Musical theater beginning terms

Greek for "to act" or "to do," a literary composition performed on stage

• theater

• drama

• opera

• operetta

The lines of a play spoken by characters

• singing

• recitative

• dialogue

• monologue

Instrumental music played before the beginning of a musical (usually a medley of songs from the show)

• overture

• entr'acte

• score

• combo

Music that precedes the second-act curtain

• overture

• entr'acte

• score

• combo

The named characters in a play

• leads

• principals

• characters

• ingenue & juvenile

The script of a musical

• score

• libretto

• dialogue

• book

Music played to accompany dialogue

• entr'acte

• change music

• segue

• underscore

Movement of the body or face to express an idea

• pantomime

• mime

• gesture

• non-verbal communication

People that make a living in the chosen field of work

• actors

• professionals

• amateurs

• choreographers

A large scale musical number involving many performers, frequently a dance number

• opera

• ballet

• operetta

• production number