1. SRO - An abbreviation for ‘standing room only’. It means that all the seats for a performance have been sold and only reduced-priced tickets to stand in the back are left.

2. Spine - In the Stanislavsky method of actors’ training, spine refers to the motivation that underlies a characters’ actions.

3. Scenario - A film or television script. Originally a scenario was a scene-by-scene resume of the plot in a commedia play. This provided a skeleton that could be fleshed out in performance by the inventiveness of the actors.

4. Proscenium arch - The picture frame through which an audience watches the play. Architecturally, it comprises the would lintel and sidepieces that enclose the playing area.

5. Periscope ending - A scene at the end of a play that tells what happens to the characters.

6. Persona - The character an actor assumes in the play. Also, the mask an actor wears. In each case it involves the takin on of a personality that is different from the actor.

7. Oleo - The backdrop used in vaudeville performances. Also, the front drop painted with advertisements.

8. Curtain line- The last line of the scene; serves as a signal to bring down the curtain.

9. Curtain raiser - A one-act play presented before the main play of the performance. It may be something similar in tone to set the mood, or it may be something quite dissimilar to form a contrast.

10. Cross fade - To fade or dim the lighting from one setup of lighting control board to another setup without completely dimming all the stage lights