Tropes used in Theatre, and tropes about theatre in fiction.
See also Musical Number Index and Movie-Making Index (which despite the name, also covers theatre).
Used in theatre:
- Actor-Muso Show: A musical where the actors play all the instruments.
- All Musicals Are Adaptations: Musicals are often adapted from pre-existing works.
- Alternate Show Interpretation: A play is interpreted differently than usual.
- Alto Villainess
- Audience Monologue
- BSoD Song
- Counterpoint Duet
- Crowd Song
- Curtain Call
- Dark Reprise: A song from before is played again in a darker or more depressing tone.
- Dinner Theater
- Dramatis Personae
- Dream Ballet
- The Eleven O'Clock Number
- Everything Has Rhythm
- Filmed Stage Production
- Final Love Duet
- Ghost Song
- Gospel Revival Number
- Greek Chorus
- Hero Stage Show
- "I Am Becoming" Song
- "I Am" Song
- Innocent Soprano
- "I Want" Song
- Irrelevant Act Opener
- Jukebox Musical: A musical that uses pre-existing songs rather than original songs created for the musical.
- Kabuki Theatre
- Mamet Speak
- Massive Multiplayer Ensemble Number
- Medley Overture
- Minor Character, Major Song: A character who isn't that prominent is nevertheless given an important or popular song to sing.
- The Musical Musical
- No Serious Business In Showbusiness
- Opening Ballet
- Original Cast Precedent
- Our Acts Are Different
- Patter Song
- Prop
- Quarreling Song
- Recitation Handclasp
- Screen-to-Stage Adaptation: A theatrical play based on a film.
- Sensational Staircase Sequence
- Set Switch Song
- Show Stopper
- Small Start, Big Finish
- The Song Before the Storm
- Spontaneous Choreography
- Sung-Through Musical
- Tenor Boy: A male with a high singing voice to emphasize his goodness.
- That Reminds Me of a Song: A musical features a song that comes out of nowhere and has no relevance towards the plot whatsoever.
- Villain Song: The villain gets a song, usually one where they gloat about their wicked deeds or describe the despicable actions they intend to take.
- "The Villain Sucks" Song: Someone insults the villain through song, either by explaining why the villain is a horrible person or by mocking the villain for being seen as pathetic.
About theatre in fiction:
- Abominable Auditorium
- All Gays Love Theater: The stereotype that gay men enjoy and are well-informed about musical theatre.
- All Part of the Show: The actors have to deal with a dangerous situation while performing, with the audience thinking the chaos is an intended part of the performance.
- At the Opera Tonight: Characters attend some cultured performance such as theater or opera, but what is important is what they do there.
- Drama Club
- Fatal Method Acting
- Hey, Let's Put on a Show
- The Performer King
- Perilous Play
- Playing a Tree: An actor in a play is stuck with a role that's essentially pretending to be a background prop.
- Prisoner Performance: Inmates put on a theatrical performance or other live entertainment in prison.
- Pushed in Front of the Audience
- School Play
- Theatre Is True Acting: The notion that stage acting is superior to screen acting.
- We Were Rehearsing a Play
- The Wicked Stage
