Forestages

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The areas in front of a theatrical stage where actors perform closest to the audience ; the spaces immediately extended beyond the main platform in a theater; front parts of a stage used to enhance audience engagement
2. Portions of a stage projecting toward the audience, often used for dramatic emphasis ; sections protruding from the main stage face designed to bring performers nearer spectators; forward stage areas facilitating closer interaction with viewers
3. Front sections of performance platforms extending outward from the main acting space; spaces preceding the primary stage area commonly seen in theaters; forward stage zones that provide a closer setting for actors and audience connection

Etymology: "Forestages" is the plural of "forestage," the noun for the front part of a stage, the area nearest the audience. The word is a plain compound: "fore," meaning front, joined to "stage." The "fore-" element is the same one that appears in "forehead" and "foreground," and it has long meant the part that comes first in position. The noun "forestage" came into English from Middle English "forstage," which was built from the same two parts. Because the word is a transparent compound, its history is mostly a matter of putting familiar pieces together, so the story lies in the stage itself: the space in front of the scenery and curtain where performers first come forward.

Synonyms: foreparts, fronts, leading sections

Antonyms: rears, backs, aftermaths