theater-in-the-round

[thee-uh-ter-in-thuh-round, theeuh-]

noun

1. arena theater.

2. a style of theatrical presentation in which the audience is seated on all sides of the performance area.

Word History and Origins

Origin of theater-in-the-round¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

“It’s theater-in-the-round,” he said during a Zoom call from the stage.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“A lot more like theater-in-the-round than film in some cases, and very much like film in other phases of it.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Attendees surrounded a rotating theater-in-the-round stage, an experiment that was widely criticized and never repeated.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I saw them play, in striped shirts, white suits, colorful velours and out of costume, at the Hollywood Bowl, when the kids still screamed during their shows; at the Melodyland theater-in-the-round across from Disneyland, when they seemingly couldn’t get booked any closer to L.A.; and at the Whisky A Go Go, when “Sunflower” was released.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That symbolic gateway set the stage for a theater-in-the-round showcase in Paris.

Read more on Seattle Times