Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A classification of actor based on physical and personality traits, often influencing casting decisions.
Typecasting is the practice of repeatedly casting an actor in the same kind of role based on their physical appearance, ethnicity, or previous performances. While it can offer steady work, it often limits an actor’s artistic growth and range. Typecasting reinforces narrow expectations of who an actor can play rather than allowing for diverse or unexpected casting choices.
Auditions where multiple theatre companies or educational institutions evaluate actors in a single session, streamlining the casting process.
A director’s or creator’s conceptual approach to a play, guiding all design, casting, and staging decisions.
A performer with a very brief, usually non-speaking role, used to populate the world of the play realistically.
The 1929 financial collapse that significantly influenced American theatre, leading to politically charged and escapist works.
A developmental process for a theatrical work involving readings, rehearsals, and informal performances to refine material.
A program allowing students to earn financial aid through campus employment, including theatre production jobs.