Musical Theater Vocab #1: Places in a Theater

The area of the stage that is out of sight of the audience

• Backstage
• Downstage
• Fourth Wall
• House
• Places

An imaginary wall between the actors and the audience (a)  

• Fourth Wall
• Backstage
• Downstage
• House
• Proscenium Arch

The area of the stage nearest the audience in a proscenium theatre

• Downstage
• Backstage
• Fourth Wall
• House
• Places

The area in a theatre/auditorium where the audience sits

• House
• Backstage
• Downstage
• Fourth Wall
• Places

Indicates to move quickly to the scene starting position

• Places
• Backstage
• Downstage
• Fourth Wall
• House

An opening in a wall that stands between the stage and the house that becomes the frame through which the audience sees the play

• Proscenium Arch
• Backstage
• Downstage
• Fourth Wall
• House

The physical environment in which the actors perform

• Set

• Backstage

• Downstage

• Stage

• House

The audience’s view of a performance space, being blocked from the backstage

• Sight Lines
• Backstage
• Downstage
• Fourth Wall
• House

The acting area (a)  

• Stage
• Backstage
• Proscenium Arch
• Places
• Set

The area of the stage to the actor’s left (a)  

• Stage Left
• Backstage
• Downstage
• Stage Right
• Upstage