 Definition
To assume a more prominent body position or move to the most emphatic area so as to receive the focus of attention.
Term
Teaser
 Definition
a border drapery that masks the fly space and determines the height of the stage opening. It is located behind the house curtain and immediately in front of the tormentors.
Term
Telescope
 Definition
To have 2 or more actors overlap the reading of lines or execution of business.
Term
Tempo
 Definition
The impression that audience receives of the general rate of the production. Directly dependent upon pace.
Term
Throw Away
 Definition
to underplay deliberately a line or business, often to achieve greater emphasis elsewhere in the scene or play.
Term
Timing
 Definition
The exact use of time, carefully planned to achieve maximum effectiveness in the reading of a line, execution of business, or movement.
Term
Top
 Definition
To so emphasize a line or an action that is more emphatic than the line or action that precedes it.
Term
Tormentors
 Definition
Two matching flats, usually black in color, located slightly upstage of the teaser and serving to mask the wings or to vary the size or width of the playing area. Together with the teaser, they effectively serve as a picture frame for the stage setting.
Term
Trap
 Definition
An opening in the stage floor that can be used for the ascent or descent of characters or objects. Usually covered by a hinged, removable door.
Term
Tryout
 Definition
the auditioning of actors for roles in the forthcoming production
Term
Walk-On
 Definition
A small role without any lines
Term
Warming up
 Definition
Exercising the body and/or voice prior to rehearsal or performance.
Term
Weak
 Definition
Having relatively low attention to value,, as in a "___" position or area.
Term
Wing Setting
 Definition
Several hinged flats, often in matching pairs, set in sequence at stage right and stage left masking the offstage area. Most frequently used with a backdrop to enclose the playing area.
Term
Wings
 Definition
The offstage areas to the right and to the left of the playing space.
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