Type stage directions in italics
. Speaker names within stage directions should be typed in SMALL CAPS (not italic). Type speaker names in FULL CAPITAL letters, flush to the left margin (not centered).
How should stage directions be written?
Stage directions are written
in italics
– and in (parentheses) when they appear next to dialogue. Dialogue is written in plain text.
What is an example of stage directions?
‘
The man deals a deck of cards’ or ‘Katy enters the room’
are examples of stage directions. They describe the movements of the characters in the scene. Furthermore, setting description such as ‘the morning sunlight fills the room’ is also an example of stage direction.
What are the 9 stage directions?
Stage directions include
center stage, stage right, stage left, upstage, and downstage
. These guide the actors to one of the nine sections of the stage named after the center and four directions. Corners are referred to as up right, down right, up left, and down left.
What’s the purpose of stage directions?
The simple convention of stage directions lets
playwrights address the directors and actors who undertake a production without their being physically present and without altering or interrupting the actual dialogue
. This convention ensures the audience sees what the playwright intended.
What are the 5 stage directions?
- C: Center.
- D: Downstage.
- DR: Downstage right.
- DRC: Downstage right-center.
- DC: Downstage center.
- DLC: Downstage left-center.
- DL: Downstage left.
- R: Right.
What are rules for eating on stage?
If it’s essential that actors eat on stage,
the food should be as easy to digest as possible
, and should not contain bones or anything else which could cause damage if accidentally swallowed. Some organic foodstuffs must never be used on stage.
Which is stage left?
As the performer looks out to the audience, the area on their right-hand side is called stage right and
the area on the left is
called stage left.
How do you identify stage directions?
The most common stage directions just
tell the actors where to go on the stage
. If you’re standing on the stage, looking at the audience, stage left would be to your left and stage right would be to your right. Going towards the audience is downstage, and walking away from the audience is upstage.
What are the stage positions?
- Upstage: The area of the stage furthest from the audience.
- Downstage: The area of the stage closest to the audience.
- Stage Left: The area of the stage to the performer’s left, when facing downstage (i.e. towards the audience).
How do actors stand on stage?
So, stage right and stage left are the actor’s right and left, not the audience’s. When you’re standing in the middle of the stage with your face toward the audience,
stage right is the area of the stage to your right
, and stage left is the area of the stage to your left. What about center stage?
What is the strongest stage position?
The most powerful position in any room is
front and center
. If you stand toward the front of the performance area, and at a point midway between the farthest audience member on each end (the center), you appear the most powerful to the audience.
What is the opposite of stage left?
Prompt side (abbreviated to PS) and
opposite prompt (abbreviated to OP, sometimes called off prompt)
are widely used terms for stage left and stage right. However some theatres choose to install prompt corner in a discrete area of the auditorium.
What is acting done by one person called?
A solo performance, sometimes
referred to as a one-man show or one-woman show, features a single person telling a story for an audience, typically for the purpose of entertainment.
What do actors drink instead of red wine?
Weak limejuice cordial, and
diluted grape juice
are both good substitutes too. Cranberry juice, blackcurrant, and cherry juice are useful to experiment with when making red wine, but make sure your actors like the taste of the drinks you prepare or all your hard work could go to waste.
Can you eat during live theater?
Most Broadway theaters do allow food at your seat
(meaning snacks, not, say, a large pizza), but most Off-Broadway theaters do not (except in the lobby). Both Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters usually sell concessions, though security probably won’t stop you from bringing a candy bar in your purse.
