ensemble

[connundro]

In films and theatre,what does the term "ensemble"mean,reffering to the cast;anyone enlighten me?

[JackDanielsU]

An ensemble cast is a cast in which the principal performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance in a dramatic production.

Its from the French for together

[jno]

in the programme for a musical, say, if it says a musical number is performed by 'the ensemble' it means more or less the entire cast.

[Cymbeline]

When a play is described as an "ensemble" piece it usually infers that all the actors are on the stage together at any one time with the same amount to do (as JackDanieldsU said). In layman's terms it means "altogether"

[bracknell]

it can also refer to the musicians as they are not a full orchestra in a theatre.