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
audience’s 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
Film
Theatre
Illusions and the passage
of time are easier to
convey because the
camera can start and
stop
Illusions and the passage N/A
of time are easier to
convey because the
camera can start and
stop
Special effects can
appear realistic
Special effects can
appear realistic
Special effects are
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, Voice and gestures may
gesture, or sound is
be exaggerated
easily recorded by the
camera
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
didn’t 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 rehearsal—even 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 auditions—find out what is expected
beforehand!
• Be helpful at auditions—especially 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 member will…
• Be early for curtain.
• 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 constructive—be 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
ACTOR’S 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.
Actor’s Body Positions
Full Back
¾ Left
¾ Right
Profile
Right
Profile
Left
¼ Right
¼ Left
Full Front