Overture - Main Menu
This section contains words, phrases and other meaningless theatrical trivia you will never need unless you study drama or enter show business. Even then, you will not need to know most of this. This is also not the definitive dictionary of the performing arts. Entertainers have been arguing about the meanings of many of these words for centuries but, so far, have reached no conclusions. This humble gathering of words will only add fuel to the flames.
How do the word listings look?
Glossary Word
(1) If there is more than one definition to a glossary word, they will be broken down like this: (1), (2), (3), etc.
(2) If there are other glossary words used in the definition, they will be deep red like this. Scarlet words, however, are hot links.
(3) If a glossary word has a more universal or better use of terminology elsewhere, there will be: See Word.
(4) I am amazed I have to explain this in such detail. I guess some folks have never learned to use a dictionary.
Why have I included this section? Because most people get lost in the theatrical gibberish. What is commedia dell'arte or vaudeville? What does a prompter or a stage manager do? To beginners, theater is a magical yet foreboding arena, with characters that seem larger than life. I want to erase a touch of that mystery and say that you are also welcome to this enchanted land of grease paint and painted canvas. Come up on stage. A limelight awaits you.
Because I have collected so many definitions,
I could not put them all on one WebSheet.
Just touch a letter to go to its list.
