2. ACT CHANGE - a change of setting, props, lights and/or costumes between acts 3. ACTING AREA - the portion of the stage business or conversation 4. ACT CURTAIN - the front of main curtain on a proscenium ; a curtain for closing the proscenium opening between acts or scenes 5. ADLIB - to extemporize stage business of a theatrical production 6. ANGEL - a financial banker of a theatrical production 7. APRON - the section of the stage in front of the curtain 8. BACKDROP - a large piece of cloth hung at the back of the stage setting 9. BACKING - flat or drops behind the scenery opening to mask the backstage area 10. BACKLIGHTING - the process of illuminating the subject from the back 11. BACKSTAGE - the stage area beyond the acting area, including the dressing rooms 12. BLOCKING - the movement of actors onstage 13. BLOCK YOURSELF - to get behind furniture or actors so that the audience won’t see you 14. BREAK A LEG - an expression used instead of “good luck” when one wishes an actor success before opening night 15. BREAKDOWN - an analysis of everything needed for a production, including technical and personal needs 16. BUILD A SCENE - the use of such dramatic devices such as increased in tempo, volume or emphasis to achieve a climax 17. BUSINESS - action performed on stage 18. C - symbol used to designate center of stage 19. CALL BOY - a backstage crewmember responsible for summoning actors to go on stage 20. CAMEO - important, but small character role 21. COMPANY - group of actors and technicians working on show 22. COUNTER CROSS - a shifting of a position by one or more actors to balance the stage picture 23. COVER - to obstruct the view of the audience 24. CRISIS - the turning point in a play that determines the hero’s fortune 25. CUE - the last word or action of one actor immediately preceding the lines or business of another 26. CUE CARD - a large card used to prompt a radio or television actor 27. CUE SHEET - a chart containing the cues for light, sound effects and curtains 28. CUT - to stop action or omit the action 29. CUT IN - to break into the speech of another character 30. CURTAIN CALL - bowing and receiving the audience’s applause at the end of a show, or sometimes in opera, at the end of the act 31. DEBUT- players first appearance in public, in a new place or in a new production 32. DELIVERY - the way the actor says his lines 33. DRESS THE STAGE - to set the stage with necessary scenery equipment, props, furniture and also to keep the stage picture balanced during the action 34. DRY RUN - a performance without an audience, and of which without recording is made 35. DOUBLE - one who resembles a member of the cast and takes his/her place in scenes needing special skills 36. DOWN STAGE - the part of the stage closest to the audience 37. DRESSING ROOM - a space for performers to hang costumes, put on makeup and otherwise prepare for their show 38. DRESS REHEARSAL - final rehearsal in which all the visual elements of production including costumes are used 39. DUB IN - to replace or add to a film’s sound track ; to add (sound effects or new dialogue) to a film, radio or television production 40. ENSEMBLE - sense of family unity developed by a group of performers during the course of a play ; willingness of actors to subordinate themselves to the production as a whole 41. EPISODE - dramatic scene presenting important action in an early Greek play 42. EXIT/EXEMPT - to leave the stage 43. FINALE - the final number, usually in a musical show 44. FLOOR PLAN - line drawing of a stage set as seen from above showing the placement on the stage floor of the scenic elements 45. FREEZE - to stop all movement 46. GESTURE - the use of hand, body and facial movement to make actor’s movement more meaningful 47. HAND PROPS - personal properties (used by individual player) 48. HIT - to emphasize a word or line with extra force ; a successful play or performer 49. HOLD FOR LAUGHS - to wait for the audience to quiet down after a funny line or scene 50. INTERMISSION - intervals between the acts/scenes allowing for set changes, audience respite, costume change, etc. 51. LEAD - starring role in a performance 52. LIMELIGHT - a focusing public attention on a person 53. LINE - the basic unit of verse; one portion of an actor’s part in a dialogue 54. MATINEE - an afternoon performance 55. OFFSTAGE - areas of the stage not in view of the audience 56. OPERA - a dramatic or comic work set to music in which words are generally sung rather than spoken 57. ORCHESTRA - main floor seating area of the auditorium 58. PREMIERE - the first showing of a play 59. PRIMA DONNA - main female singer in an opera company ; any conceited or temperamental performer 60. PRODUCTION NUMBER - large show with lots of singers and dancers, spectacular scenery, beautiful costumes and effective lighting 61. PROLOGUE - explanatory speech regarding the opening of a play 62. PROMPT BOOK - copy of the script on which all information , including the blocking is recorded 63. PROPERTIES/PROPS - all the stage furnishing including the furniture 64. PROP LIST - the master list of all items that could be considered props 65. PUNCHLINE - the line that should get a laugh 66. REHEARSAL - the time for discussion and analysis ; the time to learn parts and other aspects 67. REPERTORY - set group of productions that a theater company has prepared for performance ; the practice of alternating performances of different plays in a repertory 68. REPRISE - in musicals, a repetition of a song or dance with some variations 69. ROLE - a part in a play, a character 70. ROYALTIES - payments made to authors (and their representatives) for permission to reproduce in text or in performance their artistic products 71. RUN - the number of performance for a particular show 72. SCENARIO - outline of a play 73. SCENE - division of an act ; descriptor for the locale 74. SCRIPT - dialogue, lyrics and stage directions of a play 75. SOLILOQUY - a character’s speech to himself 76. STEAL OF SCENE - to attract away from the person to whom the center of interests legitimately belongs 77. SUPPORTING ROLE - secondary role 78. THESPIAN - actor 79. TELEPROMPTER - a mechanical device that enables television actors to read their lines while appearing to speak from memory 80. HOLD IT - to keep perfectly still 81. TELEPLAY - a television drama 82. SOAP OPERA - sentimental melodrama or comedy popular today in television 83. WARDROBE - all articles of clothing worn by the cast