Character’s names are in ALL CAPS so you know not to read them and so you can easily see who you are talking to Stage directions (tell the actor what to do or where to go) are italicized and/or in brackets or parenthesis. Director’s don’t always use these they are just a starting point. You should always read them the first time you read the show. They sometimes also give light cues Song lyrics are indented and italicized. In a full musical script the music is at the back. The words and Lyrics are called a libretto. It is important to “destroy your script like a professional” if you are just reading the play or acting in in. Make notes, define words in the margin, highlight, business, characterization notes, choreography, memorization tricks and write stage directions. You should only use pencil. READING A SCRIPT BASICS

Act: Subdivision between sections of a play. A short play is a 'One-Act-er', a play with one interval has two Acts etc. Acts are subdivided further into Scenes. Intermission: the time in the middle of the show for actors to rest and theatre goers to stretch Audition: the time when an actor prepares to show the director that they can play the part. Casting: When the director and producer decide who is cast as which parts (who will be given which parts) Blocking: where and how an actor moves on stage, as told to them by the director Call: When you need to be at rehearsal or when you are asked to come on stage, actors can also call for line when they forget Cast/ensemble: all the actors in a show Company: everyone associated with the show Cue: When something happens that makes an actor do something or a light change or a sound/music play. When the lights or sound play we also call those cues Curtain Call: The bows at the end of the show. Dress Rehearsal: the first time the actors do the show like it’s the real show with all the elements together. Green Room: Where actors go to relax before the show. Matinee: An Afternoon show Opening Night: The first night of a show Run: all the shows in a sequence of shows Swing: An actor that stands by when there is a quick costume change, this actor will go on stage and do a scene if the main actor is not ready. Understudy: an actor that goes on if the main actor can’t Etiquette: What’s polite and proper TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Set: anything on stage that is not moved by an an actor during the scene (there are a few acceptations. (like a chair at a desk) these are taken care of by the stage crew. It also means to prepare the stage for action. Prop: objects that are used by the actor in a scene that are taken care of by a prop master Costumes: clothing worn by the actor when they come on and off stage. Taken care of by the costume master and the actor Flat: A large rectangular piece of wood with a set painted on it. Book Flats have two rectangles and look like books Scaffolding: used in a lot of modern pieces instead of flats. Big metal set pieces with latters for actors to climb on. They are used for multiple different sets in the show. How the places look are left up to the audiences imagination. Load in: When the crew brings the set and other materials from the rehearsal space to the theatre Spike: Marking where set pieces go and actors stand, done with tape called spike tape Tech Rehearsal: the rehearsal where lights are sound are used with actors for the first time (or second time if things need to be fixed) Dry Tech: A rehearsal to practice lights, sound and set moving without actors Strike: To take a something away or to take down the set at the end of the play Wings: The short curtains on the side of the stage for actors to hide behind when waiting for their entrance. SET/PROPS BASICS

Stage Business: What the actor does with their hands or body while on stage (playing with keys, pacing, knitting, cleaning Apron: the part of the stage that protrudes past the curtain or the walls House: Where the audience is 4 th wall: an imaginary wall between the actors and the audience “Breaking the 4 th wall”: When an actor talks to the audience Parts of the Stage (or stage directions) are named from the actor’s point of view when they are facing the audience. Common Stage Directions: Stage Left (SL or L) Stage Right (SR or R) Center Stage (CS or C) Stages used to be raked. Downstage is toward the audience and Upstage is toward the back of the stage Other Common stage directions: Up Stage Down Stage ON (to come on stage) OFF(to exit the stage) X (to Cross from one side to another) Left of Chair, Left of Center BLOCKING BASICS

STAGE DIRECTIONS Apron L of C D of C R of Desk House-(Where the audience sits) Wings OFF Wings OFF

Black out: When all the lights on stage or in the house are out. House lights: The lights over the audience Wash: General Lighting across the stage Special: a special light or group of lights for a specific purpose Spot light: light that illuminates one person or thing, all else is usually dark Gel: a thin colored square used to change a light’s color LIGHTING BASICS