FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Quiz about Words Every Theatre Person Should Know

Words Every Theatre Person Should Know Quiz

Like theatre? Do you know these theatrical terms?

A photo quiz by Ilona_Ritter. Estimated time: 2 mins.

Author
Ilona_Ritter

Time
2 mins

Type
Photo Quiz

Quiz #
376,656

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
9 / 10

Plays
745

One at a Time - Single Page

Question 1 of 10

1. Where would you be if you were down stage? Hint

The back part of the stage

The front part of the stage

Center stage

Back stage

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What is another word for actor? Hint

Thespian

Tabor

Tach

Tagmeme

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What is the term used for a large painted canvas at the back of the set? Hint

Reardrop

Back part of the set

Behinddrop

Backdrop

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What is the climax? Hint

The high point of the show

The acting technique where you become the character you are playing

The low point of the show

The group of dancers who appear in a show but have no lines

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What is the "eleven o'clock number" in a musical? Hint

The song that two actors sing together

A song that lists items

The song that is sung shortly before the show ends

A song that is sung in a foreign language

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What gives the lights their color in tungsten stage lamps? Hint

Gems

Gypsums

Gyros

Gels

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What does it mean to "kill the lights"? Hint

Turn off the lights

Put up the lights

Turn on the lights

Take down the lights

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What is a matinee? Hint

Morning or afternoon performance

Evening performance

No performance that day

Double performance

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What does it mean when an actor is "on book"? Hint

The actor stands on top of a book.

The actor is still using their script.

The actor puts the script on the floor.

The actor has memorized their lines.

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What is another word for stage platforms? Hint

Risers

Rounders

Raisers

Rackets

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

View Image Attributions for This Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Where would you be if you were down stage?

Answer: The front part of the stage

When giving stage directions, it is always given from the perspective of the actor. Therefore downstage would be the front of the stage and upstage would be the back of the stage. Also the reason that they were named upstage and downstage is that in olden times, the stage used to be angled so that the actors literally went "up" the stage when they went toward the back.

2. What is another word for actor?

Answer: Thespian

Thespian comes form the Greek word "Thespis" which means "inspired by the gods". Thespis was known as the Father of Greek Tragedy.

3. What is the term used for a large painted canvas at the back of the set?

Answer: Backdrop

The backdrop might be stars on black to convey the show takes place at night. It might also be a city landscape to show the play takes place in the city, or any other design based on the play.

4. What is the climax?

Answer: The high point of the show

A play can have more than one climax. However, the main climax is the high point.

5. What is the "eleven o'clock number" in a musical?

Answer: The song that is sung shortly before the show ends

This is often the big number in the show, that people usually remember the most. In "Gypsy", for example, "Rose's Turn" would be the eleven o'clock number.

6. What gives the lights their color in tungsten stage lamps?

Answer: Gels

The two most commonly used gels are blues and reds. However, there are gels in almost any color.

7. What does it mean to "kill the lights"?

Answer: Turn off the lights

This can refer to the house lights or to the stage lights or both. During a show, the cue to turn off all the stage lights is either blackout or fade to black, depending on how quickly the director wants the lights on the stage to go off.

8. What is a matinee?

Answer: Morning or afternoon performance

Usually a matinee starts at 2pm. However, in some theatres, it starts at 3pm. In community theatre the matinee is generally on Sunday.

9. What does it mean when an actor is "on book"?

Answer: The actor is still using their script.

This is during the early stages of rehearsals. The actors are on book while they learn their lines. As rehearsals progress, the actors learn their lines and are then "off book".

10. What is another word for stage platforms?

Answer: Risers

Risers allow stages to be made into multi-levels. This is especially useful with smaller stages.

Source: Author Ilona_Ritter

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.