Drama Terms

• Acoustics is the science of sound as applied to theaters, relating to how sound travels and reverberates
• Anti-timing is the failure of some actors who seem to be too slow or too fast in responding to action or dialogue onstage
• An audition as a noun is the opportunity for an actor to display his or her talents when seeking a role in an upcoming production of a play. As a verb, it is to give a brief performance at such an occasion
• Backstage is the entire area behind the stage of a theater, including the dressing rooms
• Blocking refers to stage movements by actors, including entrances, exits, and any steps taken in any directions across the stage
• A double-take is an exaggerated facial response to another actor's words or actions, usually used for comic effect
• Downstage is the area of the stage closest to the audience
• Equity is a commonly used short term for the main stage actors' union, Actors' Equity Association
• Finding your light is an actor's ability to sense when he or she is properly placed for stage lighting
• A flop is a theatrical production that fails to draw an audience, regardless of whether the critics liked it or not
• A ham is an actor who gives a very broad or exaggerated performance
• In-the-round is a theater in which the audience is seated on all four sides of a central stage
• Mannerisms are gestures, facial expressions, and vocal tricks that a particular actor uses again and again in different roles
• Method Acting is an internalized form of acting that uses experiences from an actor's personal life to help produce onstage emotion
• Mimicry is an actor's ability to sound and/or look like someone else, usually a famous person
• A monologue is a speech used by an actor to demonstrate his or her ability at an audition
• Notes are instructions, usually regarding changes in an actor's blocking or performance, given after a rehearsal by the director, music director, choreographer, or stage manager
• Pace is the relative progress at which a scene is played
• Projection is the act of presenting an emotion as well as using voice so it can be heard even in the back rows of the theater
• Rehearsals involve the preparation and repetition of performance
• Typecasting is giving an expected role to an actor that is related to his or her appearance or personality