Stage

Each team performs a different theater show, called Stage (舞台 or 公演) and each stage is its own album's worth of material, and hour or so worth of music performed live at the theater as part of a two-hour show.

Waiting Stage

Temporarily stages waiting for a new show.

Special Stage

Stages created for a special occasion, with songs from different stages, singles and albums.

Revival

A showing of an past stage. Rarely, some cases of revivals have modification on the setlist (minor or major modification, changing or removing song from setlist). Usually, they will bring it as complete setlist instead modification setlist.

Shonichi

(Japanese, Mandarin: 初日) Opening show of a stage.

Senshuuraku

(Japanese: 千秋楽, Mandarin: 千秋乐) Closing show of a stage.

The Structure of The Stages

Usually, many setlists will fit for 16 members, but few setlists may fit too for more than 16 members. A setlist stage may contain this structure:

Zenza Girl (Optional). Some Kenkyuuseis/Trainees (usually) will sing an exclusive song which is in the form of Unit Song. They won't perform another song except this exclusive song in a show.
Overture by DJ Taz. It's always shown every show in all of setlists.
Opening songs. Some condition:
- This contains Group Song. But, few setlists start this part with Unit Song.
- 3 (minimal) to 4 (maximal, usually) songs will be performed.
- MC after the last song.
Middle part. Some condition:
- This contains Unit Songs. But, GNZ48 Team G 3rd Stage has a Group Song on this part.
- 3 (minimal) to 6 (maximal) songs will be performed. Usually, it contains 5 songs.
- MC after the last song.
Closing part. Some condition:
- This contains Group Song. But, few setlists start this part with Unit Song.
- 3 (minimal) to 5 (maximal) songs will be performed. Usually, it contains 4 songs.
- MC after a song before the last song.
Encore. Some condition:
- This contains Group Song. But, Team K 2nd Stage has an Unit Song on this part.
- Usually, it contains 3 songs. But, it can be more.
- MC can be placed depending on the setlist.

The term of The Stage:

Group Song is song that all of members who can perform in that show (Line Up) perform that song. Usually there will be 16 members in there. But, some condition may have more than 16 members will perform. Team A 1st Stage, Team A 2nd Stage, Team A 3rd Stage are some setlist which fit for 20 members at the first, later on, there would be member reduction for another revival either for Group Song.
Unit Song is song that not all of Line Up will bring that song. Usually, it appear on middle part of setlist (It's rare on another part). All of member will have at least an unit song but some cases in Team K 2nd Stage, few members won't have an unit song. There is Multilevel Unit song when some members who have been in a unit song, will perform the next unit song immediately with additional members. The number of members who brought it can vary on some condition, minimal a member for a song and maximal 14 members for a song. Few of setlists have solo song but the most members is Rio no Kakumei (14 members, reducted into 12 members).
A setlist may contain 11 original songs to 17 original songs (usually, an original setlist has 16 songs). Few songs are placed into two setlist. Eg. Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru in Team A 3rd Stage and Team A 4th Stage. Sometimes, it can be added or changed into another song(s) from another source(s). Some setlists have been and can be modified.

Original Stages

AKB48

Team A

1st Stage 「PARTYが始まるよ」 (Team A 1st Stage "PARTY ga Hajimaru yo")
2nd Stage 「会いたかった」 (Team A 2nd Stage "Aitakatta")
3rd Stage 「誰かのために」 (Team A 3rd Stage "Dareka no Tame ni")
4th Stage 「ただいま　恋愛中」 (Team A 4th Stage "Tadaima Renaichuu")
5th Stage 「恋愛禁止条例」 (Team A 5th Stage "Renai Kinshi Jourei")
6th Stage 「目撃者」 (Team A 6th Stage "Mokugekisha")
7th Stage 「Ｍ.Ｔに捧ぐ」 (Team A 7th Stage "M.T ni Sasagu")

Team K

2nd Stage 「青春ガールズ」 (Team K 2nd Stage "Seishun Girls")
3rd Stage 「脳内パラダイス」 (Team K 3rd Stage "Nounai Paradise")
4th Stage 「最終ベルが鳴る」 (Team K 4th Stage "Saishuu Bell ga Naru")
5th Stage 「逆上がり」 (Team K 5th Stage "Saka Agari")
6th Stage 「RESET」 (Team K 6th Stage "RESET")

Team B

3rd Stage 「パジャマドライブ」 (Team B 3rd Stage "Pajama Drive")
4th Stage 「アイドルの夜明け」 (Team B 4th Stage "Idol no Yoake")
5th Stage 「シアターの女神] (Team B 5th Stage "Theater no Megami")

Himawarigumi

1st Stage 「僕の太陽」 (AKB48 Himawarigumi 1st Stage "Boku no Taiyou")
2nd Stage 「夢を死なせるわけにいかない」 (AKB48 Himawarigumi 2nd Stage "Yume wo Shinaseru Wake ni Ikanai")