downstage

American  

[doun-steyj, doun-steyj] / ˈdaʊnˈsteɪdʒ, ˈdaʊnˌsteɪdʒ /

adverb

1. at or toward the front of the stage.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to the front of the stage.

noun

1. the front half of the stage.

downstage British  

/ ˈdaʊnˈsteɪdʒ /

adverb

1. at or towards the front of the stage

---

adjective

1. of or relating to the front of the stage

noun

1. the front half of the stage

Etymology

Origin of downstage

First recorded in 1895–1900; down ¹ + stage

Example Sentences

At one point, during “Be a Lion,” an encouraging song sung to the cowardly lion, Corn’s Dorothy walks downstage toward the audience.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 29, 2022

Biden walked in and, relatively unceremoniously, sat downstage right.

From Salon • Jul. 7, 2022

With actors deployed as inadvertent obstacles downstage, Godwin’s blocking isn’t uniformly well adapted for the Klein’s proscenium.

From Washington Post • Feb. 25, 2020

During a scene at a rally, survivors and allies — of different genders, races, ages, sexual orientations — sing the lyrics downstage while holding protest signs.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2020

Martin is standing downstage left, telling a story to Abby and using lots of twitchy gestures.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli