Improv: Short for “Improvisation” and refers to the skill of being able to create and perform spontaneously without preparation. Improv is a skill that is essential to any performer. For instance, say you’re in the middle of a prepared piece and you or your scene partner forget your lines - you need to be able to continue without a hiccup. If you can improvise until you get back on script, the audience won’t even know that something has gone amiss! 

Mime: A theatrical technique of suggesting action, character, or emotion without words, using only gesture, expression, and movement. Mime is often considered over-the-top and exaggerated; however, it requires precision to clearly inform the audience of the actor’s intentions. Practicing mime allows an actor to explore the non-verbal side of acting and invites unique choices that don’t rely on dialogue.  

Characterization: Is the creation or construction of a fictional character. All actors must undergo characterization work when performing a piece, whether the character is new or based on a real person. The actor needs to have a clear picture of how the character looks, speaks, acts and thinks. This includes physical appearance, choice of words, manner of speaking, mannerisms, interactions with other characters, etc. The actor should also know why the character is the way they are; actors who delve deeply into characterization become experts on human behaviour and psychology. 

Repertory theatre: A resident theatre company that performs multiple pieces from a set “repertoire” on a rotating basis. This differs from a company that performs one show for a limited time before launching something new. Actors in repertory theatres usually perform in multiple productions throughout the season and may play multiple roles, on a rotation, in each production. 

We are lucky in Waterloo Region to have North America’s largest classical repertory theatre company, the Stratford Festival, right outside of town. Each season, the Stratford Festival selects a number of plays and musicals and performs them on a rotating schedule from April to October. The Shaw Festival and Drayton Entertainment are also repertory theatre companies.  

Triple Threat: A performer who is proficient in acting, singing and dancing. This type of performer is almost always required for every role in a Musical Theatre production. 

Cold reading: Reading aloud from a script or text with little or no preparation. Cold reading is often part of an audition as it allows the casting team to see an actor’s performing capability and improvisation skills. An actor’s initial instincts can tell the casting team a lot!

Sides: Selections from a script that an actor is provided with for an audition. As the audition material may only contain part of a scene or segments from multiple scenes, “sides” has become the industry standard instead of “scenes.” This term goes back to Shakespeare’s day when actors received only their lines to save time and paper when hand-copying scripts. Today, an actor may receive their sides prior to the audition day so they can become familiar with the piece, but they may also receive the sides in the audition and asked to cold-read the piece. 

Blocking: The predetermined way actors move around in a scene. When a character crosses the stage, or when and where a character sits down are examples of blocking. Actors are responsible for memorizing the blocking for their role (and for any roles they may be understudying). The Stage Manager also makes written notes of all the actor’s blocking and uses those notes to help designers and technicians in making decisions and to ensure consistency of the production. 

Soundstage: An area of a movie or television studio with acoustic properties suitable for recording sound. Soundstages are used to record footage that requires dialogue. These areas are soundproofed to eliminate outside noise, and even though they are usually very large, soundstages are built to prevent echoes

Fourth wall: The imaginary space that separates a performer or performance from an audience. The convention is that while the audience can see through this “wall,” the actors act as if they cannot. To “break the fourth wall” means to acknowledge that someone is watching you and speak directly to the audience.

Track: An ensemble member’s part in a production. As a member of the ensemble, the actor will play many different minor roles throughout the entire show. This means memorizing multiple characters, lines, lyrics, blocking, costume changes, choreography, prop placements, set changes, and backstage traffic. Each ensemble member has their own track. When a member of the ensemble is unable to perform, their track needs to be filled by another actor, known as a Swing. 

DID YOU KNOW: Understudy vs. Swing

Understudies and Swings are both performers in a musical theatre production that take the place of another actor when the primary actor is absent. 

An Understudy is a performer who has a regular minor role in the production, who also studies a particular lead or supporting role in the production. When the main actor is not available to perform, the Understudy will be called upon to fill in.  

A Swing is a performer who does not have a regular role in the production but studies several (sometimes as many as 12 or more) “tracks” of the ensemble and is responsible for covering any of those “tracks” as needed. If a member of the ensemble is called upon to understudy, the Swing will take their place in the ensemble. 

DID YOU KNOW: Monologue vs Soliloquy

Both are a long speech in a dramatic piece; however, the difference lies in its audience. A monologue is delivered to other actors, while a soliloquy is delivered to oneself or to the audience. 

DID YOU KNOW: Intermission vs. Interval (and what about Interlude?)

Both an Intermission and an Interval refer to the break between parts of a performance. It gives everyone, the audience and the performers, a chance to refresh. Interval is used more frequently in British English. 

Now, if you hear Interlude, it also refers to a break; however, that break is often filled with some kind of entertainment, be it a piece of music or other performance. 

Join our Acting classes today!