Stage Directions

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between onstage and offstage? 

• Onstage is anything that the audience can see, while offstage is anything the audience cannot see. 

• Offstage is anything that the audience can see, while onstage is anything the audience cannot see.

• Onstage is anything that the actors can see, while offstage is anything the actors cannot see.

Multiple Choice

Stage Right (SR) and Stage Left (SL) are determined from the ________ point of view. 

• director's

• actor's

• audience's

Multiple Choice

According to this video, Down Stage (DS) and Up Stage (US) got their names because... 

• ... actors would look "down" at audience members.

• ... directors would have to point "up" or "down" to give directions. 

• ... stages used to be slanted, so "up" and "down" were literal descriptions. 

Multiple Choice

The STRONGEST location on a stage is Down Stage Center. The NEXT strongest location on stage depends on... 

• ... the direction that the audience reads from.

• ... the location that an audience member is sitting. 

• ... the side of the stage that the spotlight is on. 

Multiple Choice

Why can Stage Directions sometimes be confusing? 

• If you are on stage, the directions are backwards from your POV.

• If you are in the audience, the directions are backwards from your POV.

Poll

CHALLENGE: If you were standing Center Stage (CS) and you moved towards the audience, then to your left, where would you be standing?

• Up Stage Left (USL)

• Down Stage Left (DSL)

• Up Stage Right (USR)

• Down Stage Right (DSR)

​CHALLENGE ANSWER

If you walk forward on a stage, that's Down Stage, then since your left on stage is Stage Left, it's Down Stage Left! ​