Stage Directing for Dummies Trivia Quiz

Answer: Keep one foot pointed toward the audience at all times.

It's actually a "rule of foot". If you keep one foot pointed at the audience at all times, you are more likely to have at least *part* of the front of your body facing outwards. Keeping one hand pointed toward the wings could look awkward and obstruct air flow. Staying upstage keeps you away from the audience, and putting arrows on the floor would require actors to look down--a direction that would make them difficult to see and understand.

Answer: All of these are good techniques.

The thing that is most important is repetition. Depending on your learning style, you may want to see it, hear it, or do it. One of my professors in college taught me that memory is most malleable just before sleep and when you first wake. If you read a passage at those two times, you are more likely to remember it. I have memorized several scripts this way over the years, and to this day I can still perform them.

Answer: Playing too small of a role

When working with children, mild "temper tantrums" can include not playing parts to their best abilities because they feel they deserved larger roles. Always keep understudies handy. This is behavior-related and not a physical problem you can overcome. Try to encourage the student first ("There are no small roles, only small actors.") Remember that "the show must go on". Replace the actor if you can't change the behavior.

Answer: Downstage Right

Downstage right puts the actor on the front of the stage at the audience's left. Since Americans read left to right, they are inclined to look to the left first.

Answer: Stages used to be built on a ramp

Stages used to be "raked" so that audiences (sitting on flat ground) could see all of the action. Today, most audiences are "raked". This way the stage is safer for the actors, and audiences can still see the stage.

Answer: Both of these are necessary

Everyone needs to learn safety--this is a given. It is also just as important that everyone learns the rules of courtesy. With young people, the fastest way to stop a rehearsal is a personality conflict. My number one rule is, "Keep your personal baggage outside." Conflicts from the school playground should not ever come into a rehearsal.

Answer: Someone must perform a cartwheel across the stage 5 minutes before curtain time.

Young students may not know these superstitions, but more experienced thespians pass them on quickly. Shakespeare's "MacBeth" is considered unlucky because of a string of theatre accidents that happened while producing the play (as if accidents don't happen during any other play...).
The whistling superstition started from practical practice--crew used whistles for scene changes, and an actor whistling could confuse them.
Pinching people for luck is an old superstition that carried into the theatre.

Answer: Lemon

People frequently use lemon to clear the vocal cords of mucus. This is a very bad idea. Vocal cords have a normal coating on them. Lemon strips the cords of mucus and their natural coating. When you use your vocal cords while they are dry, you can cause nodes and other damage.

Answer: False

Any time you plan to use your voice for a long period of time (such as a two-hour play), you should use vocal exercises. Humming, tongue twisters, and breathing exercises are recommended.

Answer: False

Of course that's false! Playwrights depend on income as much as anyone else. Please get the proper permission before producing anyone's work.