PRINCIPAL ACTOR: The actor who has the main role, or lead actor.
CONTRACT ACTOR: An actor who is hired for a specific period of time only.
SUPPORTING ACTOR: An actor who is not the lead actor.
DAY PLAYER: An actor hired to play a supporting, speaking role. They are hired on a daily basis without a long-term contract.
UNDER FIVE: Any actor who has fewer than five speaking lines.
EXTRA: Minor actor used in crowd scenes (the background).
Building on the journey from “Auditioning 104: Victory or Acceptance,” we continue to explore the critical steps toward mastering your craft in the acting world.
In February 2024, the theater world watched as the curtains metaphorically closed, not for intermission, but with the looming possibility of an Actors Equity strike. The Actors’ Equity Association, a union protecting more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers, sent a strong message to the industry by authorizing a strike against The Broadway League.
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