Glossary of terms

Audition

Reading, singing or dancing of a specific role for the director to determine casting

Auditorium

The part of the theater where the audience sits

Backstage

The entire stage portion of the theater building behind the on-stage area.

Cast Call

The time when all cast member assemble at the theater in preparation for a performance

C.A.T.S.

MYART's creative arts training spotlight program

Center Stage

The direction on stage toward the center of the stage

Challenge

(Refer to Auditions and casting)

Downstage

The direction on stage toward the audience

Dress Rehearsal

A run-through of the entire show with all cast members and technical support

Ensemble

  1. A group of people working together
  2. A group of characters; as opposed to an individual character or lead role

Holding Space

The backstage area where performers wait between appearances on stage

House

See "auditorium"

Leads

The principal roles or actors playing those roles in a show

Line Leader

A chaperone trained to lead groups of performers from the holding space to the stage wings who makes sure that their group is ready to enter the stage on their cue

(See Line Leader on your Committee handout)

Load-in

Bringing the sets into the theater and installing them for the performance

Load-out

Taking down the set after the closing performance, loading the truck and possibly unloading the truck at the MYART warehouse

MYPART

The parent organization which provides committees, fundraising support and other logistical support to the MYART organization

MYSONG

The student organization that organizes, supports and does fundraising for MYART and also plans and operates outside group activities for MYART students.

Offstage

All parts of the theater not enclosed by the set

Onstage

That part of the stage enclosed by the set visible to the audience

One-liners

Short messages to cast members placed in the program by family and friends

Places

A direction given by the Stage Manager for all cast members to be in their opening positions for the beginning of an act

Run Through

An uninterrupted rehearsal of a scene, act or entire play

Set

The drops, platforms, wagons, etc. that provide the background scenery for an act or scene

Showcase Troupe

A group of performers who are MYART's outreach to the community

Stage Left

The direction to an actors left as he/she stands on stage facing the audience

Stage Right

The direction to an actors right as he/she stands on-stage facing the audience

Strike

  1. A direction given by the Stage Manager to change the set for another scene
  2. See "load out"

Theater/Theatre

Technically these two words are interchangable. However, it is generally accepted in theatrical circles that "theater" refers to the building or room in which a play is performed or a movie is shown. The word "theatre" refers to a dramatic performance such as a play. When you're sitting in an auditorium watching a play, you're in a theater watching theatre.

Upstage

The direction on stage away from the audience

Wings

Offstage space at the right and left of the acting area