Playwright: A person who writes plays for the theatre.
Shakespeare is often regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in English literature.
Script: The written text of a play, movie, or broadcast.
The actors spent weeks memorizing their lines from the script.
Act: One of the main divisions of a play or opera.
The drama built up as the first act came to a close.
Scene: A division of an act in a play during which the action takes place in a single place without a break in time.
In the opening scene, the characters are introduced to the audience.
Cast: The group of actors who play the characters in a play or movie.
The director announced the cast for the upcoming production yesterday.
Director: The person who supervises the actors and directs the action in the production of a play.
The director decided to change the staging to elicit a stronger emotional response from the audience.
Stage: The area where actors perform.
The actors took their positions on the stage as the curtain rose.
Props: Objects used on stage by actors during a performance.
The props master made sure all the props were in place before the show started.
Curtain Call: The appearance of stage performers at the end of a play to receive applause from the audience.
After a stunning performance, the actors returned to the stage for a curtain call.
Audition: A trial performance, as by an actor, dancer, or musician, to appraise his or her talents.
She felt nervous but excited as she prepared for her audition.
Monologue: A long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast program.
He delivered a compelling monologue that captivated the audience.
Dialogue: Conversation between two or more characters in a book, play, or movie.
The dialogue in the play was witty and fast-paced, keeping the audience entertained.
Rehearsal: A session in which a performance is practiced before the final public performance.
The cast had rehearsal every evening for two weeks leading up to the opening night.
Understudy: An actor able to replace a regular performer when required.
As an understudy, she had to be prepared to step into any of the leading roles at a moment’s notice.
Backdrop: A painted cloth hung at the back of a theatre stage as part of the scenery.
The backdrop depicted a beautiful sunset that enhanced the mood of the scene.
Blocking: The precise staging of actors in order to facilitate the performance of a play, ballet, film, etc.
The director worked with the actors on blocking, ensuring that their movements appeared natural and fluid.
Orchestra: A large group of musicians who play together on various musical instruments, typically including strings, woodwinds, brass instruments, and percussion, and often performing at the front part of the stage.
The orchestra began to play, filling the theatre with melodious sounds that set the tone for the evening.
Protagonist: The leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text.
The protagonist faced numerous challenges, drawing the audience into her journey.
Antagonist: A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.
The antagonist’s motives were revealed in a dramatic twist towards the end of the play.
Encore: A repeated or additional performance; often demanded by an audience.
The audience was so impressed that they demanded an encore.
Standing Ovation: An instance of the audience standing up and applauding to show enthusiastic approval or appreciation.
At the conclusion of her performance, she received a standing ovation.
Wardrobe: The collection of costumes and clothing worn by actors in a film or stage production.
The wardrobe department worked tirelessly to ensure that all costumes accurately represented the historical period of the play.
