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 |
|---|---|---|
| DAT | Digital Audio Tape | Digital Recording |
| dB | Abbreviation for decibel | Decibel |
| DBO | Dead Blackout | Blackout |
| DE-RIG | The process of removing lighting instruments & cabling from flying bars or grid (rigging)- returning the venue to its normal state, or as preparation for the next production. | Rigging |
| DEAD | 1) A prop or scenic piece that has been used, but is no longer needed until the next performance. 2) Used to describe a flat or curtain that hangs with the bottom edge level on the stage floor, as in "dead hang." | |
| DEAD HANG | To fly an item without a counterweight. | |
| DEATH AT THE BOX OFFICE | A dramatic piece or actor that is unlikely to succeed with the public, or one that is known to be unpopular. | |
| DEBUT | An actor's first appearance, whether at the beginning of his/her career, or in a new theatre. Thus "Making his Acme Little Theatre debut is John Kelly." | |
| DECIBEL | Relative measurement for the volume (loudness) of sound. Also used to measure the difference between two voltages, or two currents. | |
| DECK | 1) Stage floor. 2) Tape deck. | |
| DEEP | A stage or acting area that is long in measurement from front to back. | |
| DELIVERY | The manner in which an actor presents or utters his/her lines. | |
| DEMUX BOX | Interface unit between the serial digital output of a memory lighting control desk to the parallel analogue signal understood by a dimmer. | |
| DENOUEMENT | In a dramatic work, the falling action after the climax, the unwinding of the complications of the plot. | |
| DEPARTMENT | One of the principal divisions of the stage staff, headed by a company official--such as wardrobe, scenery, lighting. Thus, department head. | |
| DEPARTMENT HEAD | ||
| DESIGNER | ||
| DEUS EX MACHINA | In the ancient Greek and Roman theatre, this referred to a god that provided the resolution of the play (literally, "a god from a machine."). In modern drama, sometimes used to mean an unlikely resolution of the problem posed in a play. | |
| DEVELOPMENT | 1) In dramatic construction, the events after the exposition that complicates the plot; a logical series in cause and effect. 2) In characterization, a change and expansion in character traits within a dramatic piece. | |
| DI BOX | Interface unit to convert the high impedance unbalanced output of an instrument (e.g. Electric guitar) into a low impedance balanced signal of low level suitable for connection to the microphone input of a mixing desk. Usually has an output jack socket so that the instrument's unprocessed signal can be passed direct to the musician's amplifier. DI = Direct Injection. |
