Theater Terms Quiz

The best definition of: Upstaging

• Drawing attention away from the main action on the stage.

• No longer needing the book for your lines

• The opposite of downstaging

• The pattern of movements onstage for an actor

Best definition of: Blocking

• Protecting one actor from another

• The pattern of movements onstage for an actor, including entrances and exits

• Standing directly in front of another actor, thus blocking them from the audience's view.

• No longer needing the printed play for your lines

Missed Cue

• Failing to come onstage or say your line at the correct time.

• Wishing you still had the correct line memorized

• Forgetting to maintain your character and suddenly becoming yourself onstage

• Taking chances with your character and the lines

Best theater definition for: cheating out

• Keeping other actors from reading off their scripts during a show

• Keeping your actions and expressions in line with your character

• Keeping your body in line with another actor so the audience can't see them

• Keeping your body and face turned toward the audience, especially at an angle.

Best definition for: off book

• Taking off the book's cover

• Going off the written script and improvising your own lines

• Reading off the book during the show

• Lines are memorized and you no longer read off the book

Best definition for: script

• The printed play with all the lines

• The play's costuming information

• The writer's cursive handwriting

• The published reviews of the show

Best definition for: stage directions

• Which direction to move in onstage -- north, south, east, west

• The directions in italics and (parentheses) giving instructions to the actor

• Having a purpose and direction for your character's emotions

• Directing your face toward the audience as much as possible

Best definition for: breaking character

• Causing another character to break down emotionally

• Acting as your character the whole show whether or not you're speaking

• Keeping each character in line with the printed play

• Forgetting to maintain your character and becoming yourself instead

Best definition for: "Break a leg!"

• Falling and breaking your leg

• The opposite of hoping an actor does well

• The same as wishing an actor "Good luck!"

• Better to break a leg than an arm

Best definitions for: Stage left and Stage Right

• Stage left & right are from the actor's point of view

• Stage left & right are from the audience's point of view

• Stage left & right are closer to and further away from the audience