What is the area called where actors change clothes and do makeup before a performance?

The area where actors change clothes and apply makeup before a performance is known as the dressing room. This space is specifically designed for performers to prepare for their roles in privacy and comfort, often equipped with mirrors, lights, and sometimes lockers for personal belongings. Dressing rooms are essential in theatre as they enable actors to transition into character through the process of getting dressed and ready, contributing to their overall performance.

While the costume shop focuses on the creation and maintenance of costumes and the scene shop deals with set construction and design, the dressing room serves a unique purpose tailored to the needs of the actors directly. The green room serves as a waiting area for performers between their time on stage, which is separate from the actual preparation that occurs in a dressing room. Thus, the dressing room is the correct term for the area dedicated to changing and makeup activities prior to a performance.