proscenium

noun pro·sce·ni·um \ prō-ˈsē-nē-əm \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Examples: proscenium in a Sentence

Definition of proscenium

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 1

b : foreground 2

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Examples of proscenium in a Sentence

The host walked onto the proscenium.

Recent Examples of proscenium from the Web

How Houdini Died, a mini-proscenium and a mechanical curtain that recalls the odeons of yore.

— chris jones, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago Magic Lounge: Attention magic geeks and sleight-of-hand fans, your new bar is open in Uptown," 23 Feb. 2018
Theater fans were invited to bring their dogs to the Drake Theatre and unleash them on the proscenium stage, transformed into a sort of dog park.

— john timpane, Philly.com, "InterAct invites dogs to explore the theater as part of its June-a-Palooza festival," 25 June 2018
From the concert hall’s proscenium stage, 20 attendants looked on.

— New York Times, "Another Royal Wedding. This One Newark Style.," 15 June 2018
But the title makes a point: the New Negro, that lively protagonist stomping onto the proscenium of history, might also be thought of, tenderly, as a figure for Locke himself.

— tobi haslett, The New Yorker, "The Man Who Led the Harlem Renaissance—and His Hidden Hungers," 11 May 2018
Designed by Derek McLane — who is returning to the show for the sixth time — the Oscars stage will be surrounded by a proscenium that's meant to look like the inside of a geode.

— amy kaufman, latimes.com, "The Oscars turn 90, and the production team leaves no room for error ... this time," 2 Mar. 2018
Hence the false proscenium, creating a second stage that’s colorfully and busily decked out like a toy theater — all while replicating a London music hall, right down to the old-fashioned footlights and crushed red velvet curtains.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Monty Python fans may love'Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder'," 2 May 2018
In reimagining the proscenium as the camera’s roving eye, Mayer combines two chief moves.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "The First Great Film Adaptation of Chekhov’s The Seagull," 24 Apr. 2018
The staging has also changed slightly since the show was in Princeton last month, since the McCarter has a proscenium stage area and the Long Wharf has a low thrust stage.

— christopher arnott, courant.com, "Long Wharf's Gospel Musical 'Crowns' A Joyful Handing Down Of History," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'proscenium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of proscenium

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1606

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year