stage

A stage is a raised area on which performers present a play, concert, or other performance, typically within a theater or venue. The term can also denote a specific point in a sequence or development, such as stages of growth, stages in a project, or stages of matter. In both senses, stage implies a defined space or period of activity.

In theater, the stage is the arena where action occurs. It may be a proscenium stage with an arch framing the audience view, a thrust stage projecting into the audience, or an arena stage surrounded by seats. Stages are equipped with lighting rigs, sound systems, and scenery; backstage areas include dressing rooms, storage, and a green room. A fly system or grid may raise and lower scenery. The stage includes wings at the side for entrances and exits, and a stage manager coordinates cues during performance.

Stage design encompasses set construction, lighting design, sound design, and movement blocking. Script directions and stage business guide actors. Safety, accessibility, acoustics, and sightlines influence how a stage is built and used. The concept of a stage also appears in performances of art and exhibitions, where the space is organized to control focus and narrative.

Beyond theater, "stage" denotes a phase in a process or development, such as embryonic stages, stages of matter, or stages of a project. The verb "to stage" means to arrange or mount an event, performance, or demonstration. The term is used across disciplines to mark a defined segment within a larger sequence.