Stage Right for Dummies

Stage Right is a term often used in the world of theater and performing arts. It is a direction or location referenced on a stage. Now, when you're sitting in the audience, looking at the stage, "Stage Right" would be on your right-hand side. Imagine you are sitting in a movie theater, looking at the screen, and the screen is the stage. If you were to extend your right arm towards the screen, you would be pointing at "Stage Right." It's like when you play a game of "Simon Says" and the leader says, "Simon says, put your right hand on your head" – that's the same idea.

In a theatrical production, "Stage Right" is a way to describe the space on the stage that is closest to the right-hand side from an actor's perspective. When actors are on stage, facing the audience, if they turn towards the right, they are moving towards "Stage Right." Just like when you turn your body to the right while facing a movie screen, it means you are turning towards "Stage Right."

Let's say you're watching a play, and there are two actors on stage – one on the left and one on the right. If the director tells the actor on the right, "Walk towards Stage Right," it means the actor should start moving towards their right side, from the audience's point of view. It's like if you were to stand on the right side of a stage and you were asked to walk towards the right-hand side. You would be walking towards "Stage Right."

In addition to its physical meaning, "Stage Right" can also be used to indicate the right side of the stage in terms of the storytelling. For example, if there is a scene where something important is happening on the right side of the stage, the director might say, "Make sure to focus the lights on Stage Right." This means that the lighting should be brighter on that side, so the audience pays more attention to what's happening there. It's like when you're looking at a picture, and there is something you want to highlight or draw attention to, you may use a bright marker to circle the important part. In the theater, we use the lights to draw attention to "Stage Right" when needed.

So, in summary, "Stage Right" means the right side of the stage when looking at it from the perspective of an actor or the audience. It's like the right side of a movie screen when you're watching a movie. It's where actors can move towards or perform actions when directed to do so. It can also indicate the right side of the stage in terms of storytelling, where important events or actions may occur and where the lighting may be focused.