Theater - Introductory

Here's your cue: Put this list in the spotlight and learn all about theater. Review genres of drama, parts of a play, stage directions, and more. Set the stage for vocabulary and you're sure to steal the show.
91 words 1,355 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions on each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real-time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. action
    the series of events that form a plot
  2. adaptation
    a written work that has been recast in a new form
  3. ad-lib
    perform without preparation
  4. aside
    a line spoken by an actor not intended for others on stage
  5. audition
    a test of the suitability of a performer
  6. backdrop
    scenery hung at the rear of a stage
  7. backlighting
    lighting from behind
  8. backstage
    a stage area out of sight of the audience
  9. balcony
    an upper floor projecting over an auditorium's main floor
  10. book
    a written version of a play or other dramatic composition
  11. box office
    the office where tickets of admission are sold
  12. cast
    the actors in a play, film, or television show
  13. casting
    the choice of actors to play particular roles in a play or movie
  14. center stage
    the central area on a theater stage
  15. character
    an actor's portrayal of someone in a play, film, etc...
  16. comedy
    light and humorous drama with a happy ending
  17. company
    an organization of performers and theatrical personnel
  18. conflict
    opposition in a work of fiction between characters or forces
  19. costume
    the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
  20. costume designer
    someone who designs or supplies costumes
  21. cue
    a reminder for some action or speech
  22. curtain call
    an appearance by actors or performers at the end of the concert or play in order to acknowledge the applause of the audience
  23. debut
    appear for the first time in public
  24. delivery
    characteristic style or manner of expressing oneself orally
  25. dialogue
    the lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction
  26. director
    one who supervises the actors and action in a play
  27. downstage
    the front half of the stage (as seen from the audience)
  28. drama
    the literary genre of works intended for the theater
  29. dramatization
    a representation intended for performance
  30. dressing room
    a room in which you can change clothes
  31. dress rehearsal
    a full uninterrupted rehearsal in costumes shortly before the first performance
  32. encore
    an extra performance in response to audience demand
  33. ensemble
    a cast other than the principals
  34. epilogue
    a short speech by an actor at the end of a play
  35. extra
    a minor actor in crowd scenes
  36. finale
    the concluding part of any performance
  37. flashback
    a transition in a story to an earlier event or scene
  38. footlights
    theater light at the front of a stage that illuminate the set and actors
  39. genre
    a class of art having a characteristic form or technique
  40. gesture
    the use of movements to communicate familiar signals
  41. greasepaint
    a greasy substance used as makeup by actors
  42. greenroom
    a backstage room in a theater where performers rest or have visitors
  43. houselights
    lights that illuminate the audience's part of a theater or other auditorium
  44. improvisation
    a performance given without planning or preparation
  45. lead
    an actor who plays a principal role
  46. lighting
    the craft of providing artificial light
  47. line
    a row of text written across a page or computer screen
  48. mask
    a covering to disguise or conceal the face
  49. matinee
    a theatrical performance held during the daytime
  50. mime
    an actor who communicates entirely by gesture
  51. miscast
    cast an actor, singer, or dancer in an unsuitable role
  52. monologue
    a dramatic speech by a single actor
  53. musical theater
    a play or film whose action and dialogue is interspersed with singing and dancing
  54. offstage
    situated or taking place in the area of a stage not visible to the audience
  55. opera
    a drama set to music
  56. orchestra
    seating on the main floor in a theater
  57. orchestra pit
    lowered area in front of a stage where an orchestra accompanies the performers
  58. overture
    orchestral music at the beginning of an opera or musical
  59. pantomime
    a performance using gestures and movements without words
  60. pitch
    the high or low quality of a sound
  61. playbill
    a printed program for a theatrical performance
  62. playwright
    someone who writes plays
  63. plot
    the story that is told, as in a novel, play, movie, etc.
  64. premiere
    the first public performance of a play or movie
  65. producer
    someone who finances and supervises the making of a show
  66. production
    presentation for the stage or screen or radio or television
  67. project
    cause to be heard
  68. prologue
    an introductory section of a novel or other literary work
  69. prop
    an object used on the set of a play or movie
  70. rehearsal
    a practice session in preparation for a public performance
  71. role
    an actor's portrayal of someone in a play, film, etc...
  72. run-through
    an uninterrupted rehearsal
  73. script
    a written version of a play or other dramatic composition
  74. set
    scenery used to identify a location of a dramatic production
  75. setting
    arrangement of scenery and properties to represent a place
  76. special effect
    an effect used to produce scenes that cannot be achieved by normal techniques (especially on film)
  77. spotlight
    a lamp that produces a strong beam of light to illuminate a restricted area; used to focus attention of a stage performer
  78. stage crew
    crew of workers who move scenery or handle properties in a theatrical production
  79. stage direction
    instruction or description written in the script of a play
  80. stage fright
    fear that affects a person about to face an audience
  81. stage left
    the part of the stage on the actor's left as the actor faces the audience
  82. stage manager
    someone who supervises the physical aspects in the production of a show and who is in charge of the stage when the show is being performed
  83. stage right
    the part of the stage on the actor's right as the actor faces the audience
  84. staging
    the production of a drama on the stage
  85. suspense
    excited anticipation of an approaching climax
  86. tragedy
    drama exciting terror or pity
  87. troupe
    an organization of performers and associated personnel
  88. understudy
    an actor able to replace a regular performer when required
  89. upstage
    at or toward the rear of a platform for performers
  90. villain
    the principal bad character in a film or work of fiction
  91. wing
    a stage area out of sight of the audience
Created on February 3, 2017 (updated March 29, 2017)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.