Instructions for actors and stage crew (often written in italics) describe what?

• A. Dialogue
• B. Stage directions
• C. Captions
• D. Genre

Answer: (B)

Stage directions are the notes in a script that tell actors how to move, when to enter or exit, and how the scene should look and sound. They guide both the performers and the backstage crew, so everyone knows what to do even when the words aren’t enough to describe the action. These instructions often appear in italics to stand apart from the characters’ spoken lines. This helps readers and performers picture the setting, movements, and mood of the scene. Dialogue, in contrast, is the actual spoken words of the characters. Captions are text that appears to explain or translate what’s happening on screen or page, and genre is the category of the work, like comedy or drama.