Drama: Reading Plays and Stage Directions Worksheet

Question 1

Read the excerpt. Mia: The storm is getting closer. (Thunder rumbles. Mia pulls her coat tighter.) Noah: We need to find shelter. Which part of the excerpt is a stage direction, and what does it tell the actor to do?

Accepted Answer

The stage direction is '(Thunder rumbles. Mia pulls her coat tighter.)' It tells that a thunder sound happens and that Mia should pull her coat tighter.

Question 2

Read the line from a play. Sofia: I cannot believe we won the race! Who is the character speaking in this line, and what words does the character say aloud?

Accepted Answer

The character speaking is Sofia. The words she says aloud are 'I cannot believe we won the race!'

Question 3

Read the excerpt. (A bell rings. Students hurry to their desks.) Mr. Chen: Please open your science notebooks. What is the likely setting of this scene? Use evidence from the excerpt.

Accepted Answer

The likely setting is a classroom. The evidence is that students hurry to their desks and Mr. Chen asks them to open their science notebooks.

Question 4

In a play, what is the difference between dialogue and stage directions?

Accepted Answer

Dialogue is the words characters speak aloud. Stage directions are instructions that tell actors what to do, how to speak, where to move, or what is happening on stage.

Question 5

Read the excerpt. Jamal: This old key must open something. (He kneels beside the wooden chest and tries the key.) Ava: Be careful! What action should the actor playing Jamal perform?

Accepted Answer

The actor playing Jamal should kneel beside the wooden chest and try to use the key.

Question 6

Read the stage direction. (quietly, with a nervous smile) How should an actor say the next line if this stage direction appears before it?

Accepted Answer

The actor should say the next line in a quiet voice and show a nervous smile.

Question 7

Read the excerpt. Scene 2 A sunny park. A picnic blanket is spread under a tree. Ella: This is the perfect place for lunch. What information is given before the dialogue begins?

Accepted Answer

Before the dialogue begins, the script gives the scene number and describes the setting as a sunny park with a picnic blanket under a tree.

Question 8

A cast list says: Rafi, a curious explorer Nina, Rafi's older sister Captain Wells, a ship captain What does a cast list tell the reader?

Accepted Answer

A cast list tells the reader the characters in the play and may give a short description of each character.

Question 9

Read the excerpt. Luca: I told you the door was locked. (Emma sighs and drops her backpack on the floor.) Emma: Then we will have to find another way in. What can you infer about Emma's feelings? Use the stage direction as evidence.

Accepted Answer

Emma probably feels frustrated or disappointed. The stage direction says she sighs and drops her backpack, which shows she is upset that the door is locked.

Question 10

Rewrite this sentence as a short play line with a speaker name. Maria told Ben that the garden gate was open.

Accepted Answer

One correct play line is 'Maria: Ben, the garden gate is open.' This shows the speaker name followed by the words Maria says aloud.

Question 11

Look at these stage positions: stage left, center stage, and stage right. If a direction says '(Tara crosses to center stage),' where should Tara move?

Accepted Answer

Tara should move to the middle area of the stage, which is called center stage.

Question 12

Read the excerpt. (Leo enters carrying a lantern.) Leo: Is anyone here? The word 'enters' appears in the stage direction. What does 'enters' mean in a play?

Accepted Answer

In a play, 'enters' means the character comes onto the stage.

Question 13

Read the excerpt. Maya: We made it to the top! (Everyone cheers and raises their arms.) What should the group of actors do after Maya speaks?

Accepted Answer

After Maya speaks, the group of actors should cheer and raise their arms.

Question 14

Read the prop list for a scene: Props: flashlight, notebook, magnifying glass, red scarf Which prop might help show that a character is solving a mystery, and why?

Accepted Answer

The magnifying glass might help show that a character is solving a mystery because detectives often use magnifying glasses to look closely for clues.

Question 15

Read the excerpt. Dad: The cookies are gone. (Lila looks at the crumbs on her shirt and hides the empty plate behind her back.) Dad: Lila, do you know anything about this? What makes this moment funny for the audience?

Accepted Answer

This moment is funny because the audience can see clues that Lila ate the cookies, including the crumbs on her shirt and the empty plate, while Dad asks if she knows anything about it.

Drama: Reading Plays and Stage Directions

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