An intermission
or interval is a break between parts of performances or sessions, in events such as a theatrical play,
operaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
or
musical concertA concert is a live performance, usually of music, before an audience. The music may be performed by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band. Informal names for a concert include "show" and "gig"...
. Sometimes there is also an intermission (break) in the showing of a film, in particular if it is a long film.
Originally intended with breaks for the actors or speakers in mind, intermissions have become an opportunity for the audience to socialise, purchase and consume refreshments, or use the restrooms. They are also often an opportunity for the audience to buy items related to the show such as CDs, high-quality programmes, art/photography prints and other paraphernalia.
An intermission
or interval is a break between parts of performances or sessions, in events such as a theatrical play,
operaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
or
musical concertA concert is a live performance, usually of music, before an audience. The music may be performed by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band. Informal names for a concert include "show" and "gig"...
. Sometimes there is also an intermission (break) in the showing of a film, in particular if it is a long film.
Originally intended with breaks for the actors or speakers in mind, intermissions have become an opportunity for the audience to socialise, purchase and consume refreshments, or use the restrooms. They are also often an opportunity for the audience to buy items related to the show such as CDs, high-quality programmes, art/photography prints and other paraphernalia. As a result, intermissions can have an important financial function for some venues. Some halls allow patrons to return to their seats with purchased refreshments.
Intermissions usually last between 15 to 30 minutes, and there are different methods to signal to the audience to return to their seats. The traditional method at an opera or symphonic concert is to flash the house lights several times, or to have a person with a handheld
glockenspielA glockenspiel [German Glocken + spielen ] is a percussion instrument, composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal, thus making...
walk about the crowd, playing a four note chime. In more modern theatres, a brief chime through the PA system is used.
An intermission is also often billed as an
entr'acteEntr'acte is French for "between the acts" . It can mean a pause between two parts of a stage production, synonymous to an intermission, but it more often indicates a piece of music performed between acts of a theatrical production...
, derived from the
FrenchFrench is a Romance language globally spoken by about 65 million people as a first language , by 50 million as a second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired foreign language, with significant speakers in 57 countries. Most native speakers of the language live in France,...
meaning "between the acts".
The intermission between the second and third quarter of American football games is called halftime. During regular games, the cheerleaders of the different teams usually perform for their side of the stadium. During the
Super BowlThe Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League, the premier association of professional American football. In most years, the Super Bowl is the most-watched American television broadcast. Many popular singers and musicians have performed during the event’s pre-game and...
, elaborate halftime shows are also performed.
Intermissions, in
ice hockeyIce Hockey is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a puck into the opposing team's goal. It is a fast-paced and physical sport...
, are breaks between the three periods of play. Intermissions allow you to get up and walk around without missing the show or game.