NTC’s
Dictionary of Theatre and Drama Terms,
Jonnie Patricia Mobley, National
Textbook Company, 1992
1.. Tableau: A
picture presented by a group of motionless actors. (Usually at the end of an act
or scene)
2.. Shtick:
A funny gag or bit
3.. Shubert
Alley: A short, narrow, private street between 44th and 45th
streets, west of Times Square where actors like to meet.
The stage door of the Shubert Theater opens on the alley
4.. Stealing:
When an actor takes the attention of the audience away from the focus of the
scene, or to force other actors to turn their backs to the audience
5.. Tucket: A
trumpet call, usually announcing the arrival of an important person (used in
Elizabethan plays a lot)
6.. Ape: To
steal lines or business from other actors.
Also, an actor who steals
7.. Paper: a
free admission to a show. (Paper the house)
8.. Kill: To
remove from the stage. (scenery,
light) or to spoil the effect of a line, laugh by bad timing
9.. National
company: An American acting company
organized for a nationwide tour
10.. Pratfall: A stage fall, usually on the butt with much exaggeration