THEATRE Final Exam Vocabulary

The person in charge of the artistic aspects of theatrical production. It is the director's job to guide the transformation of the play to live production

A series of religious plays (mystery plays) popular throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. They were based on biblical stories ranging from the creation of the world to the last judgment and were performed outdoors in the vernacular (local language)

A man who coordinated and staged the cycles in Europe during the Middle Ages; a precursor of the modern director

A notebook kept by the director and stage manager of a production containing hte text of hte play, detailed stage directions, lighting,, and sound cues, and notes on production practices

An actor who served as a leader of a theatrical company in Europe during the 17th through nineteenth centuries. They made financial decisions, selected the repertory of plays, and hired the actors

19th century Europe, the practice of researching and creating authentic styles of dress, architecture, and interior design when producing plays written or set in the past. Term replaced with "historical accuracy"

Full productions (all actors, scenery, costumes, etc.) that toured throughout Europe and North America. The term was used in nineteenth century, but the concept is applicable for touring companies today that transport all elements of production.

An approach to staging in which actors move and behave in the set as if it were actually the room represented and do not acknowledge the presence of an audience; the proscenium arch, if present, is often treated as the fourth wall of an enclosed room

Creating meaning beyond what is literal or obvious in the text

Artistic decisions meant to communicate a specific interpretation of the play to the audience. Concept is created visually and aurally with scenery, costume, lighting, tempo, line readings, movement, and composition. Development or the coordination of development of a concept is a responsibility of the director.

A specialist in dramatic theatre history who serves as a consultant for production. For a revival, the dramaturg conducts research on the play, author, or historical period. When collaborating on an original play (a script produced for the first time), a dramaturg reads the script, attends rehearsals, and offers suggestions to the playwright and director. Such a specialist who coordinates a season of plays is often referred to as the literary manager.

A director who operates with almost total control and, in building the three-dimensional performance, feels responsible for creating meaning for the audience. The director, rather than the playwright, is the primary creative force

A scenic unit that consists of exposed beams, supports, and sometimes movable parts

A production or play that self-consciously comments on the play as taking place in a theatre

A term used for an approach to scenic design featuring simplicity, avoidance of detail, and reduction of a location to its most significant elements. New stagecraft was based on the innovated design of Adolphe Appia and Gordon Craig with their images of platforms, stairs, and open spaces