1. Stage Types Acting Areas Stage Directions
Adapted from
Ms. Aiva B. Rodreguez
High School for World Cultures
Bronx, NY

2. Overview
Different types of stages
Acting areas
Stage Directions

3. Proscenium Stage- a raised picture frame stage
Types of Stages
Proscenium Stage- a raised picture frame stage

4. Types of Stages
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.

5. Types of Stages
Thrust Stage: the performance area “thrusts” out into the house and the audience is on three sides.

6. Types of Stages
Black Box Theater: a large room painted black with lights hanging from beams on the ceiling – audience space and playing space are flexible

7. Traverse Stage: a theater in which
Types of Stages
Traverse Stage: a theater in which
the audience sits on either side of the stage

8. Types of Stages
Flexible Staging – A play that is staged in a place that cant be classified arena, proscenium, thrust, black box or traverse

9. Which stage is this?

10. Which stage is this?

11. Which stage is this?

12. Which stage is this?

13. Which stage is this?

14. What stage do WE have?

15. The proscenium stage has many parts.

16. We will focus on the Acting Area:

17. Directors use nine areas to give directions to the actors

18. Stage directions abbreviations
X- to cross to another area of the stage
C- Center Stage – midway between front and back, up and down, right and left
DS Down Stage – The area closest to the apron in the center of the stage
US Up Stage_ The area closest to the back of the stage in the center

19. Stage directions abbreviations
R Stage Right– in the center to the right of the actor
L Stage Left – in the center to the left of the actor
DR Down Stage Right – The area closest to the audience to the right of the actor
DL Down Stage Left -– The area closest to the audience to the left of the actor

20. Stage directions abbreviations
UR Up Stage Right – The area closest to the back wall to the right of the actor
UL Up Stage Left -– The area closest to the back wall to the right of the actor

21. Review the abbreviations

22. Director says, Enter UL

23. Director says, XDR

24. Director says, XUR, then dance DR and back to UR

25. Get on stage and explore!