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Cinema and Theater - Specific Terms of Theater

Here you will learn some specific English terms related to theater such as "everyman", "fourth wall", and "vaudeville".

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Words Related to Cinema and Theater
stage combat

the techniques used by actors to simulate fight scenes in theater, film, and television productions in a safe and believable manner

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Pepper's ghost

a 19th-century stage illusion technique that uses a partially reflective glass angled at 45 degrees to create ghostly images of people or objects

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Blackface

a form of theatrical makeup used to portray offensive and racist caricatures of black people, which has a history of causing harm and perpetuating negative stereotypes

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theater troupe

a group of actors and other professionals who work together to perform plays and other theatrical productions

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presentational acting

a style of acting where the performer acknowledges and directly addresses the audience, often breaking the fourth wall

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Everyman

a play that was written during the Middle Ages and tells the story of a character named Everyman who represents all of humanity, facing death and judgment before God

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corpse

an actor who breaks character by laughing or forgetting their lines, causing the scene to come to a halt

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coup de theatre

a surprising or unexpected twist in a play or performance

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fourth wall

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

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try-out

a preliminary audition or performance to assess the potential of a performer or a production before it is presented to a wider audience

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sketch

a brief and funny part of a play or performance

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two-hander

a play that is written in order to be staged only by two actors

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burlesque

a form of theatrical entertainment that involves caricature and parody, often combining elements of comedy, music, dance, and striptease

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community theater

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

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curtain call

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

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curtain-up

the time when the curtain is raised and a show or play begins

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dress rehearsal

the final practice of a play or live show, in which the same costumes and lights are used as the live performance

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scene-shifting

a method used in theater production that indicates a change of the setting

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stagecraft

the skill or experience in writing or performing a play in theater

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stage whisper

a loud whisper uttered by an actor on the stage, meant to be heard by the audience but not by other characters

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blackout

a stage direction that indicates the sudden extinguishing of all lights on stage, usually for a brief period

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mime

a theatrical technique in which the performer uses body and hand gestures in order to suggest an idea or tell something without using words

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Stanislavski's Method

a set of acting techniques used to create realistic portrayals of characters on stage by emphasizing emotional authenticity and psychological realism

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Brechtian technique

a performance style characterized by a critical, political, and distancing approach that aims to create an objective and analytical perspective on social issues

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mask work

the use of masks in theater performance and training, in which the actor uses the mask to explore different characters, emotions, and archetypes

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Broadway

a well-known street in New York City where many theaters are located, which is considered the center of theater industry in the US

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dinner theater

a theater where the price of a meal is added to the ticket

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off-Broadway

small theaters outside Broadway street that have a limited budget and are engaged in experimentation

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off-off-Broadway

small-scale and experimental productions that are typically performed in non-traditional theater spaces

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off West End

theater productions that are staged in smaller, independent theaters located outside of London's West End theater district

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regional theater

professional theater productions that are performed outside of major metropolitan areas, often in smaller cities or towns

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repertory theater

a type of theater where a company performs several different productions using a shared pool of actors over a period of time, often rotating the shows in and out of the schedule

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revue

a theatrical production that often satirizes recent events and consists of jokes, songs, dances, etc.

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summer stock theater

a type of theater that stages productions during the summer season, often employing a resident company of actors who perform multiple shows over the course of several weeks or months

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vaudeville

a type of comic theatrical production combining pantomime, dance, singing, etc. popular in the 1800s and early 1900s

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workshop production

a type of theatrical performance that is presented in a workshop setting, typically with minimal sets, costumes, and props

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play

a written story that is meant to be performed on a stage, radio, or television

[noun]
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dramatis personae

the characters that participate in a play, novel, or narrative

[noun]
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exit

an act of departure from the stage by an actor

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opening

the first public presentation of a play, musical, movie, or any other form of entertainment

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