English vocabulary Behind the Scenes

community theater

/kəmjˈuːnɪɾi θˈiəɾɚ/

noun

the activity of acting in or producing a play in a theater as a hobby and not a profession

Examples

ad lib

/ˈæd lˈɪb/

noun

a line that is recited in a speech or performance without prior preparation

Examples

comedy of manners

/kˈɑːmədi ʌv mˈænɚz/

noun

a comic play, movie, book, etc. that portrays the behaviors of a particular social class, satirizing them

Examples

montage

/mɑnˈtɑʒ/

noun

a technique or process of selecting, editing and pasting separate footage in order to create a motion picture

Examples

premiere

/pɹɛˈmɪɹ/

noun

the first public screening or performance of a movie or play

Examples

melodrama

/ˈmɛɫəˌdɹɑmə/

noun

a play, story, etc. that involves exciting events and is filled with exaggerated emotions

Examples

matinee

/ˈmætɪˌneɪ/

noun

a musical or dramatic performance that takes place in daytime, especially in the afternoon

Examples

curtain call

/kˈɜːtən kˈɔːl/

noun

the time after a play or show has just ended when the performers come to the stage to receive the applause of the audience

Examples

to dramatize

/ˈdɹæməˌtaɪz/, /ˈdɹɑməˌtaɪz/

verb

to make a movie or write a play based on a book or event

Examples

surtitle

/sˈɜːɾaɪɾəl/

noun

translated words projected above or next to the stage on a screen in an opera or play

Examples

soliloquy

/səˈɫɪɫəkwi/

noun

a speech that a character in a dramatic play gives in the form of a monologue as a series of inner reflections spoken out loud

Examples

stage direction

/stˈeɪdʒ dɚɹˈɛkʃən/

noun

a text in the script of a play, giving an instruction regarding the movement, position, etc. of actors

Examples

revival

/ɹiˈvaɪvəɫ/, /ɹɪˈvaɪvəɫ/

noun

a new performance of something old that has not been performed for a long time, such as a play

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Examples

Then, a revival of science in Europe restrained the imaginations of geographers.

to prompt

/ˈpɹɑmpt/

verb

assist (somebody acting or reciting) by suggesting the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned

Examples

to enact

/ɪˈnækt/

verb

to act a role in a motion picture or perform a play on stage

Examples

interpretation

/ˌɪnˌtɝpɹɪˈteɪʃən/

noun

a representation that an actor or a performer gives of an artistic or musical piece that shows their understanding and feeling toward it

Examples

to overact

/ˈoʊvɝˌækt/

verb

to act a role in an exaggerated way that is not natural

Examples

to miscast

/mɪˈskæst/

verb

to assign the roles of a play, motion picture, etc. to unsuitable actors

Examples

read-through

/ɹˈiːdθɹˈuː/

noun

a preparatory session during which actors read the words of a play before beginning to practice it on the stage

Examples

to put on

/pˌʊt ˈɑːn/

verb

to produce or present a play, a show, etc.

Examples

rehearsal

/ɹiˈhɝsəɫ/, /ɹɪˈhɝsəɫ/

noun

a session of practice in which performers prepare themselves for a public performance of a concert, play, etc.

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Examples

Carol left the rehearsal room with Alan, one of the first violinists. '

Carol is never late for rehearsals, and she knows that these concerts are important for us.

At nine o'clock the next morning the conductor was ready to begin the rehearsal.

to portray

/pɔɹˈtɹeɪ/

verb

to play the role of a character in a movie, play, etc.

Examples

adaptation

/ˌædəpˈteɪʃən/

noun

a movie, TV program, etc. that is based on a book or play

Examples

art director

/ˈɑːɹt dɚɹˈɛktɚ/

noun

someone who is in charge of the artistic features, such as props and costumes of a movie or play

Examples

dramatist

/ˈdɹɑmətɪst/

noun

someone who writes plays for the TV, radio, or theater

Examples

balcony

/ˈbæɫkəni/

noun

an upper floor in a theater or cinema where there are seats for the audience

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Examples

Anna is playing her guitar on the balcony of her new apartment.

‘Let’s have our coffee on the balcony.’

‘Perhaps she’s on her balcony.’

offstage

/ˈɔfˈsteɪdʒ/

adjective

situated or taking place in the area of a stage not visible to the audience

Examples

set piece

/sˈɛt pˈiːs/

noun

a set of scenes in a motion picture, novel, etc. that could be regarded independently and are very elaborate or complex

Examples

blockbuster

/ˈbɫɑkˌbəstɝ/

noun

a thing that achieves great commercial success, particularly a movie, book, or other product

Examples

cinematography

/ˌsɪnɪməˈtɑɡɹəfi/

noun

the art and methods of film-making, especially the photographic aspect and camerawork

Examples

costume drama

/kˈɔstuːm dɹˈɑːmə/

noun

a motion picture or theatrical production with a historical setting in which the actors wear the costume appropriate to that time period

Examples

credit

/ˈkɹɛdət/, /ˈkɹɛdɪt/

noun

(used plural) a list of names at the beginning or at the end of a TV program or movie acknowledging the contributors in making that program

Examples

to fictionalize

/ˈfɪkʃənəˌɫaɪz/

verb

make into fiction

Examples

film noir

/fˈɪlm nwˈɑːɹ/

noun

a type of movie involving crime including shadowy footage and dark background music that depicted cynical characters caught in dangerous situations

Examples

fourth wall

/fˈoːɹθ wˈɔːl/

noun

an imaginary barrier that separates the mise en scene and the fictional characters from the audience, especially in a theatrical performance

Examples

intermission

/ˌɪntɝˈmɪʃən/

noun

a short pause between parts of a play, movie, etc.

Examples

interlude

/ˈɪntɝˌɫud/

noun

a short performance that is presented between two longer pieces

Examples

epilogue

/ˈɛpəˌɫɔɡ/

noun

a concluding speech at the end of a play that is addressed directly to the audience, often in verse

Examples

understudy

/ˈəndɝˌstədi/

noun

an actor who practices the lines of another actor in order to replace them if necessary

Examples

telefilm

/tˈɛlɪfˌɪlm/

noun

a movie that is intended to be broadcast on TV, rather than being projected on the screen