Above
The area away from the audience. upstage
Apron
A part of stage floor which projects into the auditorium
Arena
A form of staging where the audience surrounds the stage on all sides.
ASM
Assistant stage manager
Backing
Flats or drops used to mask backstage by limiting the audience's view through openings in the set such as doors or windows.
Back drop
the drop furthest postage of the audience
Backstage
The part of the stage and theater which is out of the sight of the audience
Batten
A long pipe or strip of wood from which scenery, drops, and lights may be hung.
Below
Towards the audience, downstage
Black box
Complete absence of stage lighting. The act of turning off, or fading out, stage light. "this is where we go to blackout
Blacks
Black clothing worn by stage management during productions. Any black drops or flats used for masking.
Blocking
The process of arranging moves to be made by the actors during the play.
Border
A narrow curtain hung above the stage to mask rigging and the flies.
Business
Short for "stage business" this is the detailed pantomimic action on stage exclusive of blocking.
Call board
A bulletin board or posting area backstage where casting notices, productions notes, and messages for a show may be posted.
Clear stage
A command to leave the stage that is given to all actors and crew not involved in the scene.
Closed turn
A stage turn executed so that the actor turns his back to the audience
Cross
Movement from one area of the stage to another.
Counter
A small movement in the opposite direction of another performer to balance the movement.
Curtain line
An imagery line across the stage floor defined by where the front curtain would touch when fully lowered.
Cyclorama
Usually shortened to just cyc, pronounced sike. A large curtain hung at the back of the stage that stretches across the entire sight line. Used to represent a distant vista like the sky.
Downstage
The part of the stage nearest to the audience.
Dress stage
When a performer makes minor adjustments in his or her position to improve the overall stage picture.
Drop
A curtain or flat hung above
Flat
A single piece of scenery traditionally made of fabric stretched over a wooden frame. Flats may also be made of other lightweight materials like plywood or plastic.
Flies
The area above the stage out of sight of the audience sight lines from which scenery may be raised or lowered.
Front curtain
A curtain immediately behind the proscenium used to mask the stage from the audience.
Give stage
To take a less prominent stage position from another actor.
Green room
A backstage room for the actors to meet and relax before or after going on stage.
Hot spot
The center of a particular beam of light. The place in a lighting scheme where the actor is most visible. It get its name because experienced actors can find it by the warmth on their faces.
House
All parts of the theater that are not the stage or production areas. The area of the theater reserved primarily for receiving and serving the public.
Indicate
To show often in an exaggerated fashion what the character is thinking or doing.
Leg
A relatively narrow drop usually hung in pairs on the sides of the stage.
Mark
Also called a "spike". In tv and film this can literally be a mark on the floor for the actor to move during a scene. In theater, it is a specific location to which an actor has been told to stand. Also, "spikes" will be placed down most often for scenery and large stage props. Hence, crisp stage performance are referred to as "hitting the marks".
Masking
The process of concealing from the view of the audience any part of the stage or action not meant to be scene. This is usually accomplished by a piece of scenery or a drop.
Mug
To use exaggerated facial expressions and gestures in order to steal focus on stage and upstage other actors.
Open turn
A stage turn executed so that the actor faces the audience
Places
A command used by the stage manager to call all actors and crew to their "places" of work. It announces that an act, a scene, or the play is about to begin.
Proscenium arch
The opening in the wall which stands between stage and auditorium in some theaters, the picture frame through which the audience sees the play. Often shortened to proscenium or arch.
Share stage
To take an equally prominent stage position with another actor.
Shift
The process of striking and or setting up properties, scenery and lighting equipment.
Spill
Light leaks around the edges of the lighting area.
Strike
In performance to remove an object from the stage.
Take stage
To take a greater prominent position on stage from another actor.
Teaser
A border placed just upstage of the house curtain and downstage of the tormentors. Used to mask the flies and to adjust the height of the stage opening.
Tormentors
A pair of flats placed on either side of the stage just upstage of the teaser. They serve to mask the wings and vary the width of the play opening.
Upstage
The part of the stage furthest from the audience.
Upstaging
To take a position on stage that forces the other actor to face away from the audience. It can also refer to indicating, mugging or overacting to steal focus away from the other actor onstage.
Wings
The out of view areas to the sides of the acting area.