| A | B |
|---|
| bit part | a very small role with few lines |
| pause | a lull in the dialogue or action that helps sustain the scene's emotion |
| versatility | the ability to change character or style easily |
| character sketch | a brief biography an actor may write of his or her character |
| scoring a script | marking things such as pauses, pitch levels, and speed of delivery on a script |
| + | the script-scoring symbol that indicates a slight pause |
| characterization | the process of creating and projecting the personality of a fully-developed character |
| primary source | a person whom an actor observes firsthand to prepare for a role |
| secondary source | a book, tape, CD, or podcast used to help an actor prepare for a role |
| concentration | the ability to direct your thoughts, energies, and skills into what you are doing at any given moment |
| projecting | reaching out with your character to all members of the audience |
| body language | another term for non-verbal communication |
| playing the object | the way in which an actor uses the props onstage to project character |
| playing the conditions | the way in which an actor uses elements such as time, place, and weather to meet his or her objective |
| cross | a movement from one location onstage to any other, usually in a gentle S-shaped pattern |
| countercross | a movement in the opposite direction of a cross, used to preserve balance on the stage |
| master gesture | a repeated action that is a clue to a character's personality |
| leading center | the part of the actor's body that emphasizes the character's major personality trait |
| knap | a sliding or slapping sound used in stage combat |
| motivation | the "why" of characterization; a character's inner force |
| "cheating out" | the stage technique in which an actor turns at the waist with his face toward the audience |
| "giving the scene" | the stage technique in which an actor crosses downstage, then turns partially upstage toward another actor |
| "taking yourself out of a scene" | the stage technique in which an actor turns away from the audience, diverting attention from himself |
| "sharing a scene" | the stage technique in which two actors sit or stand parallel to one another |
