block booking n.— «As Ladd explained in Blockbuster, Star Wars got into the theaters because of a now illegal practice called “block booking,” which involved studios essentially holding a big movie hostage in exchange for...
showmance n.— «Playing Doody (“Those Magic Changes”) and Frenchy, the “Beauty School Dropout,” the two hit it off right away. They were both hard-working, both passionate about the theater, both committed...
fight call n.— «On Saturday morning, right before the second show of the day, the cast partook in what is known as a “fight call,” a last-minute rehearsal of the sword fights.» —“Shakespeare Acting Troupe Learns, Laughs, and...
Wagnolater n.— «They are a rare breed, those rabid fans of Wagner’s “Ring” cycle, and right now, they are angry.…While some Ringheads or Ringnuts, as they are called, took the change in stride, others were not shy about expressing...
A retired theater professor wants to know why she keeps hearing the word dramaturge used in surprising new ways. Is dramaturged now a legitimate verb? Can the noun also refer to someone who adapts a play for particular production—and not just to the...
gag and tag v. phr.— «Geico has dodged the “gag and tag” label by keeping its product front and center, despite the show-stealing purveyors of its service. “This is not a case where the theater has overpowered the brand...