The Roman Theater

By: Camille Butera

Actors
The Roman theater's actors were only male. Females were not allowed. Most wore dramatic masks.

Scaena
The scaenae frons is the decorated background of a Roman theatre stage. This area usually has several entrances to the stage including a grand central entrance. The scaenae frons is two or sometime three stories in height and was central to the theatre's visual impact for this was what is seen by a Roman audience at all times.

Pulpito
The pulpito was the stage. A platform for a public speaker in front of the scaena ; Vitruvius gives the maximum height as five feet.

Cavea
Cavea was used to refer to where the spectators sat in the theater according to their place in the social hierarchy.

Orchestra
The orchestra was the space between the audience and the stage. Used as an arena for Roman "spectacle entertainment".