Performance arts

fluffed lines

To forget or bungle the words that one is supposed to say, as in a speech or play

missed cues

a forgotten line or entrance

prompter

a person seated out of sight of the audience who supplies a forgotten word or line to an actor during the performance of a play.

backer

a person or company that provides support for something or someone, especially financial support

have a long run

a long period of time after the beginning of something

critical reception

The degree to which an artistic work such as a song, movie, book, or video game has been received by critics.

box-office success

a very successful film or play that earns a lot of money.

supporting roles

a fairly important but not leading part, esp in a play or film

set

a collection of scenery, stage furniture, and other articles used for a particular scene in a play or film; represent (a story, play, film, or scene) as happening at a specified time or in a specified place.

sub-titles

captions displayed at the bottom of a cinema or television screen that translate or transcribe the dialogue or narrative

dubbed

to change the sounds and speech on a film or television programme, especially to a different language:

shoot on location in

the shooting of a film or television production in a real-world setting rather than a sound stage or backlot

extra

a person in a film who does not have a speaking part and who is usually part of the scene, for example, in a crowd

setting

the time and the place in which the action of a book, film, play, etc. happens

lead

the main part or actor in a film or play; a piece of writing that is intended to be acted in a theatre or on radio or television

authentic

being what it is claimed to be; genuine

compelling

evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.

amplify

enlarge upon or add detail to (a story or statement).

frenetic

fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.

groundbreaking

original and important; showing a new way of doing or thinking about things

interwoven

to twist together or combine two or more things so that they cannot be separated easily

ensemble

a group of things or people acting or taken together as a whole, especially a group of musicians who regularly play together

hype

a situation in which something is advertised and discussed in newspapers, on television, etc. a lot in order to attract everyone's interest

abysmal

extremely bad; appalling.

virtuoso

a person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit.

finale

the last part of especially a musical or theatre performance, especially when this is very exciting or emotional

consensus

a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people

incoherent

not expressed in a way that can be understood, or not able to talk clearly

acclaim

public approval and praise

unanimous

in complete agreement or showing complete agreement

unparalleled

having no equal; better or greater than any other

suspense

a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.

masterpiece

a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship

dramatization

the act of changing a piece of writing into a play, or the play that is performed

remake

a film or piece of music that has been filmed or recorded again

lightweight

(of a person) of little importance, or (of ideas) created without serious thought or purpose

mediocre

of only average quality; not very good.

play sth safe

to be careful and not take risks

edge-of-seat moment

when you are very excited, and giving all your attention to something, because you want to know what is going to happen

convey

to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that other people understand it

tackle

to try to deal with something

delve

to search, especially as if by digging, in order to find a thing or information

trivialise

to make something seem less important than it really is

rave

speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm or admiration

riveting

so interesting or exciting that you cannot stop watching or listening to it

prosaic

ordinary

bromidic

lacking in originality

enraptured

enjoying something so much that you can think of nothing else

pedestrian

ordinary and uninteresting and without any imagination

captivating

very attractive and interesting, in a way that holds your attention

spellbinding

extremely interesting and holding your attention completely

wearisome

making you feel bored, tired, or annoyed

insipid

not interesting, exciting, or attractive

gripping

very exciting and interesting

lusterless

dull, colourless, or boring

audience

a group of people who come to watch and listen to someone speaking or performing in public

rehearsals

a time when all the people in a play, concert etc practise before a public performance

first night

the evening when the first public performance of a show, play etc is given

director

the person who gives instructions to the actors and other people working on a film or play

theatre-goers

someone who regularly watches plays at the theatre

hit

something such as a film, play, song etc that is very popular and successful

cast

all the people who perform in a play, film etc

flop

a not successful product, play, or idea because people do not like it

critics

someone whose job is to make judgments about the good and bad qualities of art, music, films etc

playwright

someone who writes plays

matinée

a performance of a play or film in the afternoon

applause

the sound of many people hitting their hands together and shouting, to show that they have enjoyed something

audition

a short performance by an actor, singer etc that someone watches to judge if they are good enough to be hired

cinema

a building in which films are shown

foyer

a room or hall at the entrance to a public building

aisle

a long passage between rows of seats in a church, plane, theatre etc

trailer

an advertisement for a new film or television show

cartoon

a TV programme or short film, usually a funny one, made using characters and images that are drawn rather than real

usherette

(old-fashioned) a woman who works in a cinema, showing people to their seats

poster

a large printed notice, used to advertise something (e.g. a film)

row

a line of seats in a theatre or cinema

screen

a flat surface in a cinema, on a television, or as part of a computer, on which pictures or words are shown

horror

frightening films, TV programmes, books, etc., often with stories about unnatural things happening, for example dead people coming to life

performance

when someone performs a play or a piece of music

review

an article in a newspaper or magazine that gives an opinion about a new book, play, film etc.

documentary

a film or a television or radio programme that gives detailed information about a particular subject

location

a place away from a film studio where scenes are filmed

studio

a room where television and radio programmes are made and broadcast or where music is recorded; a film company or the buildings it owns and uses to make its films

plot

the events that form the main story of a book, film, or play

overrated

not as good as people say

hackneyed

done so often it is boring

impenetrable

complex and impossible to understand

disjointed

unconnected and not in a clear order

far-fetched

impossible to believe

risqué

slightly immoral and likely to shock some people

harrowing

extremely upsetting

moving

making you feel strong emotion, especially pity or sadness

memorable

you remember it long after

understated

done or expressed in a simple but attractive style

panned

very negatively criticised

lauded

highly praised

to bomb

be a failure

up-and-coming

likely to become very famous or successful

miscast

the wrong person for the role

typecast

a person always associated with a particular kind of role

encore

calls from audience to repeat the performance or its fragment

standing ovation

the audience stands up and applauds

interpretation

way of understanding and performing a piece

version

one of several performances that exist

rendition

performance on a specific occasion

blockbuster

a film which huge numbers of people will go and see

cliffhanger

a film, book, or play that keeps you in suspense

feature film

a full-length film that has a story and is acted by professional actors, and which is usually shown in a cinema

sitcom

(situation comedy) a funny television programme in which the same characters appear in different situations each week

tv series

(US & Canada) episodes that follow a narrative and are usually divided into seasons; (UK) a yearly or semiannual set of new episodes

episode

one of the single parts into which a story is divided, especially when it is broadcast on the television or radio

romantic comedy

a film which is intended to make people laugh and which involves a love story

thriller

a book or film that tells an exciting story about murder or crime

spin-off

a product marketed by its association with a popular television programme, film, personality, etc.

crossover

a television programme involving characters that were previously in another programme or film

remake

to make a new film that has a story and title similar to an old one

reboot

a new and interesting version of something such as a film or television show, or the act of making a new and interesting version

sequel

a book, film, or play that continues the story of a previous book, etc.

prequel

a film, book, or play that develops the story of an earlier film, etc. by telling you what happened before the events in the first film, etc.

tearjerker

a book, film, play, etc. that has a sad story intended to make people cry or be sad

road movie

a film of a genre in which the main character is travelling, either in flight or on a journey of self-discovery

chick flick

(“humorously”) a film that women, but not men, are likely to enjoy

science fiction

stories about events in the future which are affected by imaginary developments in science, for example about travelling in time or to other planets with life on them

animation

a film, television programme, computer game etc that has pictures, clay models etc that seem to be really moving

B-movie

a film that is made cheaply and is of low quality

western

a film about life in the 19th century in the American West, especially the lives of cowboys

spoof

a funny book, play, or film that copies something serious or important and makes it seem silly

opening night

the first night that a new play, film etc is shown to the public

movie premiere

the first public performance of a film

release date

the day when the release copy may be published or broadcast

tour de force performance

a performance that shows great skill and attracts admiration

red carpet

a long, red floor covering that is put down for an important or famous person when they go on an official visit or attend a special event

final cut

the final edited version of a film, approved by the director and producer

anticlimactic

to cause of disappointment because it was less exciting than was expected, or happened immediately after a much more exciting event or experience

mainstream

(of beliefs or behavior) common and shared by most people, or representing such beliefs or behavior

backstage

in the area behind the stage in a theatre, especially the rooms in which actors change their clothes or where equipment is kept

soundtrack

the sounds, especially the music, of a film, or a separate recording of this

lines

the words that an actor speaks when performing in a film, play, etc.

cameo

a small but noticeable part in a film or play, performed by a famous actor

camerawork

the way in which cameras are used in films

stuntman

a man who performs stunts, especially instead of an actor in a film or television programme

producer

a person who makes the practical and financial arrangements needed to make a film, play, etc.

screenwriter

someone who writes the story for a film

censor

a person responsible for deciding whether to prevent works of art or communication from being seen or made available to the public

stock

(of an idea, expression, or action) usual or typical, and used or done so many times that it is no longer original

protagonist

one of the main characters in a story or a play

swashbuckler

someone who enjoys and looks for dangerous and exciting experiences, especially someone in the past such as a pirate or other person who fights with a sword