Standard Acting Areas

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*The purpose of having Standard Acting Areas is so that directors and actors can effectively communicate where to start, move, and end up while on stage.

*Both the Proscenium and the Thrust stage use standard acting areas; the only difference being is that the proscenium stage adds the apron.

*These are the two configurations used for acting areas.  The top one is often used on smaller stages, and the bottom one for large stages for a more precise description.

*We have heard these listed as 9 and 15 or 10 and 16 areas.  Generally, we at Uciem feel that the Apron does count as an acting area for proscenium stages since it is acted upon.

*Notice that left and Right appear flipped on the diagram.  This is because the diagram is drawn from the audience's / director's point of view, however directions are given from the actor's point of view in order to make it easy for them.  This means the director must give directions in reverse.

C=Center
D=Down
L=Left
R=Right
U=Up

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Updated: ​January 19, 2019