perform on stage

Meaning

This expression means to act, sing, dance, or play music in front of an audience in a theater or concert venue. It is used to describe the live action of entertaining people in a public space. The tone is neutral and highly common in the performing arts.

Examples

• She has always wanted to perform on stage in a Broadway musical.

  She has always wanted to perform on stage in a Broadway musical.

• The young actor was incredibly nervous before he had to perform on stage.

  The young actor was incredibly nervous before he had to perform on stage.

• To perform on stage successfully, you need to practice your projection and confidence.

  To perform on stage successfully, you need to practice your projection and confidence.

• They have been invited to perform on stage at the local music festival next month.

  They have been invited to perform on stage at the local music festival next month.

• It takes a lot of courage to stand up and perform on stage in front of hundreds of people.

  It takes a lot of courage to stand up and perform on stage in front of hundreds of people.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He loves to play on the stage.

  ✓ He loves to perform on stage.

  'Play on the stage' sounds like a child playing with toys on a physical platform. 'Perform on stage' is the correct collocation for acting or playing music.

• ✗ She will perform on the stage tonight.

  ✓ She will perform on stage tonight.

  While 'on the stage' is grammatically possible, the idiomatic expression for the act of entertaining is usually 'perform on stage' without the definite article 'the'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The school choir is preparing to ___ at the graduation ceremony.

  💡 To entertain an audience live on a platform.

  Show answer

  perform on stage

• Do you get nervous when you have to ___?

  💡 Act, sing, or play music in front of people.

  Show answer

  perform on stage