BDP- Basic Theater Terminology

Front

apron

Back

the stage floor between the front edge of the stage and front curtain

Front

arena stage

Back

staging in the center of a room with the audience sitting on all sides of the playing area; sometimes called theatre-in-the-round

Front

aside

Back

words spoken by a character to the audience rather than to the other characters, who supposedly do not hear the speech

Front

audition

Back

a tryout for a part in a play

Front

backdrop or drop

Back

a painted canvas or muslin curtain hung from a batten to form part of the scenery

Front

backstage

Back

the area behind the scenery not visible to the audience

Front

batten

Back

a horizontal pipe suspended over the stage, from which scenery, lights, or curtains are hung; also called a rail

Front

blocking

Back

the director's planned movement for the characters

Front

build

Back

1. to make a costume from scratch 2. the increase of vocal intensity toward a climactic point

Front

casting

Back

the process of selecting actors for various roles