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Theatre Trivia

Total questions: 57

Worksheet time: 42mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

If you want to know all of the entrance and exit cues for every actor in a performance, who would you ask?

a)

the stage manager

b)

the producer

c)

the playwright

d)

the understudy

2.

Someone who writes works of drama is called...

a)

an actor

b)

a playwright

c)

a producer

d)

a theatrician

3.

This person oversees many aspects of a performance, including ticket sales and advertising

a)

a stage manager

b)

a producer

c)

a dramaturg

d)

an understudy

4.

If you want to know all of the entrance and exit cues for every actor in a performance, who would you ask?

a)

the stage manager

b)

the producer

c)

the playwright

d)

the understudy

5.

This is the person develops the vision for a performance and works with performers to make that vision come alive onstage

a)

the lead performer

b)

the producer

c)

the director

d)

the swing

6.

Keagan was excited to play the role of Jesus in a production of Godspell, but at the last minute, he fell down a flight of stairs and broke both his legs. On opening night, the role of Jesus was play by Tre, Keagan's _________.

a)

BFF

b)

director

c)

understudy

d)

cousin

7.

This word comes from the Greek term "drao-", which means "doing" or "action"

a)

drama

b)

director

c)

deus ex machina

d)

blocking

8.

Anya was so busy making videos on TikTok that she completely forgot about the presentation due in her science class. Luckily, she was able to use her ______ skills to do a decent job even without rehearsal.

a)

emoting

b)

playwright

c)

pantomime

d)

improv

9.

Good actors know that they must always appropriately _______ when onstage, even when they aren't speaking or moving.

a)

pantomime

b)

emote

c)

direct

d)

upstage

10.

This is when a character is alone onstage, sharing their thoughts aloud.

a)

scrime

b)

cheating out

c)

soliloquy

d)

stage directions

11.

Trinice and Ruby are acting out an argument scene onstage. In the middle of their dialogue, Ruby turns directly to the audience and says, "Is she SERIOUS right now?"


What TWO terms below could appropriately describe what Ruby just did?

a)

an aside

b)

choreography

c)

standing ovation

d)

breaking the fourth wall

12.

This word refers to the dance movements that are performed to songs during a musical theatre production.

a)

blocking

b)

choreography

c)

script

d)

upstaging

13.

What word do we use to describe a rehearsal that serves the purpose of getting the orchestra and the singers comfortable performing together?

a)

understudy

b)

choreography

c)

props

d)

sitzprobe

14.

When a director instructs performers on where/how to move and place themselves on stage, it's called ________

a)

sitzprobe

b)

cold reading

c)

blocking

d)

sets

15.

In The Lion King, these might include Pride Rock and a backdrop of the African savannah.


In The Little Mermaid, they might include an undersea kingdom complete with a throne, and a stone grotto full of treasures.

a)

choreography

b)

sets

c)

props

d)

scrim

16.

At the end of a Greek drama, a crane-like tool was often used to lower a character onstage. The character represented a god, and typically would determine the outcome of the story. This event is called ______.

a)

Deus ex machina

b)

improv

c)

sets

d)

soliloquy

17.

Where does an actor go to relax before going onstage to perform?

a)

the Deus ex machina

b)

the green room

c)

the proscenium

d)

the fourth wall

18.

Another word for the bows that happen at the end of a performance is ________

a)

standing ovation

b)

curtain call

c)

cheating out

d)

the fourth wall

19.

Which of the following is an example of upstaging?

a)

During his scene with Jenyra, Xander continually moves further away from the audience. Jenyra has to turn away from the audience in order to talk to Xander.

b)

Elina projects her voice to the back of the auditorium so that everyone can hear her.

c)

Abygail pushes John down the stairs so that he actually "breaks a leg" before a performance.

d)

Addison dances across the stage on her tiptoes. Nate also crosses the stage, while walking like a gorilla.

20.

Is it a good idea to "cheat out" when you're onstage? Why or why not?

a)

Yes, it's good to cheat out because it makes it easier for the audience to see all the details of your costume.

b)

Yes, it's good to cheat out because it ensures that the audience will be better able to see and hear you.

c)

No, it's not good to cheat out because cheaters never win.

d)

No, it's not good to cheat out because the audience will think you don't care about the other performers onstage.

21.

An exceptional stage performance often results in...

a)

a stage combat scene!

b)

a sitzprobe!

c)

a fourth wall!

d)

a standing ovation!

22.
The unseen sides of the stage
a)
1st and 3rd walls
b)
flys
c)
aprons
d)
wings
23.
What type of drape can open and close? 
a)
leg
b)
teaser
c)
traveler
24.
Which lighting accessory creates patterns on stage? 
a)
gobo
b)
gel
c)
globo
25.
Which type of microphone can be clipped to your clothing?
a)
headset
b)
handheld
c)
lavalier
d)
floor
26.
What is the name of the lighting designer's plan that includes fixture stencils?
a)
light plot
b)
magic sheet
c)
hook-up
27.
What curtains create wings?
a)
Borders
b)
Teasers
c)
Grand Drapes
d)
Legs
28.
House right is based on whose perspective?
a)
Audience
b)
Actor
29.

This theater term refers to any small action that the actor performs without major movement.

a)

cheating out

b)

stage business

c)

small blocking

d)

little movement

30.
Latin for “god out of the machine.” A plot device whereby a seemingly inextricable problem is suddenly solved. As a technical term, this refers to an actor being lowered from the flies, as if he were a god. 
a)
deus ex machina
b)
double handling
c)
black hole
d)
props table
31.
Table in convenient offstage area on which properties are prepared prior to a performance and to which they should be returned after use. 
a)
props table
b)
color correction
c)
door slam
d)
set dresser
32.
The book compiled by the stage manager, containing all the pertinent information about the show.  
a)
prompt book
b)
jackknife platform
c)
valence
d)
wing space
33.

The Wiz is an updated version of the older musical ________________________.

a)

Mary Poppins

b)

Moana

c)

The Wizard of Oz

34.

In the original version of The Wiz, a famous musician was the scarecrow. Who was this musician?

a)

Vanilla Ice

b)

Michael Jackson

c)

Tupac

35.

_____________ is such a popular musical that it has been made into movies 3 different times in the past 40 years!

a)

Mary Poppins

b)

Annie

c)

The Sound of Music

36.

"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is a fast-paced, silly song from the musical _____________________.

a)

The Lion King

b)

Annie

c)

Mary Poppins

37.

The Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma!, Mary Poppins, and the Wizard of Oz are all examples of famous ________________.

a)

plays

b)

musicals

c)

novels

d)

encyclopedias

38.

Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, & Leonard Bernstein are all examples of famous ______________ of musicals.

a)

composers

b)

lyricists

39.

Musical theatre started way back in year 5 BCE, in Ancient ___________.

a)

China

b)

Greece

c)

America

d)

Canada

40.

An aside is

a)

when one character is alone on stage sharing his/her thoughts

b)

when one character addresses the audience without anyone knowing

c)

when one character is in a dialogue with another but does all of the talking

d)

a character trait that leads to the downfall of the character

41.

A tragic flaw is

a)

when one character is alone on stage sharing his/her thoughts

b)

when one character addresses the audience without anyone knowing

c)

when one character is talking with another but does all of the talking

d)

a character trait that leads to the downfall of the character

42.

A soliloquy is

a)

when one character is alone on stage sharing his/her thoughts

b)

when one character addresses the audience without anyone knowing

c)

when one character is talking with another but does all of the talking

d)

a character trait that leads to the downfall of the character

43.

A monologue is

a)

when one character is alone on stage sharing his/her thoughts

b)

when one character addresses the audience without anyone knowing

c)

when one character is talking with another but does all of the talking

d)

a character trait that leads to the downfall of the character

44.

True or False: A comedy is a play that ends unhappy.

(a)  

45.

True or False: A drama is a piece of writing that tells a story and is recorded on stage.

(a)  

46.

Select the correct parts of the definition for a Foil.

a)

A character who is the opposite of another character

b)

Shows the similarity between the two characters

c)

Romeo and Juliet has foils.

d)

A character who contrasts another character

47.

True or False: When you and I are talking and I am talking the most, this is a soliloquy.

(a)  

48.

Check off the correct parts of the definition for Stage Directions

a)

Instructions for the director

b)

Shows the actor what to do

c)

Shows them how to act

d)

Tells the director where the crew will be

49.

True or False: A tragedy is a play that ends unhappy with the death of the comic hero.

(a)  

50.

what part of the play marks the change in the protagonist's journey

a)

exposition

b)

rising action

c)

climax

d)

falling action

51.

when the audience knows more than the characters do

a)

dramatic irony

b)

symbolic irony

c)

situational irony

d)

verbal irony

52.

the intense and purging negative emotions the audience feels during a tragedy is referred to as

a)

heartbreak

b)

sorrow

c)

catharsis

d)

demise

53.

who carries the tragic flaw in a tragedy

a)

tragic hero

b)

chorus

c)

the "extras"

d)

the enemy

54.

what type of play focuses on human suffering

a)

a long play

b)

a sad play

c)

catharsis

d)

tragedy

55.

what provides details about the sets, lighting, sound effects, props, costumes, and acting

a)

director

b)

stage directions

c)

actors

d)

act one

56.

acts are divided into

a)

monologue

b)

dialogue

c)

scenes

d)

stage directions

57.

The conversation between two or more characters is called

a)

monologue

b)

dialogue

c)

soliloquy

d)

chorus