Theatre Questions: Ultimate Exam! Trivia Quiz

A set designer is the person responsible for designing the scenery of a production. They work closely with the director and other members of the production team to create the visual elements of the set, including the placement of furniture, props, and other decorative elements. The set designer's role is crucial in creating the overall atmosphere and aesthetic of a performance or event.

The term "role" refers to the character that an actor portrays in a show. It is often used interchangeably with the word "character" when discussing auditions or performances.

The correct answer is "duet" because the question is asking for a scene for two actors to perform. A duet refers to a performance or composition involving two performers, usually singers or musicians. Therefore, a duet scene would be the most appropriate choice for the given scenario.

An understudy is a performer who is prepared to step in and take over a role if the actor playing that role is unable to perform. They are typically trained to know the lines, blocking, and other aspects of the character's performance, and they are ready to step in at a moment's notice. The understudy ensures that the show can go on smoothly even if the main actor is absent, ensuring continuity and minimizing disruptions for the audience.

A scene is a smaller division of an act or of the play itself. It represents a specific time and place within the larger context of the play. Scenes often involve a change in location, characters, or events, and they help to advance the plot and develop the story.

The correct answer is "Set". In a play, the set refers to the physical environment or surroundings that are created to represent the location where the action of the play takes place. It includes the scenery, furniture, and other elements that help to create the atmosphere and setting of the play. The set helps to enhance the audience's understanding of the story and provides a visual context for the characters and their actions.

Most directors have auditions for actors to show their talent and ability to play a role for a show. Auditions are a common practice in the entertainment industry where actors are given the opportunity to showcase their skills and suitability for a particular role. It allows directors to assess the actors' performance, suitability, and potential to bring the character to life on stage or screen. Through auditions, directors can make informed decisions about casting and select the best actors for their production.

The director is the person responsible for the direction of the actors in a play. They determine the tempo, interpretation, and blocking of the actors. The stage manager is responsible for the technical aspects of the production, such as coordinating backstage activities. The house manager is responsible for the front-of-house operations, including audience management. The producer is responsible for the financial and administrative aspects of the production.

The protagonist is the main character in a story that the audience identifies with. They are usually the hero or central figure who drives the plot forward and faces conflicts or challenges. The audience often sympathizes with the protagonist and follows their journey throughout the narrative. The other options, such as role, antagonist, and character, do not specifically refer to the main character that the audience identifies with.

Pitch refers to the musical tone of your voice, indicating how low or high you speak on a musical scale. It is a measure of the frequency of sound vibrations produced by the vocal cords. A higher pitch indicates a higher frequency, resulting in a higher tone, while a lower pitch indicates a lower frequency and a lower tone. Pitch is an important aspect of communication and can convey emotions, intentions, and meanings in spoken language.

In a play, an obstacle refers to a character or situation that creates conflict and hinders the protagonist from achieving their objective. It acts as a barrier or challenge that the main character must overcome in order to progress in the story. The obstacle can take various forms, such as a rival character, a difficult circumstance, or a personal flaw. It adds tension and drama to the plot, driving the narrative forward and highlighting the protagonist's struggle to achieve their goal.

A monologue is a long speech delivered by one character, where others may be present on stage or not. In a monologue, the character expresses their thoughts, feelings, or ideas to the audience or themselves. It is a way for the character to communicate their innermost thoughts and emotions, often providing insight into their motivations and actions. Unlike a dialogue or duet, a monologue does not involve a conversation between two or more characters. A soliloquy, on the other hand, is a type of monologue where the character speaks their thoughts aloud, often when they are alone on stage.

The crew is a group of technicians who work behind the scenes of a show, handling various tasks such as props, costumes, scenery, and more. They are responsible for ensuring that everything is in place and functioning smoothly during the production. Unlike the cast or designers who have specific roles and responsibilities, the crew members work collectively to support the overall production process.

The correct answer is "ensemble." An ensemble play refers to a production where all the characters have equal-sized roles and stage time. It also refers to a scene involving three or more people. In an ensemble play, the focus is on the collective performance rather than individual characters, creating a sense of unity and collaboration among the actors.

The correct answer is "callboard" because a callboard is a bulletin board where important information about auditions and rehearsal times is typically posted. It serves as a central communication hub for the cast and crew of a production, ensuring that everyone is aware of the necessary details and can stay organized.

The correct answer is "project" because in the given sentence, the speaker is asking Jane to speak louder or project her voice. The phrase "I cannot hear you at the back of the auditorium" suggests that the speaker is unable to hear Jane's voice clearly, indicating that she needs to project her voice to be heard.

The correct answer is green because it is the only color that is mentioned in the prompt. The sentence states that while waiting to audition, one should wait in the "____ room; the actor's lounge." Since green is the only color option provided, it is the most suitable choice to fill in the blank.

A run through rehearsal is one in which the actors perform the show from beginning to end without stopping for mistakes. This type of rehearsal allows the actors to practice the entire production without interruptions, helping them to build stamina, improve their timing, and become familiar with the flow of the show. It also allows the director and other production members to observe the overall performance and identify areas that need improvement.

Improvisation is the correct answer because it refers to the act of performing a scene or skit without any prior preparation or script. It involves making up dialogue, actions, and reactions on the spot. Pantomime, ad-lib, and oral reading do not necessarily imply the absence of preparation, making them incorrect choices for this question.

A spot light is a special light instrument that is used to put a very strong, bright beam of light on a specific person/s to focus the audience's attention. It is commonly used during musicals to highlight soloists and draw attention to specific performers on stage.

The correct answer is proscenium. A proscenium stage is the most popular style of stage, characterized by having an audience on one side, a pit, an apron, and a main drape. This type of stage is commonly used in traditional theaters and allows for a clear separation between the performers and the audience.

Broadway is considered to be the United States' version of London's West End theatre district. Broadway, located in New York City, is renowned for its world-class theatrical productions and is often referred to as the heart of American theatre. Just like London's West End, Broadway is home to numerous iconic theaters and attracts both local and international audiences. It is a hub for theatrical creativity, showcasing a wide range of plays, musicals, and performances that have made it a cultural landmark in the United States.

When you "break" character, it means that you deviate from the established role or persona that you are supposed to portray. This can happen when you say or do something that is inconsistent with the character's personality, behavior, or the overall vision of the playwright or director. Breaking character can disrupt the flow of a performance and take the audience out of the immersive experience.

Greek theatre originated from religious ceremonies dedicated to the god Dionysus, who was the god of wine and fertility. The festivals held in honor of Dionysus involved music, dance, and dramatic performances, which eventually evolved into the theatrical tradition of ancient Greece. Dionysus was associated with ecstasy, revelry, and the celebration of life, making him a fitting deity for the origins of Greek theatre.

The correct answer is "Pit". The pit is the area between the front edge of the stage and the first row of audience seats where the orchestra can play music during a musical. It is typically located in front of the stage and is often sunken or lowered to ensure that the musicians do not obstruct the audience's view of the performance. The pit provides an ideal location for the orchestra to accompany the actors and singers on stage, allowing for a seamless integration of music and performance.

The term "objective" refers to the goal or intention that a character has in a specific scene or play. It represents the character's need or want, which drives their actions and motivations. In acting, understanding and portraying the character's objective is crucial for creating a believable performance. It helps the actor to fully embody the character and engage with the scene or play effectively.

A soliloquy is a long speech delivered by one character alone on stage, where they reveal their innermost thoughts. Shakespeare frequently used this type of speech in his plays. In a soliloquy, the character speaks directly to the audience, providing insight into their emotions, motivations, and intentions. It allows the audience to gain a deeper understanding of the character's inner world and adds dramatic tension to the scene. The other options, monologue, dialogue, and duet, do involve speech but not specifically the revealing of one character's inner thoughts.

Pantomime is the correct answer because it involves acting out a story without the use of words or props. Pantomime relies on physical gestures, facial expressions, and body language to convey the narrative. It is a form of silent performance art that emphasizes the use of movement and mime to communicate with the audience.

The correct answer is "aside". In theater, an aside is a line spoken by a character directly to the audience, revealing their thoughts or secrets. The director wants the line to be delivered as an aside, not to the other characters on stage. This allows the audience to feel like they are being included in the character's inner thoughts or emotions.

The correct order of the rehearsal process is blocking rehearsal, tech rehearsal, and then dress rehearsal. In a blocking rehearsal, the director and actors work on the movement and positioning on stage. This is followed by a tech rehearsal, where technical aspects such as lighting and sound are added and tested. Finally, the dress rehearsal is the final run-through before the actual performance, where actors wear their costumes and all elements come together.

Oral Reading is the correct answer because it refers to the act of reading aloud a piece of literature to an audience. This form of reading is typically done by one person, who holds a script in hand and has limited movement. The purpose of oral reading is to convey the author's message to the audience through spoken words and vocal expression. It is commonly used in educational settings or public performances to engage and entertain the listeners.

A prop table is a designated area backstage where all the props for a show are organized and easily accessible. This allows the crew to quickly find and retrieve the necessary props during the performance. It is a common practice in theater productions to have a prop table to ensure smooth transitions and minimize the chances of props being misplaced or forgotten.

The correct answer is "curtain call" because it refers to the moment at the end of a performance when the actors come onstage to acknowledge their appreciation of the audience and take a bow. It is a traditional way of showing gratitude and concluding the show.

The Romans were the first to use a front curtain. This statement suggests that the Romans were pioneers in using a type of curtain that was positioned at the front of a performance space or stage. This curtain likely served various purposes such as creating a barrier between the performers and the audience, concealing set changes or props, and adding dramatic effect to the performances. The use of a front curtain by the Romans demonstrates their innovation and influence in the field of theatrical production.

Thespis is credited with being the first actor in Greek theater. He is known for introducing the concept of an individual actor who would portray a character in a play, rather than having a chorus perform all the roles. Thespis is considered the founder of drama and his innovations laid the foundation for the development of theater as an art form.

A GOBO is a device that is used to put in front of a lighting instrument to project an image. It is commonly used in theater, concerts, and other live performances to create different visual effects on stage. By placing a GOBO in front of a light source, it can project patterns, shapes, or even specific images onto a surface, adding depth and interest to the overall lighting design. This allows lighting designers to create a variety of effects and enhance the visual experience for the audience.

Stage directions (stage right and left) are decided based on the actor's point of view. The actor's perspective is important in determining stage directions because they need to know where to move and position themselves on stage in relation to the audience. The actor's movements and positioning are crucial in conveying the intended emotions and actions of the character they are portraying. The director, audience, and producer may have input in the overall staging and blocking, but it is ultimately the actor who determines the specific stage directions based on their character's perspective.

The correct answer is "strike". In the context of a performance, "strike" refers to the process of taking down and putting away all aspects of a production, including props, sets, and costumes. This is necessary to clear the stage and offstage areas for school on Monday.

The correct answer is "Business". In the context of a scene, "business" refers to any action that is performed by an actor to make the scene more realistic. This can include activities such as eating, cleaning, ironing, or putting on makeup. Business helps to add depth and authenticity to the scene, making it more believable for the audience.

The correct answer is "theatre" because it is the correct spelling of the word that refers to a building or venue where plays, movies, or other performances are presented.

Reader's theatre is a form of performance where a group of actors hold scripts and act out a scene or piece of literature with a limited range of movement. This form of theatre focuses on the spoken word and the actors rely on their reading skills to convey the emotions and intentions of the characters. It is different from oral reading, which typically involves one person reading aloud, and cold reading, which is reading a script for the first time without prior preparation. Audition scenes refer to specific scenes used during auditions, whereas reader's theatre is a broader term for this type of performance.

To create meaningful and interesting stage pictures, one should consider levels, dimension, and focus. Projection, however, is not a factor that directly contributes to the visual composition of stage pictures. Projection typically refers to the use of video or image projections on stage, which may enhance the overall production but does not directly impact the composition of the stage picture itself.

Inflection refers to the variation in pitch, volume, and pace while speaking. It involves adding expressiveness and emphasis to one's voice, as opposed to speaking in a monotone or robotic manner. By using inflection, a speaker can convey different emotions, intentions, and emphasis on certain words or phrases, making their speech more engaging and dynamic.

When performing on stage, it is customary to use your upstage hand when gesturing. The term "upstage" refers to the area farthest away from the audience, while "downstage" is the area closest to the audience. By using your upstage hand, you ensure that your gestures are more visible and impactful to the audience. This helps to enhance your performance and engage the viewers effectively.

Noh Theatre is the correct answer because it is a traditional Japanese theatrical form that originated in the 14th century. Noh Theatre is known for its stylized and graceful performances, and one of its distinctive features is that the actors always wear masks. Kabuki Theatre is another form of Japanese theatre, but it does not involve the use of masks. Bunraku refers to a form of puppet theatre, and Hanamichi is a term used to describe a walkway in Kabuki Theatre.