footlight

[ foot-lahyt ]

noun

1. Usually footlights. Theater. the lights light lights at the front of a stage that are nearly on a level with the feet foot of the performers.
2. the footlights, the stage; acting profession.

Word History and Origins

Origin of footlight¹

First recorded in 1830–40; foot + light ¹

Example Sentences

‘Footlight Parade’ A celebration of the legendary sibling theater producers Fanchon and Marco includes a screening of this 1933 Busby Berkeley musical starring James Cagney.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s a little nod,” he tells me, of encountering a fellow former Footlight on the circuit, “and you just know.”

From The Guardian

This “Aliens” is a reprise by ReAct, which won a 2016 Footlight Award for the production, described in The Seattle Times as “an affecting study of a teenager learning life lessons from two loitering misfits.”

From Seattle Times

The Footlight Awards, begun some 20 years ago by former Seattle Times theater critic Misha Berson, have served as a quick-hit, annual almanac of ups, downs and zigzags in Seattle performance over the previous year.

From Seattle Times

Once, he slipped onstage, and his foot went through a footlight bulb.

From Washington Post