Scottish Rite Workshop

Glossary of Terms

Acting Areas: those areas of the on Box Set: a set that encloses the acting area which specific scenes, or parts of scenes, are on three sides, often a room with the fourth played. Apron: the extension of the stage floor Center Line: an imaginary line that runs that projects from the proscenium arch up and downstage at the center of the toward the audience. proscenium arch; used to position set pieces Area Lighting: the main visibility lighting and props on stage. for an acting area. Center Stage: that portion of the stage that Auditorium: the seating area from which is equal distance from furthest upstage and the audience observes the action of the . furthest downstage and from furthest stage right and furthest stage left; also can be Backing: flats, drops, or draperies placed defined as down stage center or upstage on the offstage side of doors and openings to center. prevent the audience from seeing backstage. Composition: an arrangement of parts to Balance: the arrangement of parts of a create a whole. composition to create harmony and a sense Contrast: the relationship of dissimilar of restfulness; also, to adjust the loudness elements. and equalization levels of individual signals Control Board: a remote electronic device while mixing, to achieve a proper blend. use to adjust dimmers. : a metal pipe attached to the on- Designer: person responsible stage lines from a rope set or counter-weight for the design, visual appearance, and system. Scenery is attached to the batten. function of , accessories, and Blackout: the fast shutdown of all lighting makeup. on stage. Costume-running-crew: those crew Black Box Theater: a theater space members such as dressers and wardrobe- characterized by no defined stage area and repair personnel who work during the dress flexible seating arrangement; usually painted rehearsal and performances. black to created undefined size and shape. Counterweight Arbor: a metal cradle that : the actors’ movement on the holds counterbalancing weights used in stage. flying. Board Operator: the electricians who run Crossfade: to use a fader to change from the lighting control board during rehearsals one scene to another without dimming to and performances. darkness. Book: to fold hinged flats together so that : a directive for action, for example, a they resemble a book. change in the lighting. Boom: a vertical pipe mounted in a base Cue Sheet: a sheet used by the board used for hanging lighting instruments. operator on which all the lighting cues and Borders: wide, short, framed or unframed states in a production are recorded. cloth drops suspended over the stage to Cue-to-Cue: a rehearsal that jumps from prevent the audience from seeing above the one cue to the next to check the effects. stage; frequently made of black, unpainted : a large drop used to surround velour. the upstage portion of the stage; also called a cyc.

Jeff Gardiner - Technical Theatre Program Page 1 Theatre Glossary of Terms stand that allows it to tilt and swivel so that Dead Hang: to suspend without the means the beam can “follow” an actor. of raising or lowering. Footlights: lighting instruments set at the Decking: the covering surface of a front of the stage on or in the floor. structure on which people will walk. Front Light: a light coming from Dim: to lower the amount of voltage to a downstage of the subject, generally brought lighting instrument, thereby decreasing light in from 45 degrees off full front. output. Front-of-house: the area in an auditorium Dimmer: an electrical device that controls that is close to the stage. the intensity of a light source connected to Front-of-house Lights: lighting it. instruments suspended in the auditorium and Director: person responsible for directed toward the stage. interpreting the script, creating a viable production, and directing the actors. Gaffer Tape: a cloth-backed tape with Distress: to create a worn or aged adhesive on one side that is tearable, but appearance as with fabric, wood, or metal. strong and easily removed. An invaluable Downstage: that portion of the acting area asset it comes in many colors, black being closest to the audience. most useful as it does not show up in general Drape: a vertical element of heavy fabric lighting. that frames the sides of a window or Gel: to put a color filter into a color frame archway. and insert it in the color-frame holder of a Dress Rehearsal: a run-through with all lighting instrument. technical elements, including costumes and : a thin metal template inserted into makeup. an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight to create a Drop: a large cloth, usually muslin or shadow pattern of light. scenic canvas, on which something (a Grand Drape: the curtain that covers the landscape, sky, street, room) is usually opening of the proscenium arch. painted. Grid: a network of steel beams near the roof of the stage that support the elements of Electric: any pipe that is used to hold a counterweight system. lighting instruments. Ground Plan: a scale mechanical drawing

First Electric: the on-stage pipe for in the form of a horizontal section view lighting instruments that is the closest, from required to produce the most descriptive the on-stage side, to the proscenium arch. view of the set.

Flat: a framework, normally made of wood Hand Prop: a small item that is handled or or metal, usually covered with fabric, but carried by an actor. made be covered with other materials, such Hanging: the process of placing lighting as, wood or plastic. instruments in their specified locations. Flood Lights: Lighting instruments that Hanging Positions: the various locations give a wide beam of light. around the stage where lighting instruments Fly: to raise an object or person above the are placed as defined by the lighting stage floor with ropes of cables. designer. Fly Loft: the open space above the stage House: synonym for Auditorium. where the scenery and equipment are flown. House Lights: those lighting fixtures that Focusing: directing light from the lighting light the auditorium for audience safety. instruments to a specific area. Followspot: a lighting instrument with a Masking: to hide from the view of the high-intensity, narrow beam; mounted in a audience.

Jeff Gardiner - Technical Theatre Program Page 2 Theatre Glossary of Terms Master : person responsible for Production Meeting: a conference of ensuring that the lighting equipment is hung, appropriate production personnel to share focused and run according to the direction of information and status. the . Production Style: a recognizable pattern Mood: the feeling of the play; comic, of elements, both visual and intellectual, tragic, happy, etc. based on social and political history, used to create the environment for the production of Offstage: any portion of the stage that a particular play. cannot be seen by the audience. Production Team: everyone working, in On-stage: any portion of the acting area; any capacity, on the production of a play. also, any portion of the stage area. Properties (Props): such elements as Orchestra Pit: the space between the stage furniture, lamps, pictures, table linens, bric- and the auditorium, usually below stage a-brac and window draperies that provide level, that holds the orchestra. the finished set with visual character.

Pan: to rotate an object about its vertical Property Crew: those who construct or axis. acquire all props and run (organize, shift, Patching: to connect a stage circuit to a store) props during rehearsals and dimmer circuit. performances. Pin Spot: an instrument providing a Prop Table: a table, normally located in narrow beam of light. the wings, on which hand props are stored Pipe: a counterweighted batten or fixed between on-stage use. metal pipe that holds lighting instruments. Proscenium Arch: a stage configuration in Plaster Line: in drafting, a line extending which the spectators watch the action across the rear of the opening of the through a rectangular opening (the proscenium arch. proscenium arch) that resembles a picture Position: the relative placement of objects frame. within a composition. Raked Stage: a stage that is higher in the Practical: a working light mounted on a back than in the front. set piece, such as a working sconce. May be Read Through: a reading of the play control from the control board or by an without any of the action. actor. Return: an element of scenery that returns Producer: person who selects the script, the downstage edge of the setting offstage to finds financial backing, and hires all the left or right. production personnel. Revolve: large, circular platform that Production Concept: the creative pivots on its center; also called a turntable. interpretation of the script, which will unify Rigging: fixing of lighting instruments and the artistic vision of the production design scenery elements into the appropriate places team. for flying. Generally, takes place in the last Production-design Team: the producer, week of the production period. director, and scenic, costume, lighting, and Running: controlling or operating some sound designers who, working together, aspect of the production. develop the visual/aural concept for the Running Crew: those responsible for production. operating lighting equipment and shifting Production Manager: coordinator of scenery during rehearsals and performances. production scheduling and administrative/logistic details of a multi- Scenic Designer: person responsible for show theatrical season. the design and function of the scenery and properties.

Jeff Gardiner - Technical Theatre Program Page 3 Theatre Glossary of Terms Scrim: a drop made from translucent or Stage Right: that portion of the acting area transparent material. to the actor’s right; audience left. Set: the elements of scenery assembled for Strike: to take down the scenery; to a production. remove properties or lights. Set Prop: a large, moveable item, not built Style: specific compositional into the set, that is used in some way by an characteristics that distinguish the actor, such as a sofa, floor lamp, table, etc. appearance of one type of design from Shift: to change the position of the another; e.g., realism, expressionism, scenery, props, or stage equipment. surrealism, etc. Sight Line: a sighting extending from any Stylization: the use of specific seat in the house to any position on stage. compositional elements characteristic of a Sky Drop: a large drop made to be hung particular style or period that create the flat, without fullness; used to simulate the sense of that style or period. sky. Sound Crew: those who record and edit Teaser: a short horizontal drape used for sound and who set up and run any sound masking the fly loft; synonym for border. equipment during a production. : person responsible for Sound Designer: person responsible for supervising the construction, mounting, the design, recording, and playback of all rigging, and shifting of the scenery and music and sound effects used in a properties. production. Technical Rehearsal: run-throughs in Special: a lighting instrument used for one which the sets. lights, props, and sound are specific object or effect. integrated into the action of the play. Spike: a mark on the floor to locate the Thrust Stage: a stage projecting into, and working positions of properties or scenery. surround on three sides, by the audience. Spirit: the manner and style in which a Tormentor: the vertical flats that form the play is presented to the audience. side elements of the false proscenium. Spotlight: a lighting instrument with a lens Trap: a covered hole in the stage that that throws an intense light on a defined allows access from below. area. Traveler: any drapery that moves or opens Stage: the area where the action of the play horizontally; generally, travelers are takes place. composed of two sections of stage drapes Stage Business: a specific action, also covering the full width of the proscenium; know as a “bit,” performed by an actor the sections split in the middle, and each during a play. section retracts in an off-stage direction. Stage Crew: those who shift the sets and, Truss: an engineered beam in which a sometimes, props during rehearsals and downward force at any point on it top will performances. be distributed over its full width by a series Stage Directions: those movements on of interlocking triangles that change the stage as indicated by the director which will downward force into a horizontal force. take an actor from one area to another; such Unit Set: a single set in which all of the as, upstage, downstage, stage left, stage play’s locations are always visible and the right, center stage. audience’s attention is usually shifted by Stage Left: that portion of the acting area alternately lighting various parts of the set. to the actor’s left; audience right. Upstage: that portion of the acting area Stage Manager: person who assists the furthest from the audience. director during rehearsals and manages all backstage activity once the play has opened.

Jeff Gardiner - Technical Theatre Program Page 4 Theatre Glossary of Terms Valance: a horizontal arrangement at the Wings: (1) the off stage space adjacent to top of a drapery arrangement that covers the the stage in a proscenium arch theater. (2) curtain rod. tall cloth-covered frames or narrow Void: an unfilled, empty space. unframed drops that are placed on either side of the stage, parallel to the proscenium Wagon: a low platform on casters. arch, to prevent the audience from seeing Walk Through: a rehearsal where the cast back stage. will go through all of the moves, entrances Work Light: a lighting fixture hung over and exits in a production. the stage to facilitate work.

References:

Cunningham, Glen Revealed, 1993, F&W Publications

Gillette, J. Michael Theatrical Design and Production , Second Edition, 1992, Maytfield Publishing Company.

Parker, Oren & Smith, Harvey Scene Design and Stage Lighting, Third Edition, 1973, Holt, Reinhart and Winston, Inc.

Walters, Graham Stage Lighting Step-by-Step, 1997, Betterway Books

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