When in Rome

For first time actors (as I was last year at Albany Civic Theater) there is a lot of reorientation. Most often we come to the theater as patrons so when we step onto the stage we are still thinking in audience member terms. It's sort of like an American in England. We always look the wrong way at first when crossing the road. Everything seems backwards.

And apparently to me it still does. My original graphic was completely opposite of everything it should have been. Upon seeing it our assistant director wrote in something very helpful:
"These terms originated when stages were raked to create an illusion of depth. So actors at the back of the stage would move "down stage" literally. And when they moved away from the audience they literally walked upstage." (Thanks Nancy!)