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Exploring the reasons it's called a 'green' room

—William Hageman

March 4, 2009

Some possible origins for the term "green room," gleaned from various theater-related Internet sites:

•Green was a dominant color in the decor of 17th Century English theaters—green curtains, green boxes, green carpet—and was associated with acting. A green room would be a room reserved for actors.

•"Green" was in reference to the limelight—early stage lighting for leading performers.

•Green is considered a soothing color, advantageous for someone about to go onstage or to someone who has just performed.

•In Shakespeare's time, actors would prepare to go on stage in a room full of plants, the thought being that the moisture in the room was beneficial to an actor's voice.

•"The green" is an old theater term for the stage; the green room is a location for actors to wait before going on.

•Before the advent of modern cosmetics, stage makeup was mixed from ingredients that had to set before it could be applied. This curing process for the "green" makeup took place in a room offstage. Hence, the green room.