Theatre Terms
As a service to the theatre community, AACT provides over 1000 definitions of theatrical terms. Fully searchable, our glossary is helpful for technical staff, directors, actors, producers, or anyone wanting to better understand the inner workings of theatre.
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Click on a letter (A-Z) below to find terms beginning with the specified letter, OR enter a word in "Search for Term" OR search by entering a word in "Words in Definition." For example, entering the word "curtain" would display all words whose definition includes that word. (Note: If the A-Z or word search has been activated, it must be reset before using "Search for Term" or "Words in Definition." To reset the A-Z search: Click Here)
| Term | Definition | Link |
|---|---|---|
| DOG GRIP | Cable Grip | |
| DOLBY | Trade name for a series of noise reduction systems that have become standard on many tape playback machines. Many film soundtracks are produced using this process. Different varieties are found from Dolby B on most personal cassette players, to Dolby SR and Digital, the current state of the art for films. | |
| DOLLY | A small wheeled platform used to move heavy items. (E.g. a piano dolly). | |
| DOMINATE A SCENE | 1) In acting, to occupy an outstanding position on the stage, as the position farthest upstate, or on the highest plane of several levels. 2) A particularly strong actor who, intentionally or not, is the prime focus of a scene. | |
| DONUT | A metal plate with a hole in the middle inserted in the color runners of a lamp to sharpen focus (in the case of a profile) or reduce spill. | |
| DOOR FLAT | A flat with an opening for a door unit. | |
| DOORSKIN | A flexible thin plywood used for covering flats, also known as luaun or Philippine mahogany. Use is declining due to the fact that it is sourced from environmentally unsustainable resources in the Brazilian Rainforest. | Luaun or Luan |
| DOUBLE | To play two parts in one production; an actor who does so. Thus, doubling. | |
| DOUBLE PURCHASE | Counterweighted flying system where the cradle travels half the distance of the fly bar, leaving the side wall of the stage under the fly floors clear of flying equipment. The cradle of a double purchase system needs twice as many counterweights as that of a single purchase system balancing the same weight. | |
| DOUBLE TAKE | An actor's comic response to a surprising event or action: one expression, followed after a pause by another, as he pretends to recognize the significance belatedly. | |
| DOUBLE-CAST | To cast two actors in each part, either to provide an understudy, or to permit their appearance in alternate performances. Thus, double-casting. | |
| DOUBLING | ||
| DOWN | Short for down stage. | |
| DOWN CENTER | A stage position or area, center and downstage. Also a stage direction, as "Mary, move down center." Sometimes abbreviated as D.C. or DC. | |
| DOWN LEFT | A stage position, left (audience's right) and downstage. Also a stage direction, as in "Mary, move down left." Sometimes abbreviated as D.L. or DL. | |
| DOWN LEFT CENTER | A stage position, downstage of left center position. Sometimes abbreviated as D.L.C. or DLC. | |
| DOWN RIGHT | A stage position or area, right (audience's left) and downstage. Sometimes abbreviated as D.R. or DR. | |
| DOWN RIGHT CENTER | A stage position, downstage of right center position. Sometimes abbreviated as D.R.C. or DRC. | |
| DOWN STAGE or DOWNSTAGE | 1) The entire front half of the stage. Thus, 'downstage wall,' 'downstage entrance.' 2) Any part of the stage considered as a position in relation to something or someone farther back, as in "Mark moves right, downstage of Mary." | |
| DOWNLIGHT | A light from directly above the acting area. |
