Drama Vocabulary Week 7

Apron Part of the stage that protrudes out from the proscenium.

Arena Theatre Staging set-up in which the audience sits on all four sides of the playing area

Backdrop Painted curtain without folds that gives the illusion of a 3-D set.

Batten Rod suspended over the stage from which lights and scenery are hung

Blocking The pattern of movement that an actor follows

Curtain A set of hanging drapery for concealing all of part of the stage or set from the view of the audience

Dimmers Controllers that are used to gradually bring the lights up or down

Flat Canvas covered wooden frame used to create scenery

Fourth Wall The imaginary “wall” that makes up the rest of the space in which the play takes place. It is the place where the audience is.

House Seating within the auditorium

Legs Curtains that hang straight down or the right and left sides of the stage

Pit Area between the stage and the first row of seats

Proscenium Arch Architectural arch that forms the front of the stage

Raked Stage Auditorium in which the floor slopes up away from the stage so that all audience members can easily see the stage.

Set The environment of the play including the scenery and furniture.

Thrust Stage A combination of the proscenium and the arena stages with the audience sitting on two or three sides of the acting area.

Wings Offstage to the left and right of the acting area