Theater Costumes, Makeup, and All Things Stagecraft

Monster and Pretty Woman

Theater has always been an immersive experience combining movement, speech, design, and visual spectacle to tell a story. From the ancient amphitheaters of Greece to modern Broadway stages, the power of live performance lies not only in the script but in everything surrounding it: acting, costuming, lighting, makeup, and movement. Understanding these stagecraft elements can help students and enthusiasts appreciate the depth of the performing arts and the collaboration that goes into each production.

Essential Acting and Stage Terms

Action: The director's verbal cue indicating that a scene's performance should begin
Ad-Lib: To speak or move spontaneously during a performance without following the script
Advance: Money paid ahead of time to secure an actor's agreement to participate in a project
Aside: A line delivered to the audience that other characters in the scene are not meant to hear
Back to One: Instruction for performers to return to their initial positions so the scene can be repeated
Background: Non-speaking performers placed in a scene to create realism, often referred to as extras
Beat: A short pause or moment of change in a character's emotion, goal, or delivery
Black Out: A sudden shutoff of all lighting to mark the end of a scene or act
Blocking: The planned arrangement and movement of actors during a scene or performance
Booking: The confirmation that an actor has officially been hired for a role
Call Time: The exact time a performer must arrive for a rehearsal or performance
Casting: The process of choosing which actors will fill specific roles in a production
Cheating Out: Turning the body slightly toward the audience while appearing to face another actor
Closing Off: When a performer's body is angled away from the audience, limiting visibility
Cold Read: Reading from a script with minimal or no preparation, often done at auditions
Cue: A verbal or visual signal that prompts an actor to speak, move, or perform an action
Dialogue: The lines spoken between characters in a performance
Downstage/Upstage: Stage directions: "Downstage" is toward the audience, while "upstage" is farther away.
Dress Rehearsal: A complete practice run of a performance using costumes, props, and technical elements
Ensemble: A group of performers where no single individual is the central focus
Exit: An instruction telling an actor to leave the stage
Fourth Wall: The imaginary boundary separating the performers from the audience
Headshot: A professionally taken photo of an actor, usually from the shoulders up, for casting purposes
Improvisation: Acting without a script, inventing dialogue and actions in the moment
Mark: A designated spot, often marked with tape, where a performer needs to stand or move to during a scene
Method Acting: A performance style in which actors draw on personal experiences and emotions to fully embody their characters
Monologue: A speech performed by a single character, often revealing inner thoughts or emotions
Motivation: The underlying reason a character behaves or speaks in a certain way
Off Book: Having all lines memorized so that the script is no longer needed during performance
On Book: Still using the script during rehearsals because lines are not yet memorized
Overacting: Delivering a performance that feels exaggerated or unnatural
Props: Physical objects used by performers as part of a scene
Scene Partner: The performer(s) you interact with during a scene
Script: The written text of a performance, including dialogue and stage directions
Stage Directions: Written notes in a script that describe movement, positioning, or tone
Understudy: An actor trained to perform a role if the main actor cannot.
Voiceover (VO): A recorded voice heard during a production without the speaker appearing
Wardrobe: The collection of costumes worn by performers in a production

Theater History

The origins of theater reach back to ancient civilizations such as Greece, where tragedies and comedies were performed in massive open-air amphitheaters to honor the gods, and Rome, where plays incorporated spectacle, music, and elaborate stagecraft. In the Middle Ages, theater re-emerged through liturgical dramas and morality plays staged in town squares, often from portable pageant wagons. The Renaissance brought a flourishing of artistry on stage, with playwrights like William Shakespeare and Molière blending poetic language, complex characters, and themes that still resonate. In the 19th and 20th centuries, theater expanded to include more realism, experimental works, and the golden age of Broadway musicals, which fused acting, song, and dance into popular entertainment.

Studying the development of theater reveals how performance mirrors the concerns, values, and creativity of the time period. Costumes have evolved from robes in ancient Greece to historically accurate attire in modern productions, while stagecraft has advanced from simple platforms to intricate rotating sets and digital projections. Understanding these changes not only deepens cultural appreciation but also shows how theater remains a living art form, one that continually reinvents itself while carrying forward traditions that span thousands of years.

Drama Games, Activities, and Lessons

Acting isn't just about memorizing lines; it's about fully embodying a character through physicality, voice, and emotion. Drama games can teach students to focus, listen, and collaborate while developing characters and building confidence. These activities help actors warm up physically and mentally, creating a safe space for expression and exploration. They're critical building blocks for any theatrical training program.

Acting and Improv Resources

Improv hones quick thinking and collaboration skills, making it also a valuable part of an actor's training. Often, improv is used in a comedic context, but it can also come in handy in more serious, scripted work if something goes wrong during a performance. Playing improv games can build the flexibility needed to adapt to any situation on stage.

Stagecraft Resources

Behind the curtain is a world of technicians and designers managing scenery, lighting, and sound. Stagecraft includes all of the behind-the-scenes work that brings a script to life. Understanding these elements of a successful performance is essential for any aspiring theater professional.

Scriptwriting Resources

Playwriting blends structure, creativity, and dialogue. Writing for the stage requires a different approach than film or prose, incorporating character and plot as well as stage directions for the actors.

Costume and Makeup Resources

Costumes define a character, including their social and economic status and the time period in which they live. Makeup highlights features and supports the transformation of an actor into their character. Both of these element are crucial to a performance: The right costumes and makeup help actors to embody roles and makes stories believable for audiences.