S

Stage TypesActing Areas

Stage DirectionsAdapted from

Ms. Aiva B. RodreguezHigh School for World Cultures

Bronx, NY

Overview

Different types of stages

Acting areas

Stage Directions

Types of Stages

Proscenium Stage- a raised picture frame stage

Types of Stages

Arena Stage (theatre in-the-round): a stage

on which the action takes place in the center of a circle and the audience sits around the stage.

Types of Stages

Thrust Stage: the performance area

“thrusts” out into the house and the audience

is on three sides.

Types of Stages

Black Box Theater: a large room painted black with lights hanging from beams on the ceiling – audience space and

playing space are flexible

Types of Stages

the audience sits on either side of the stage

Traverse Stage: a theater in which

Types of Stages

Flexible Staging – A play that is staged in a

place that cant be classified arena,

proscenium, thrust, black box or traverse

Which stage is this?

Which stage is this?

Which stage is this?

Which stage is this?

Which stage is this?

What stage do WE have?

The proscenium stage has many parts.

S

We will focus on the Acting Area:

Directors use nine areas to give directions to the

actors

Stage directions abbreviations

X- to cross to another area of the stage

C- Center Stage – midway between front and back, up and down, right and left

DS Down Stage – The area closest to the apron in the center of the stage

US Up Stage_ The area closest to the back of the stage in the center

Stage directions abbreviations

R Stage Right– in the center to the right of the actor

L Stage Left – in the center to the left of the actor

DR Down Stage Right – The area closest to the audience to the right of the actor

DL Down Stage Left -– The area closest to the audience to the left of the actor

Stage directions abbreviations

UR Up Stage Right – The area closest to the back wall to the right of the actor

UL Up Stage Left -– The area closest to the back wall to the right of the actor

Review the abbreviations

Director says, Enter UL

Director says, XDR

Director says, XUR, then dance DR and back to UR

Get on stage and explore!