Title role facts for kids
A title role is a special part in a play, opera, or ballet. It's the character whose name is also the name of the show! When an actor, singer, or dancer plays this part, we say they have the title role.
For example, in the famous opera Carmen by Georges Bizet, the main character is a girl named Carmen. The person who sings the part of Carmen is performing the title role. This means they are playing the character that the whole show is named after.
Sometimes, the title role is the most important part in the story, but not always. It just means the character's name is used for the title of the show.
Contents
What is a Title Role?
A title role is the main character in a story, play, or musical work whose name is used as the title. It's like the show is named after them! This helps people quickly understand who the story might be about.
Famous Examples of Title Roles
Many well-known stories feature a title role. Here are a few:
- In the opera Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, the character Aida has the title role.
- In Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini, the character Madame Butterfly is the title role.
- The opera Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten is named after its main character, Peter Grimes.
- In ballets, you might find Coppélia by Léo Delibes or Petrushka by Stravinsky. Both are named after their main characters.
- Classic plays like Othello and Hamlet by William Shakespeare are also named after their main characters.
Understanding a Title Character
A title character is the character whose name is in the title of a book, movie, or TV show. This term is used more broadly than "title role" because it can apply to any type of story, not just live performances.
Examples of Title Characters
- In the popular Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter is the title character. The books are all about his adventures.
- In Disney's movie The Lion King, Simba is the title character because he is the "Lion King" mentioned in the title.
Remember, "title character" always refers to a character, whether they are in a book, movie, or a live show.
Related pages
- Character actor
- Role (performing arts)
- Leading actor
- Supporting actor
