Director: The person responsible for casting the play and interpreting and bringing the text of a play to life on stage. The director also manages the overall artistic unity of the production.
Downstage: The front of the stage closest to the audience.
Dress Rehearsal: A full, normally uninterrupted rehearsal of a play with costumes and make-up. Usually right before opening night and often in front of an invited audience.
Drop: A large piece of fabric hung down onto the stage floor and used to cover the back of the stage or to reduce the size of the stage.
Flat: A flat piece of painted scenery often consisting of a wooden frame covered with either wood and/or a stretched fabric, usually canvas.
Footlights: Once a common feature in theatres, this row of lights across the front edge of the stage is rarely employed today. Even so, you may still hear someone say of an actor: “She really projects across the footlights.”
Front of House: This usually refers to the public areas of the theatre but strictly includes everything in front of the stage. A Front of House Manager oversees staff members who work in this area.
Golds: see Tabs
Green room: A room in the theater—rarely painted green—where the actors and crew can relax or receive instructions. The term may come from ancient Greek theatre where actors would stretch out on the lawn before stepping onstage.
Grip: A colloquial term for a stagehand.
House: The place where the audience sits to enjoy the performance on stage.
House lights: The lights in the house or auditorium. Dimming of the house lights customarily signals the start of a performance.