proscenium

noun

pro·​sce·​ni·​um prō-ˈsē-nē-əm 

1

a

: the stage of an ancient Greek or Roman theater

b

: the part of a modern stage in front of the curtain

c

: the wall that separates the stage from the auditorium and provides the arch that frames it

2

a

: foreground sense 1

b

: foreground sense 2

Examples of proscenium in a Sentence

The host walked onto the proscenium.

Recent Examples on the Web

Once the bell rang, festivities continued downstairs, with the famed proscenium stage playing backdrop to a mélange of excerpts highlighting what to expect this season. —Freya Drohan, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2024

Film musicals don’t have the same restrictions as stage ones, but director Sanjay Leela Bhansali holds 180 to give the illusion of a proscenium performance, while packing the background with dancers and spectators as far as the eye can see. —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024

More:Historic hotels in metro Phoenix where famous people have stayed: 10 iconic places Tempe Center for the Arts The Tempe Center for the Arts, which opened along Tempe Town Lake in 2007, has a 600-seat proscenium theater, a 200-seat studio theater and a 3,500-square-foot gallery. —Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 12 Aug. 2024

There, the actors perform on a proscenium stage rather than on a low outdoor platform just a few feet from the audience. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek proskēnion front of the building forming the background for a dramatic performance, stage, from pro- + skēnē building forming the background for a dramatic performance — more at scene

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing proscenium

• proscenium arch

Kids Definition

proscenium

noun

pro·​sce·​ni·​um prō-ˈsē-nē-əm 

1

: the part of a stage in front of the curtain

2

: the wall containing the arch that frames the stage