| A | B |
|---|
| wings | offstage areas to the right and left of the playing space |
| antagonist | the character in a play most directly opposed to the main character, or protagonist |
| apron | the portion of the stage nearest to the audience and in front of the proscenium arch or house curtain |
| aside | a short speech intended only for the ears of the audience, and by convention not heard by other characters on stage |
| backdrop | usually a large piece of canvas or other material behind the stage setting, sometimes with a detailed scene painted on it |
| ad-lib | Movement or dialogue inserted in the production which is not specified in the playscript; on occasion inserted during a performance to cover fluffs |
| fluff | a blunder during performance, such as a missed line or one that is garbled in its execution |
| bit part | a role with few lines of dialogue |
| blocking | the planned movement and composition of the production as developed during early rehearsals |
| business | detailed pieces of action developed to enhance characterization, establish mood, and so on. Not the same as basic stage movement. |
| arena stage | a performing space with audience on all sides |
| cue | the action or dialogue which signals that the next line is to be spoken or certain business and movement is to take place |
| melodrama | a serious play in which the primary emphasis is on spectacle and contrived action rather than logical character development and relationships |
| curtain call | the receipt of applause by the cast at the end of a play |
| downstage | the general stage area nearest to the audience |
| dress rehearsal | a rehearsal prior to performance which unites all the elements of the production exactly as they will function during actual performance |
| thrust stage | a stage with the audience on three sides |
| flat | a light wooden frame covered by canvas which constitutes the primary unit used to build such settings as the box set |
| floor plan | an outline drawing of the setting indicating only the design of the setting as it would be seen from above |
| strike | to remove from the stage or "tear down" the set |
