What are the notes in a drama that describe how the work is to be performed called?

The correct answer is stage directions. Stage directions are specific instructions written in a play's script that provide guidance on how the performance should be executed. These notes can include details about the setting, character movements, facial expressions, and tone of voice. They serve as a roadmap for directors, actors, and stage crew, helping to convey the playwright's vision for the play.

While prologues introduce the story or set the scene at the beginning of a play, they do not provide ongoing performance instructions. Dialogue refers to the spoken exchanges between characters, which is vital for telling the story but does not offer guidance on performance. Acting notes might seem relevant, but they are not a formal term used in scripts to denote the instructions that stage directions encompass. Thus, stage directions are essential for translating the written text into a live performance.