Stage Basics

Definitions

Stage Right - The actor's right as he stands onstage facing the audience.
Stage Left - The actor's left as he stands onstage facing the audience.
Downstage - Toward the audience.
Upstage - Away from the audience.
In - Toward the center of the stage.
Out - Away from the center of the stage.

**Stage Areas**
UR	URC	UC	ULC	UL
R	RC	C	LC	L
DR	DRC	DC	DLC	DL

U = Upstage, D = Downstage, R = Right, C = Center, L = Left.

More Definitions

Onstage - The part of the stage which is visible to the audience.
Offstage - The part of the stage not visible to the audience.
Backstage - Usually the entire stage portion of the theatre including the wings, dressing rooms, etc.
Out front - Usually the auditorium portion of the theatre including theatre seating, lobby, etc.
Wings - Offstage space at right and left of the onstage area, usually curtained off.

Body Positions

Open - A body position where the actor faces or nearly faces the audience. Since the actor must be well seen and heard, he/she should remain as open as possible. To open (as a verb) is to turn toward the audience. Here are some general rules to stay open:

In scenes shared with another actor, turn only slightly toward him, leaving yourself 75% open to the audience (called a Quarter Position)
Make a turn downstage
When making gestures, use the upstage arm
Kneel on the downstage knee

Closed - A body position where the actor faces away or mostly away from the audience. To close (as a verb) is to turn away from the audience.

Body Levels

High - Standing on a step or increment higher than another actor.
Medium - Sitting, kneeling, bending over a piece of furniture, standing on a step lower than another actor, etc.
Low - Crouching, lying on the floor, etc.

The Two Deadly Sins of Body Positioning

Upstaging - When one actor stands upstage, forcing another actor to turn his back to the audience. Avoid upstaging unless you're directed to do so.
Blocking - When one actor stands directly in front of another actor. Never stand in front of another actor, unless specifically directed to do so. Blocking can be avoided by being aware of body levels.

The Rehearsal Process

An actors conduct in rehearsal should display a professional attitude. Even if you are participating in an amateur production, your professionalism will be noticed and appreciated. When every actor conducts themselves professionally, the work gets done faster and the process can be more relaxed. A professional attitude on your part might also incline your Director to work with you again in the future.

12 Commandments for a Professional Actor

Do preliminary work at home (See Script and Character). The rehearsal is only productive to the extent that the actor brings something to them.
Warm up before rehearsal (See Warmup) The director may have a group warm up in mind, but if not, be warm and ready to work ahead of time.
Review the work covered at the last rehearsal.
Commit all of your energy and attention to the work at hand.
Remain experimental and flexible. Be ready to make changes at any time. Be willing to try anything at least once.
Maintain contact with other actors. Acting is reacting. Make direct eye contact as often as possible.
Write down your stage directions (called blocking). Your blocking may be changed many times over, but if you always write it down, you'll always remember where you're supposed to be at any moment in the scene.
Memorize your lines about half way through the rehearsal period. It's best to learn the lines as the Playwright wrote them, word for word. (See Script)
Outside of the directors blocking, it's the actors responsibility to come up with other physical activity appropriate to the scene (called business). For example, your character may be hand washing some clothes in a basin while he/she carries on light conversation with another character.Conduct activities where stated or implied in the script and if there's little guidance provided, use your imagination to invent things the character may be doing in the scene.
Let everyone else do their own jobs. Unless you're the director, it's not your responsibility to direct the activities of any other actor or crew member. Bring up concerns only if it directly affects your own work.
No one likes a Prima Donna. No matter what size your part is, you are only one spoke on a big wheel. Recognize and appreciate the work of others on the team.
Accept direction without explanation or excuse. You may have a wonderful reason for doing something a certain way, but if the director asks you to change it, don't waste time arguing, just change it. Trust your director.