on-stageadv.adj.
/ˌɒnˈsteɪdʒ/, U.S. /ˈɔnˈsteɪdʒ/, /ˈɑnˈsteɪdʒ/ (in sense B.)Brit. /ˈɒnˌsteɪdʒ/, U.S. /ˈɔnˈsteɪdʒ/, /ˈɑnˈsteɪdʒ/ A. adv.
On or on to a stage; so as to be visible to an audience.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > stage > [adverb] > on stage
on-stage1927
on the green1937
1927 T. S. Eliot in Newton's Seneca I. p. xi It is not at all clear whether he [sc. Hercules] destroys his family on-stage or off.
1975 New Yorker 5 May 51/2 Everything that he did onstage was done with an excruciating and highly theatrical intensity.
1985 S. Booth True Adventures Rolling Stones iv. 39 The first time I got onstage and played was with this C & W band.
2001 Star 6 Jan. 43/2 Samantha Mumba relaxed in the VIP green room with S Club 7, as she waited to be called on-stage.
B. adj. (attributive) .
Appearing or occurring on a stage; visible to an audience.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > stage > [adjective] > on-stage
on-stage1944
1944 New Yorker 24 June 32/1 Part of Duke's character goes well enough with the onstage Ellington who periodically throws back his head and emits a long-drawn-out ‘Ah-h-h!’
1976 Country Life 12 Feb. 346/2 The orchestra..are as well matched..as the on-stage cast.
2001 Heat 17 Nov. 99/3 Compere Rupert Everett..introduces the Sinatra-styled lad from Stoke, along with his on-stage big band.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.1927