How do you describe theater without using the word theater?

A performing art that presents fictional or non-fictional stories to an audience through live actors, actresses, music, dance, and theatrical techniques. Performances generally take place in a designated structure like a stage or a studio with seating for the audience.

It allows for direct communication, engagement, and emotional connection between the performers and the public. Plays can be serious dramas, lighthearted comedies, musicals, or experimental performances that push artistic boundaries.