Theatre 1L to J Quiz

Debbie MacKinneyTanque Verde High School, Tucson, AZ

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A group of actors in Greek drama who commented on the main action of the play

1Chorus

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The first actor to step out of the Greek chorus

and have individual lines, which resulted in the term we still give

actors today

2Thespis

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Using the entire playing space and/or bringing energy to

yourself

3Taking the stage

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The clear and precise

pronunciation of words

4Articulation

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A type of stage where the

audience view is framed

5Proscenium

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Information that is implied by a

character through dialogue and actions,

but isn’t stated

6Subtext

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A reading of a script done by actors who have not previously reviewed the play

(usually in an audition)

7Cold reading

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Carefully noting people’s emotions, physical

characteristics, and vocal patterns to create a

character

8Observation

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The use of height of an actor above the stage floor and other

actors

9Levels

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A silent, motionless depiction of a scene created by actors, often forming a

picture

10 Tableau

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Improperly taking attention from an actor who should

be the focus

11Upstaging

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The stage position an actor takes between other actors or set pieces so they are

visible to the audience

12Window

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The planning and working out of the

movements an actor makes on stage

13Blocking

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Acting without words through facial

expression, gesture, and movement

14Pantomime

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The imaginary wall through which the audience watches

the play

15Fourth wall

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Specific areas of the stage used to define

movement

16Stage direction

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Using different kinds of pitch, tone, speed and volume in

speaking and singing

17Vocal variety

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Actions, gestures, posture, and movements that show personality or

emotional state of a character

18Physicality

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An expressive movement of any part

of the body

19Gesture

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The question of what an actor would do if they were this character in these given

circumstances of the play

20Magic if

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The main arrangement of events in a play

21Plot

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The second line of action in a play

that is less important than the

main story

22Subplot

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A struggle between two opposing forces

that creates the dramatic action in a

play

23Conflict

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The facts of the play—who, what, when,

where, why

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Given circumstances

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A condition of balance or unchanging stability of the world of the play

at the beginning

25Stasis

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The conflict or event that throws off the balance

and sets the action of the play in motion

26Intrusion

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The series of events leading to the climax

27Rising action

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The point of the play where the tension is the highest; the peak of the

conflict

28Climax

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The main character of the play that moves the action

forward

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Protagonist

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The person or situation that opposes another character’s goals or

desires

30Antagonist

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A type of play in which the protagonist fails to achieve

what they want or is overcome by opposing

forces

31Tragedy

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A type of play with humorous situations that

could involve a low character rising in

status, a misunderstanding, etc.

that usually has a happy ending

32Comedy

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A twist in which a character in high status falls, or a character in

low status rises

33Reversal

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The basic idea or ideas

of a play

34Theme

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A character’s rank in society according to a

general order of importance

35Status

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The visual symmetry of the

stage

36Balance

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To move from one position to another

onstage

37Cross

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To move from one position to another on stage AFTER another

actor moves in order to balance out the stage

picture

38Counter cross

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The stage technique in which an actor who is

facing sideways pivots the torso and turns the face

toward the audience

39Cheat out

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The part of acting that involves using hand

props, stage props, other actors, or parts of the set

40Stage business

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A rehearsal session where a section of script is

worked on with stops and starts to incorporate

changes

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Work through

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A rehearsal session where a script is

practiced with few or no stops

42Run through

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A rehearsal where lighting, sound, sets and props are used so that

transitions can go smoothly

43Tech rehearsal

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An uninterrupted rehearsal with full costumes, makeup,

hair and props—the final rehearsal before the first

performance

44Dress rehearsal

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The offstage areas to the right and left of the set used as entrances

and exits but concealing backstage

areas

45Wings

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To remove objects from the stage, or dismantle the set

46Strike

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A larger section of speech by a single

actor

47Monologue

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A portion of a script, usually used for cold

readings in an audition

48Sides

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A spontaneous style of theatre through which

scenes are created without advance

rehearsal or script

49Improvisation

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The section of the stage in front of

the curtain

50Apron

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51Menu