Stage Types
Acting Areas
Stage Directions
Adapted from
Ms. Aiva B. Rodreguez
High School for World Cultures
Bronx, NY
S
Overview
S Different types of stages
S Acting areas
S Stage Directions
Types of Stages
S Proscenium Stage- a raised picture frame stage
Types of Stages
S Arena Stage (theatre in-the-
round): a stage on which the
action takes place in the center
of a circle and the audience
sits around the stage.
Types of Stages
S Thrust Stage: the
performance area “thrusts”
out into the house and the
audience is on three sides.
Types of Stages
S Black Box Theater: a large room painted black with lights hanging from
beams on the ceiling – audience space and playing space are flexible
Types of Stages
S Traverse Stage: a
theater in which
the audience sits
on either side of
the stage
Types of Stages
S Flexible Staging – A play
that is staged in a place that
cant be classified arena,
proscenium, thrust, black box
or traverse
Which stage is this?
Which stage is this?
Which stage is this?
Which stage is this?
Which stage is this?
What stage do WE have?
The proscenium stage has many
parts.
We will focus on the Acting Area:
S
Directors use nine areas to give
directions to the actors
Stage directions abbreviations
S X- to cross to another area of the stage
S C- Center Stage – midway between front and back, up and
down, right and left
S DS Down Stage – The area closest to the apron in the center
of the stage
S US Up Stage_ The area closest to the back of the stage in
the center
Stage directions abbreviations
S R Stage Right– in the center to the right of the actor
S L Stage Left – in the center to the left of the actor
S DR Down Stage Right – The area closest to the audience to
the right of the actor
S DL Down Stage Left -– The area closest to the audience to
the left of the actor
Stage directions abbreviations
S UR Up Stage Right – The area closest to the back wall to
the right of the actor
S UL Up Stage Left -– The area closest to the back wall to the
right of the actor
Review the abbreviations
Director says, Enter UL
Director says, XDR
Director says, XUR, then dance
DR and back to UR
Get on stage and explore!