House - The part of the theatre building in which the audience is seated. It is divided into right, center, and left (from the audience, facing the stage).

Stage - The part of the theatre building on which the acting occurs. It is divided into nine areas: upstage, centerstage, and downstage, with downstage being closest to the audience, and right, center, and left from the actor’s viewpoint facing the audience.

Scene shop - The part of the theatre building (or another building entirely) where scenery is manufactured.

Proscenium - The arch or “picture frame” through which the audience views the action on stage.

Apron - The portion of the stage that extends forward toward the audience in front of the proscenium.

Acting area - Any area used by the actors during a play.

Curtain line - An imaginary line across the stage occupied by the main drape when the drape is closed.

Main drape (act curtain, grand drape, main) - An opening and closing curtain used at the beginning and end of an act to close the stage from audience view.

Orchestra pit -A recessed area in front of and often under the stage that houses an orchestra during a staged musical production.

Borders (teasers) - Horizontally hung curtains used to mask the upper areas of the stage from audience view.

Legs (tormentors) - Vertically hung curtains used to mask the backstage areas of the theatre from audience view.

Backstage - The areas of the stage not occupied by scenery or intended as acting areas.

Director - A theatre artist who is in charge of all of the artistic elements of a production.

Rehearsal - A practice period for actors occurring before the opening of a theatre production.

Script - A written document that records the dialogue for the actors and may include the director’s stage directions (blocking).

Blocking - The director’s instructions on how actors are to move on stage.

Audition - A tryout during which the director casts the play.

Improv - Improvisation. An acting scene that does not emanate from a script.

Techs - Rehearsals close to the opening of a production in which all of the technical elements such as lighting, scenery, sound, and costumes are integrated into the production.