Introduction to Theatre

Notes

Similarities and
Differences in
Television, Theatre,
and Film

Television

Film

Theatre

Prerecorded and
edited

Prerecorded and
edited

Viewed Live

Intimate Medium

Large Casts

Both

Viewed in small
and often private
settings

Large screen
suited for mass
audiences and
spectacle

Actual presence of
actors helps
establish unique
audience/ player
relationship

Television

Film

Theatre

Has capacity to
deal with events
as they happen

N/A

N/A

Requires least
audience
commitment

Requires some
audience
commitment

Requires the most

audience
commitment

Mobile cameras
enable the
settings to be
realistic and in
great detail

Mobile cameras
enable the
settings to be
realistic and in
great detail

Settings limited
and audiences
sightlines must be
considered

Television

Film

Theatre

Can be filmed on
location

Can be filmed on
location

N/A

Actual lighting,
weather, and
environmental
conditions can be
recorded

Actual lighting,
weather, and
environmental
conditions can be
recorded

Lighting must
approximate time
and conditions

Flashbacks can
be shown
immediately

Flashbacks can
be shown
immediately

Flashbacks are
harder to convey

Television
Illusions and the
passage of time
are easier to
convey because
the camera can
start and stop

Film
Illusions and the
passage of time
are easier to
convey because
the camera can
start and stop

Theatre
N/A

Special effects can Special effects can Special effects are

appear realistic
appear realistic
limited

Computer
graphics can be
used to create
illusions

Computer
graphics can be
used to create
illusions

N/A

Television

Film

Theatre

The slightest
movement,
gesture, or sound
is easily recorded
by the camera

The slightest
movement,
gesture, or sound
is easily recorded
by the camera

Voice and gestures

may be
exaggerated

Use of canned
laughter
stimulates the
audience

Use of canned
laughter
stimulates the
audience

N/A

THEATRE ETIQUETTE

A professional performer
will
Be on time for EVERYTHING!
Never miss a cue!
Be quiet backstage, have courtesy
for other performers.
Listen to his/her director, follow
directions.

 Always be courteous to technicians.

Always take care of his/her
costumes and make-up.
Clean the make-up room, even if
he/she didnt mess it up.
Leave personal problems at the
door.
Remember personal hygiene.

 Only use constructive criticism.

Bring something new to each
rehearsal and expand his/her range.
Encourage others.
Have lines memorized before deadline.
Pay attention to rehearsaleven when
not onstage.
Never over estimate his/her own
greatness.

 Always be prepared, mentally and physically,

for rehearsals and performances.
Never pick up a prop that he/she does not
use.
Never chew gum on stage.
Absolutely, never eat or drink in costume.
Never take food or drink in the dressing
rooms.
Set a positive example for others.
Not be seen in costume before the show.
Be prepared for auditionsfind out what is
expected beforehand!
Be helpful at auditionsespecially to young
performers.

 ** Always leave everything

you touch or do better than
it was before you came!!!
**Love the art in yourself
not yourself in the art!!

A courteous audience
Be early member
for curtain. will
If late, be discrete and sit in the back,
quietly.
Be courteous to those around you, they
paid too!
Applaud at appropriate times.
Never, yell names during a
performance.
Follow the theatre facility rules.

 Congratulate the performers afterward

they will appreciate it.
Not use flash photography.
Not talk during performance.
Never put his/her feet on the back of the
chairs.
Never leave a performance during the
show.
Remove his/her hat inside the theatre.
Keep his/her comments constructivebe
tactful.
**Learn from each performance.

The Performance
Space

Types of Stages
Proscenium Stage: Like a
picture frame. The
audience sits on one side
to watch the action
through the frame (also
known as the fourth
wall). Often, curtains
hide the scenery until the
play begins.

Continued
Arena or In-the-round
Stage: The audience sits
all around it. The actors
enter and exit from the
aisles or sometimes from
tunnels under the
audience.

Continued
Thrust Stage: A combination of the
arena and proscenium stages. The
audience sits on two or three sides of
the acting area, which projects, or
thrusts, into the audience area from
a rear wall, which has some kind of
scenery. The actors enter and exit
through the audience as in an arena
stage and also through doors in the
rear-wall scenery as in a proscenium
stage.

Theatre Layout Terms

The Lobby: The area where the audience
gathers before, during intermission, and
after performances. Restrooms, concession
stands, and the ticket booth/box office are
located in the lobby.
The House: The area where the audience
sits.
Light and Sound Booth: Where the lighting
and sound control boards are located.
Located above the audience in the rear of
the house.

Continued
The Stage House: The area including the
stage and the fly space above (where scenery
and lights are suspended on ropes or
flown).
Proscenium Arch: The picture frame through
which the scenery and action are viewed.
Grand drape: The front curtain, which is
typically made of luxurious fabric in deep
colors.

Continued
Apron: An acting area than extends
forward beyond the arch on a
proscenium stage.
Back wall: Separates the stage house
from the backstage area.
Backstage: All areas other than the
stage, house, and lobby in a theatre.
The dressing rooms, make up rooms,
and green room are backstage.

Continued
Green Room: A lounge area in
which actors may wait while not
onstage or greet audience
members after the performance.
Call Board: A bulletin board where
rehearsal times, performance
changes, and special notices are
posted.

Stage and Body Positions

STAGE POSITIONS ARE FROM

THE ACTORS POINT OF
VIEW!!!

THE AUDIENCE

THE STAGE IS DIVIDED INTO

THREE AREAS ACROSS.

THE AUDIENCE

THE STAGE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE AREAS FROM

FRONT TO BACK. UPSTAGE IS AWAY FROM THE
AUDIENCE AND DOWNSTAGE IS TOWARD THE
AUDIENCE. THE ACTOR COMES DOWN TO THE
AUDIENCE.

THE AUDIENCE

THE ACTING AREA

BECOMES A GRID OF 9
AREAS.
Up Right

Right Center

Down Right

Up Center

Center

Down Center

THE AUDIENCE

Up Left

Left Center

Down Left

So why is down stage down

and up stage up???

In the Renaissance, stages

were RAKED. They actually
sloped down toward the
audience to allow audience
members to see the action.

Actors Body Positions

Full Back

Left

Right

Profile
Right

Profile Left

Right

Left
Full Front