Enjoy this list of our favorite theater vocabulary! Useful in all theater education settings and selected to serve the needs of student and educator.

Actor's neutral- an actor stands tall with hands by their side and their feet shoulder-width apart, ready to act

Adlib- to improvise or make up parts of dialogue

Articulation- speaking clearly so that every word is understandable

Audience position- a cue for the ensemble to sit in a designated place ready to watch a performance or class work

Blocking- the actor's movement from place to place and action on stage

Characterization- the development and portrayal of a character by creating a different voice, body and personality

Cue line- the line of dialogue before yours

Diagonals- the imaginary line actors stand on so they can be seen by everyone in the audience

Going up on lines- forgetting a line of dialogue during a rehearsal or performance

Mark- place a set piece at a specific place on stage

Pacing- the timing or speed at which the action of the play moves

Projection- speaking loudly so your voice can be heard in the back of the theater space

Sight lines- the places backstage where actors become visible to the audience

Stealing focus- acting or speaking to catch the attention of the audience when another actor is speaking

Strike- removing a piece of set from the stage