What is the meaning of each of the theater terms? the side of the stage that is not visible to the audience the stage floor that falls between the front edge of the stage and the stage curtain to act out a situation with only actions and no dialogue the curtain that covers the back and rear of the stage

Common Theater Terms

Let’s take a look at some terms that are commonly used in theater.

aisle: the passage between two rows of seats

apron: the part of the stage floor that falls between the front edge of the stage and the stage curtain

aside: the dialogue a character speaks directly to the audience which is inaudible to the other characters

audition: process of selecting actors for a role in a play wherein aspiring actors showcase their acting skills

backdrop: the cloth or canvas hanging on a stage to look like scenery

backstage: the other side of the stage that is not visible to the audience

blackout: the state when all lights in the theater are shut off just before the show begins

break a leg: a superstitious way of wishing a theater performer good luck

cyclorama: a curtain that covers the back and rear of the stage

downstage: the section of the stage that is closest to the audience

farce: an exaggerated form of comedy

floodlights: artificial lights that illuminate a wide section of the stage

fourth wall: the non-existent wall between the stage performers and the audience

improvisation: a spontaneous dialogue or action, not present in the script, created by an actor on the spot

melodrama: a dramatic or emotional plot that presents situations and characters in an exaggerated way

monologue: a long speech delivered by one character

offstage: that part of the stage that is out of the audience’s sight

onstage: any section of the stage that the audience can see

pantomime: to act out a situation with only actions and no dialogue  

props: all accessories used in the play

raked stage: a slightly slanted stage

tableau: a short pause during or after a scene where the performers on stage freeze in their positions

upstage: the section of the stage afar from the audience

voice-over: voice of the narrator who is not visible to the audience  

wings: sides of the stage that are not visible to the audience

Explanation: