Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
Real-time feedback given to performers during exercises or improvisation to guide focus, energy, or technique.
A very short musical note, lasting one-fourth of a beat, used in fast passages in operatic and musical theatre pieces.
Slapstick is a type of physical comedy that relies on exaggerated actions, pratfalls, and humorous accidents to provoke laughter. It often includes broad movements, funny sound effects, and comic violence, such as someone slipping on a banana peel or being hit with a harmless object. The style originated in commedia dell’arte and became popular in vaudeville, silent film, and stage comedy.
A music education method using syllables (do, re, mi) to teach pitch and sight-singing, fundamental in vocal training.
The highest female vocal range in classical and musical theatre, often associated with youthful or romantic leads.
Stage combat is the carefully choreographed portrayal of physical conflict on stage, designed to look realistic while ensuring performer safety. It can include punches, slaps, falls, swordplay, or other forms of combat, all rehearsed under strict guidelines. The goal is to enhance dramatic storytelling without causing actual harm to the actors.
The perceived consequences of a character’s actions in a scene, driving urgency and emotional investment.
A character’s physical posture, conveying intention, confidence, or status, often used in character development.
The Stanislavski System is an influential approach to acting that emphasizes psychological realism and truth on stage. It encourages performers to use personal experience, emotional memory, and objective-driven choices to create authentic characters. This method has shaped modern acting and is foundational to many contemporary training programs.
A vocal warm-up using a straw to balance pressure and airflow, improving resonance and vocal health for singers and actors.
A performance style rooted in hip-hop and urban culture, featured in contemporary musical theatre and movement-driven plays.
Subtext refers to the unspoken thoughts, emotions, or intentions that lie beneath a character’s dialogue or actions. It provides depth and complexity to performances, allowing audiences to sense hidden conflicts or desires. Directors and actors often rely on subtext to create nuance and tension in storytelling.