Drama

• Audience Perspective- The audience's point of view and how they may respond.
• Believability- The willing suspension of disbelief; Knowing what is on stage is fake but 'believing' that it is real.
• Blocking- The positioning of the actor in relation to the set and the audience. Movement of the actor(s) on stage from one place to another, e.g., movement from centre stage to downstage centre.
• Chanting/Choral Speaking- The reading or reciting of a text by a group. This involves interpretation; experimentation with language, rhythm, volume, and pace; and rehearsal
• Characterization/Character Development- The use of voice, movement, gesture, facial expression, and non-verbal communication along with other factors in order to portray a given character.
• Concentration- The ability for an actor to focus
• Cue- A word or change in action on stage that lets an actor know that they must give a line (e.g. lights come up and the actor begins her monologue)
• Drama from Source- Creating a dramatic piece from literature, poetry, scripture, etc.
• Dress Rehearsal- A rehearsal before a performance where all lighting, sound and costume is used, simulating the exact performance as it will be on open lighting
• Ensemble- Working together as one on a dramatic piece or a dance that reinforces the importance of the group.
• Floor plan- A drawing or a plan of the structure for an acting problem.
• Focus- Exclusive attention to one detail of a task.
• Gesture- Expressive bodily actions such as lifting an eyebrow, shrugging the shoulders, pointing, etc. Gestures should be definite and clear.
• Give and take- Shifting of focus within a given scene
• Given Circumstances- Who, What, Where, When, and Why. Information utilized for development in a given situation
• Hot Seating- The student or teacher in role is interviewed by peers/teachers in order to clarify information about the role or about the drama at hand. The interviewing students may also be in role.
• Improvisation- A spontaneous or planned response to a dramatic situation.
• In Role- Participation in a role within the drama as a character.
• Interpretation- Looking for a deeper meaning and understanding of a text or character
• Levels- The use of positioning various performers on stage to depict certain relationships, mood, etc. (e.g. standing, kneeling, sitting, leaning, raised on a platform, etc.)
• Masking- Interference with the audience sightlines. An actor purposely covering his/her actions, or another actor, or a prop.
• Mirroring- An exact duplication or response to the action(s) of another student.
• Monologue- A character who is verbalizing feelings and thoughts on stage by themselves.
• Off-book- The point at which actors no longer need their scripts to perform the dialogue in a performance.
• Role Playing- Adopting the point of view of a character in any imaginary situation to try to understand that character's feelings and thought processes.
• Sidecoach- An assist given by the teacher to students during the solving of a problem and to help them keep focus.
• Sightlines- The clarity of vision of an individual in the audience to every individual working on stage.
• Soundscape- Voices or instruments used to create a mood or describe an environment.
• Stage business- Actions or Behaviors; usually created by the actor, used to clarify characterization or create atmosphere.
• Stage Picture- The overall look on stage from the audience's point of view.
• Strike- The removal of props, furniture, and sets on stage
• Sub-text- Reading between the lines for deeper understanding.
• Tableau- An individual or group picture representing a moment in time or a scene, abstract idea, or theme.
• Tempo/Rhythm- The pacing or flow of a scene
• Transitional Movement- The movement from one illustration of a particular theme, scene, or idea to another
• Vocal Quality/Expression- The student's proper use of articulation, projection, intonation, and tone of his/her voice in order to portray a given character.
• Vocal Variety- The student's proper use of emotion in his/her voice to portray a given character within a scene