Theatre Vocabulary Trivia

1. What does the expression "break a leg" mean in theatrical parlance?

From Quiz Theatrical Lingo

Answer: Good Luck

It's considered bad luck to wish a person good luck in the theatre. So, because of this superstition, the custom of telling performers to break a leg began.

From Quiz Exit Stage Left

Answer: His or her left

Stage directions in a play are for the benefit of the actor. From the position of facing an audience, to exit stage left means to go to the actor's left - and vice versa. These directions are quite simple once you know for whom they were written.

From Quiz Break a Leg!

Answer: the area and the services provided to patrons, e.g. ticket sales, ushering, concessions, seating

Generally speaking, the stage manager is in charge of everything that happens from the curtain to the backstage while the house manager is in charge of everything that happens in the seats, the lobby and, in some cases, even the parking lot. The people who fill the seats are themselves sometimes collectively referred to as "the house."

From Quiz Mastering Theatre Lingo

Answer: To the actor's left when on stage, facing the audience

Keeping this little piece of information in mind can be a big help when reading scripts and blocking scenes.

From Quiz Backstage Theatrical Devices

Answer: scrim

Often used to stage a scene in front of the scrim and then transition to the following scene by change of lighting or lifting the scrim.

From Quiz Theatrical Terms

Answer: A heavy metal weight used to hold a stage brace in position

A stage weight is a heavy weight, usually cast iron, that is placed on the bottom of a stage brace. The brace is an angled support for scenery.

From Quiz Theatrical Lingo

Answer: The position a performer stands onstage in a given scene

Where a performer stands is important in relation to the others on stage and quite important for the lights. Hence the expression, "To hit your mark". This method is also used on film sets.

From Quiz Exit Stage Left

Answer: A break or intermission

The word entr'acte comes from the French word "entracte", meaning between the acts. This term is used in the theatre to mark the end of part one of the performance, allowing a break for the cast and audience. Entr'acte is an alternative to using the term intermission, which comes from the Italian word "intermezzo".

From Quiz Exit Stage Left

Answer: He speaks directly to the audience

An aside usually, but not always, is used for comedic effect. The actor directs his comments to the audience, while the other actors on stage act as though they are unaware this is happening. It's a great device for villains in melodramas to use, for example. While wickedly twirling his moustache, the villain may hiss to the audience, "I will threaten to evict her mother into the cold, cold snow and then her lovely daughter shall throw herself on my mercy. Ahaaaa, finally she will be mine - mine I tell you!" The aside can also be used for dramatic purposes of course, but this isn't terribly effective and runs the risk of an audience laughing when comedy isn't the intent.

From Quiz Break a Leg!

Answer: an open audition for actors in large numbers for brief tryouts

Mass auditions are sometimes held to cast smaller parts in plays, movies, television programmes and advertisements. Sometimes the actors are seen in groups. People responsible for casting are often able to tell very quickly who is suitable and those few are sometimes called back for a longer, more personal audition.

From Quiz Theatre - Technical Jargon and a Dash of Folklore

Answer: Front of House Calls

These calls follow the same pattern as those made to the cast and crew, with the obvious exception of "beginners to the stage". For the stragglers, bells are rung in the bars and foyer 3, 2, and 1 minute before curtain up.

From Quiz Backstage Theatrical Devices

Answer: phosphorescent tape

Usually stapled to the set flooring, it also lets the actors know where rises and falls occur on the set as they enter the stage between scenes.

From Quiz Theatrical Terms

Answer: The technician operating machinery controlling the scenery suspension system

The flyman works on the Fly Floor (or Fly Gallery) which normally runs from downstage to upstage. He is in charge of the scenery that can be raised or lowered. Traditionally this was all done by hand, pulling on ropes - because of this a lot of flymen in days gone by were ex-seamen. Nowadays, many flies are computer controlled.

From Quiz Theatrical Lingo

Answer: They are awards

The Antoinette (Tony) Perry awards, named in her honor, are presented annually by the American Theatre Wing, for excellence on Broadway. The "Oliviers", or, more correctly, The Laurence Oliver awards, are an annual award for excellence on the British stage, presented in many categories similar to the Tonys. The Tonys were first presented in 1947 and the Oliviers in 1976. The Oliviers were originally called The Society of West End Awards, renamed in Olivier's honor in 1984.

From Quiz Exit Stage Left

Answer: Close to the audience whilst on stage

The terms downstage, centre stage, and upstage refer to the position of the actor on stage in relationship to the audience. If a cast member was given a direction to be downstage during a scene, they would be close to the audience.

From Quiz Exit Stage Left

Answer: The opposing role to that of the main character

The antagonist in a play is the actor or actors whose role is in direct opposition to the role played by the heroic or main character in a play. Conversely, the general terms applied to the central character in the play is the protagonist. An example of this would be Shakespeare's "Othello" (circa 1603). The heroic figure or protagonist is Othello, a Moor, who is a general in the Venetian army. His noble nature if offset by the evil behind-the-scenes machinations of the despicable Iago who plays on Othello's one fatal character weakness, jealousy, to the detriment of all concerned in the play. This is one of Shakespeare's most ruthless tragedies, and never, for one instant, does it let go of its audience.

From Quiz Break a Leg!

Answer: an arrangement of opaque flaps around a light

Barn doors are often made of metal painted black. They can be fixed so as to precisely guide and direct the light from a lamp.

From Quiz Theatre - Jargon and Folklore. Act Two

Answer: Onstage

To come close to tormentors and teasers, you would have to be treading the boards and be onstage, perhaps as part of a tour (several theatres run these) or by invitation from a member of the cast or crew. On proscenium stages, narrow flats stand directly behind - and sometimes also at right angles to - the arch. Running the length of the arch and linking the vertical flats is another solid piece. These are the tormentors and teasers respectively, so called because they prevent you from glimpsing into the magical world behind the scenes, as well as masking lighting, etc. When made of cloth, such means of concealment are known as legs and borders. In most instances, they are black, in order to absorb light, and pose as little distraction as possible to the action onstage.

From Quiz Mastering Theatre Lingo

Answer: The audience

A full house refers to a sold-out show. The house lights are the lights in the theatre not projected on stage. These lights are on before and after the show, as well as during intermission (if there is one). Dimming of the house lights generally signals that the show is about to begin.

From Quiz Backstage Theatrical Devices

Answer: cyclorama

From Greek Cyclos (circle) and Horama (view or vision).

From Quiz Theatrical Terms

Answer: A light left on when the theatre is closed for the night

A ghost light is a working light which is left on. It is based on the superstition that most theatres have ghosts and this light is to keep the theatre ghost happy.

From Quiz Theatrical Lingo

Answer: Front of the stage close to the audience

Closer to the audience is downstage, back toward the backdrop is upstage. Stage Left and Stage Right are referred to from the performer/s perspective. So as an audience member if the performer leaves the stage to your right, they are exiting Stage Left.

From Quiz Exit Stage Left

Answer: The actor would be postioned on the left hand side of the stage from the audience's perspective

The direction stage right involves the actor being positioned to the right of another actor, which makes them seem to be closer to the left hand side of the stage from the audience's perspective. If speaking to another actor, the right hand side of the actor's face would be in profile.

From Quiz Exit Stage Left

Answer: The presentation of the cast at the end of a play

The curtain call takes place after the conclusion of the play when the entire cast is brought on stage to take their bows to, hopefully, a wildly cheering and appreciative audience. Sometimes the cast will all hold hands and bow as one. At other times the main characters will each step forward to bow individually. This usually can be seen, say, following the conclusion of an opera. The louder the applause the more the audience appreciated the play or the individual performer.

From Quiz Break a Leg!

Answer: the areas on either side (right and left) of the stage, out of sight of the audience

Wings are technically part of the backstage which includes them and more space behind the backdrop. Actors normally stand in the wings just before they make an entrance. The phrase "waiting in the wings" derives from this theatrical practice.

From Quiz Theatre - Jargon and Folklore. Act Two

Answer: Orchestra Pit

Usually in front of the stage but slightly lower than the audience, the orchestra pit can often be turned into additional seating or an apron stage, if there is no live music required, or if the musicians are onstage or in the wings. Pits vary in size, and may have audio and video monitoring to relay the show to those musicians unable to see the stage. In the days of Variety and Music Hall, musicians marked their scores with arrows pointing upward, to indicate when to catch the "best" view of the chorus girls! Anyone playing for shows involving physical gags should be on their guard, though, as bits of custard pie, or water squirted from a flower, may find their way into the pit. The motto here is; if this bothers you, don't work the show!

From Quiz Theatre - Technical Jargon and a Dash of Folklore

Answer: Open the House

Stage Management tell the FOH (Front Of House) Manager that everything is ready. The FOH Manager will then inform his staff by walking round the corridors and stairways that give access to the auditorium, often ringing a handbell as he makes his round. Doors are opened, and the audience may take their seats. Backstage, the call "The house is open, please do not cross the stage" is passed to all positions.

From Quiz Backstage Theatrical Devices

Answer: flat

After they are constructed, they can be held in stock and re-painted for future presentations.

From Quiz Theatrical Terms

Answer: To give away tickets to theatre performances to give the impression of a successful show

This is a marketing technique whereby tickets are given away or sold very cheaply to ensure full houses and make the production appear more successful than it is in reality.

From Quiz Theatrical Lingo

Answer: An audience member who did not pay for their seat

Sometimes called freeloaders, deadheads are usually friends of the producers. They not only don't pay for seats, but it is common for them to be given prime seats.

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Last Updated Oct 25 2025 5:51 AM

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