Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
The backstage area where actors wait for their cues to go onstage.
The crew person responsible for implementing the lighting design, overseeing light hang, and maintaining all lighting equipment for a show.
A microphone affixed to a headband or worn over the ear that positions a microphone directly next to a performer’s mouth. Commonly used in musical theatre, headset microphones work wirelessly using a transmitter and receiver, like lavalier microphones.
The makeup or process of emphasizing facial features, using a makeup shade lighter or brighter than the foundation.
Lightweight walls made of wood with boards on edge as a frame.
The area of the theatre in which the audience sits.
A standard lighting hang that a theatre will use for productions that do not have a specific lighting design. They usually have a few general washes and are suitable for a variety of shows
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, also called Local One, is the union for stage employees.
A powerful sewing machine designed to sew heavy fabrics.
The “bulb” in the instrument. These can be halogen incandescent, arc, or xenon bulbs depending on the fixture.
Sometimes called lapel microphones or simply LAVs, these small microphones clip to an article of clothing on a performer’s body. Commonly used in film and television, lavalier microphones operate wirelessly, with the performer wearing a transmitter pack that communicates with a receiver in the booth of a venue.
Narrow curtains in the wings to mask the backstage areas.