1. Blocking The precise movement and positioning of actors on stage.
First, you must be familiar with the locations and abbreviations for areas of the stage floor.
Blocking

4. The act of notating on your script where you enter, exit, or cross.
Actors will write abbreviations on their scripts to tell them where they are going and on what lines or actions.
Blocking

5. Enter = En
Exit = Ex
Cross = X
Blocking Symbols

6. Try writing these in symbol format:
Enter upper stage right.
Cross to stage left.
Cross to downstage center.
Cross to stage right.
Exit upper stage right.
Try writing these in symbol format:

7. En USR
X L
X DC (or X D)
X R
Ex USR
Did it look like this?

8. Avoid flat blocking. Plan movements that are angles or diagonals.
Implement triangles with actors and set pieces.
Cross downstage of furniture and other actors.
Rules for Blocking

9. Rules for Blocking Create “shared” scenes with two conversing actors.
Create motivated movement.
Use blocking to build a scene.
Cross between lines or to break up a line.
Rules for Blocking

10. Stage Positions: Full Front
Both of these actor are full front.
Stage Positions: Full Front

11. While the middle actress is full front, the women on either side of her are ¾ front.
3/4 Front/Cheating Out

12. Profile Both of these actors are in profile.
Use profile briefly during highly emotional lines.
Profile

13. The male actor is ¾ front; the actress is ¾ back.

14. It is obvious which actor has his full back to us!