Theater Vocabulary

verb to perform or portray a role or behavior in an exaggerated or theatrical manner

• The actor was able to perfectly act out the scene as written in the script.
• I dare you to act out your favorite movie scene in front of everyone.
• She's always acting out and causing drama for attention.
• His anger issues often cause him to act out in destructive ways.

adjective relating to or characteristic of ballet

• The balletic movements of the prima ballerina captivated the audience.
• She moved across the stage in a balletic manner that was mesmerizing.
• Did you see that guy's balletic skills on the dance floor last night?
• The balletic precision with which he executed his plan was impressive.

verb to make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow

• The hostess would beckon guests to their tables with a polite gesture.
• I saw my friend beckon me over to join them at the party.
• He beckoned me to come hang out with him later.
• The call of the ocean beckons sailors to adventure.

noun a behavior that is ridiculous, funny, or absurd, often done to entertain others

• The CEO was disappointed by the buffoonery displayed during the important board meeting.
• I can't believe the level of buffoonery going on in the office today.
• Stop with the buffoonery, it's getting old.
• His actions were like a performance of buffoonery, making everyone laugh but also causing chaos.

noun a group of singers performing together, typically with more than one singer per part

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• The choir sang the chorus beautifully during the concert.
• We all joined in singing the chorus of our favorite song.
• The chorus of that new track is so catchy, it's stuck in my head all day.
• The chorus of voices calling for change grew louder as the protest continued.

noun A person who writes plays or dramas

• The dramatist's latest play received critical acclaim for its thought-provoking themes.
• I heard that the dramatist is working on a new script for the local theater.
• That dramatist sure knows how to write a killer script!
• As a dramatist of life, she always found a way to turn ordinary events into captivating stories.

noun a room in which clothes are put on or taken off

• The actress spent hours in the dressing room preparing for her role.
• Let's meet in the dressing room before the show starts.
• I heard there's a secret party happening in the dressing room after the concert.
• The garden shed was his dressing room, where he transformed into his superhero alter ego.

noun a musical composition for two performers or voices

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• The two opera singers performed a beautiful duet together on stage.
• We should totally do a duet at karaoke night!
• That duet was fire, they killed it!
• Their collaboration on the project was like a musical duet, perfectly in sync.

noun a law or act of officially making something into law or putting it into practice

• The enactment of new legislation requires thorough review and approval by the governing body.
• The enactment of these new rules means we have to follow them from now on.
• The enactment of these crazy laws is really messing things up for everyone.
• The enactment of change can be a powerful catalyst for progress in society.

noun a repeated or additional performance of an item at the end of a concert, as called for by an audience.

verb perform an encore.

adverb used as a request for a repetition of a performance or piece of music.

• The conductor received a standing ovation and was called back for an encore performance.
• The band played an encore of their hit song after the crowd begged for more.
• The comedian killed it on stage and did an encore of his funniest jokes.
• After the successful launch of their new product, the company decided to do an encore by releasing a limited edition version.

noun a style of dress or clothing

verb to rise from bed or get out of a place

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• She wore a professional getup to the job interview.
• I love your casual getup, it looks so comfortable.
• Check out his flashy getup, he's always dressed to impress.
• His determination and perseverance were his getup to success.

adjective exaggerated or overacted in a theatrical way

• The actor's hammy performance in the play received mixed reviews from the critics.
• I can't believe how hammy that actor was in the movie, it was so over the top!
• She always hams it up whenever she's on stage, it's so entertaining to watch.
• His hammy attempts at flirting were not well received by the girl at the bar.

noun a puppet controlled from above using strings or wires attached to its limbs

• The puppeteer manipulated the marionette with precision and skill.
• I used to love playing with marionettes as a kid, they were so fun to control.
• Hey, did you see that marionette show last night? It was lit!
• She felt like a marionette, being pulled in different directions by everyone around her.

noun a title of the emperor of Japan

• The Mikado is a popular Japanese operetta written by Gilbert and Sullivan.
• Let's watch the Mikado at the theater this weekend.
• I heard the Mikado is a must-see show, dude.
• The CEO is like the Mikado of the company, always in charge and calling the shots.

noun an introduction to something more substantial

• The composer began the symphony with a grand overture to set the tone for the rest of the piece.
• The movie started with an overture that got everyone excited for what was to come.
• The party kicked off with a bangin' overture that got everyone in the mood to dance.
• The CEO's announcement served as an overture to the major changes coming to the company.

noun a person who entertains an audience by acting, singing, dancing, or playing music

• The performer captivated the audience with their exceptional talent and stage presence.
• The performer totally killed it on stage tonight!
• That performer is a real showstopper!
• The performer was like a shining star in the night sky, lighting up the entire stage with their performance.

noun a technique in music where the strings of a string instrument are plucked with the fingers instead of being bowed

• The violinist demonstrated impressive pizzicato technique during the concerto.
• I love it when the strings play pizzicato in this song, it sounds so cool!
• The pizzicato part in that track was lit!
• Her words were like pizzicato notes, hitting all the right spots in the conversation.

noun a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast

preposition used to indicate that something is the subject of a joke or pun

• The director's use of lighting and shadows created a captivating play on visual effects.
• I love how the artist used different colors to play on the canvas.
• That comedian always knows how to play on the audience's emotions.
• The politician's speech seemed to be a clever play on words to deceive the public.

verb to happen or develop in a particular way

adverb in a manner that allows something to reach a conclusion or resolution

• The negotiations between the two countries will play out over the next few weeks.
• Let's see how this drama will play out in the end.
• I wonder how this whole situation is gonna play out.
• The consequences of his actions will play out for years to come.

noun a particular act or maneuver in a game

• The orchestra will play a symphony at the concert tonight.
• Do you want to play a game of chess with me?
• Let's play it cool and see how things unfold.
• Her words seemed to play with his emotions, causing confusion.

verb Portraying is a verb that means to depict or represent someone or something in a particular way.

• The artist did an exceptional job portraying the emotions of the characters in his latest painting.
• I think the movie did a great job portraying the true story of the famous singer.
• The show totally nailed portraying the struggles of high school life.
• Her words were like a painting, portraying a vivid image of her experiences.

adjective capable of causing laughter; laughable

• The idea that unicorns exist is risible to most scientists.
• His attempt at singing was so bad, it was downright risible.
• The new fashion trend is absolutely risible, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that.
• The politician's promise to lower taxes was risible, considering his track record of raising them.

noun a person who assumes a particular role in a situation or activity

• The role player demonstrated exceptional professionalism during the simulation.
• The role player really got into character during the game.
• That role player totally owned their part in the play.
• In this project, each team member is a role player contributing to the overall success.

noun the action of making musical sounds with the voice

verb present participle of sing, to make musical sounds with the voice

• The singing at the opera house was truly mesmerizing.
• I heard Sarah singing in the shower this morning.
• The street performer was belting out some killer tunes while singing on the corner.
• The birds outside my window were singing a beautiful melody at dawn.

noun a person who acts in a play or movie

adjective relating to drama and acting

• The thespian delivered a powerful monologue in the Shakespearean play.
• My friend is a talented thespian and always steals the show in our school plays.
• That thespian is so dramatic, always overacting in every scene.
• As a thespian of life, she always plays her role with grace and poise.

noun A person who shows people to their seats, especially in a theater or at a wedding

verb To show or guide someone in a particular direction or to a specific place

• The usher guided us to our seats in the theater.
• Hey, can you help usher everyone to their seats at the party?
• I heard that new club has some cool ushers working there.
• Music has always been the usher of change in society.

verb To have memorized one's lines in a play or performance, so that the script is no longer needed

• It is important for actors to be off-book before the dress rehearsal.
• Hey, have you guys all managed to be off-book for the scene yet?
• I need to be off-book by tomorrow or I'm screwed.
• I need to be off-book in my presentation so I can speak confidently.

noun a type of dance movement in which the hands are held with palms facing forward and fingers splayed, often performed in musical theater or jazz dance routines

• The performer concluded their routine with a graceful display of jazz hands.
• She always adds jazz hands at the end of her dance performances.
• I can't help but throw in some jazz hands when I'm feeling extra excited.
• He greeted the news of his promotion with jazz hands, metaphorically speaking.

noun a term used in ancient Greek theater to refer to the entrance of the chorus

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• The parados of the ancient Greek theater served as a backdrop for the actors.
• We can sit in the parados area for a better view of the stage.
• Let's sneak into the parados section for a closer look at the performance.
• The parados of the story symbolizes the protagonist's journey towards self-discovery.

noun aahs

• The audience erupted in a chorus of 'aahs' as the magician performed his final trick.
• The kids let out a few 'aahs' as they opened their presents on Christmas morning.
• The new movie had everyone in the theater going 'aahs' and 'oohs' throughout the entire film.
• The sight of the beautiful sunset filled her with 'aahs' of wonder and awe.

noun the quality or ability to act or perform in a particular way, especially in a dramatic role

• The actability of the new policy will be closely monitored by the board of directors.
• His actability in handling difficult situations is quite impressive.
• I never knew she had such great actability until she started performing in local plays.
• The actability of the team on the field was unmatched, leading them to victory.

verb A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. In this case, 'acted out' is a verb phrase meaning to perform or portray something through actions.

adverb A word that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb. In this case, 'out' is an adverb that indicates the completion or conclusion of the action of acting.

preposition A word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. In this case, 'out' is a preposition that indicates the direction or extent of the action of acting.

• The actors in the play acted out the scene with precision and emotion.
• The kids were bored so they acted out their favorite movie scene.
• She totally acted out when she found out she didn't get the job.
• His anger was so intense that it felt like a storm was being acted out in the room.

noun a plural form of the noun 'acter', which is a person who performs in a play, movie, or television show

• The actors delivered a powerful performance in the Shakespearean play.
• The actors totally nailed their roles in the school play.
• Those actors are killing it on stage!
• The actors are like skilled painters, bringing the characters to life with each brushstroke.

noun a formal written document submitted to a court

• The actio of the defendant was deemed to be in violation of the contract.
• Her actio in that situation was totally uncalled for.
• I can't believe his actio caused such a mess.
• The actio of speaking up against injustice can make a real difference.

noun a thing done; a deed

verb to take action; to do something

• The government passed several acts to address the issue of climate change.
• She acts like she knows everything, but really she's clueless.
• He acts all tough, but deep down he's a softie.
• Her kindness acts as a shield against negativity.

noun a specific melody or musical composition

• The orchestra members need to act tune to ensure a harmonious performance.
• Hey, can you act tune with the rest of the band so we can play together?
• Dude, you gotta act tune or we'll sound terrible!
• In order to succeed, the team must act tune and work together seamlessly.

noun a single action or event

• The actus reus of the crime must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
• The actus of the play was well-received by the audience.
• Let's skip the actus and get straight to the point.
• His actus of kindness towards strangers is truly inspiring.

noun a person who improvises or delivers spontaneously, especially in public speaking or performance

• The actor was known for his exceptional skills as an ad-libber, often improvising lines during live performances.
• She's a natural ad-libber, always coming up with funny jokes on the spot.
• That guy is such a great ad-libber, he can make up a story out of thin air.
• Being an ad-libber in life can sometimes lead to unexpected and exciting outcomes.