Guide to Stage Curtains
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GUIDE TO STAGE CURTAINS Colleges & Universities Onondaga County Civic Center University of Akron A REPRESENTATIVE LIST OF OUR COMPLETED Samuel Clemens Performing University of Alaska STAGE CURTAIN PROJECTS Arts Center Amherst University Saratoga Performing Arts Center Auburn University Rochester Institute of Technology Haverling Central School State Theatre - Easton, PA Bard College Rutgers University Holland Patent Central School Studio Arena Brooklyn College St. Bonaventure University Ichabod Crane High School Syracuse Stage Carnegie Mellon University St. John Fisher College Indian River Central School Trenton War Memorial Centre College Skidmore College Johnstown High School Van Wezel Performing Chesapeake College SUNY Albany Kesequa Central School Arts Center Colby-Sawyer College SUNY Binghamton Massena High School Walnut Street Theatre Colgate University SUNY Buffalo Milton Academy University of Connecticut SUNY Cobleskill Mount Carmel High School Places of Worship Cornell University SUNY Cortland Princeton Day School Believers Chapel University of Delaware SUNY Fredonia Palmerton Area High School Cherry Hill Jewish Eastman School of Music SUNY Geneseo Red Jacket Central School Community Center East Stroudsburg University SUNY Potsdam Rochester City School District Danby Federated Church Elmira College SUNY Stonybrook Saugerties High School Eastview Christian Church Edinboro University Syracuse University Taunton High School St. Michaels Greek George Washington University University of Tampa Union Endicott High School Catholic Church Georgia Southern University Temple University Voorhees Township Schools St. Vitus Church Hamilton College University of Texas at Tyler Wallenpaupak Area High School Temple Beth El University of Hartford Trenton State College Wappingers Falls Central School Temple Israel Howard Payne University University of The Virgin Islands Wayne Central School Word of Life Assembly of God Indiana University Western Maryland College University of Iowa Yale School of Drama Civic Centers, Auditoriums Industry and Other Projects Ithaca College Alliance Theatre Bristol Laboratories James Maddison University Elementary and Ashtabula Arts Center Carlisle Barracks Kutztown University Secondary Schools Bardavon 1890 Opera House Holland America Lines Lemoyne College Abington Heights High School Broome County Forum Westerdam University of Maine Beekmantown Central School Dulles State Office Building Corning Glass Center Mansfield University Central Dauphin High School Empire State Performing Eastman Kodak Company Marietta College Clinton Middle School Arts Center El Conquistador Resort Marist College Conrad Weiser Area Schools Erie Playhouse Fort Drum Recreation Center Marywood University Elmira City School District F.M. Kirby Center for the GTE Montclair State University Fayetteville-Manlius High School Performing Arts HSBC Arena Nazareth College Greencastle-Antrim Schools Lorain Palace Civic Center International Finance Center Northeastern University Greece Central Schools Maui Arts & Cultural Center WIXT-TV The Pennsylvania State Hatboro-Horsham Mid Hudson Civic Center WWOR-TV University Senior High School Ocean City Music Theatre Xerox Corporation Syracuse Scenery & Stage Lighting Co., Inc. began business in the early 1920's, incorporated in New York State in 1967 and has been under current management/ownership since 1984. Syracuse Scenery owns and operates from its 25,000 square foot building in a suburb of Syracuse, NY. Syracuse Scenery is an installing specialty contractor for theatrical rigging, curtains and lighting equipment; is a manufacturer of stage, studio and other entertainment related curtains; and sells performance related equipment and supplies. Founding Member Contributing Member SYRACUSE SCENERY & STAGE LIGHTING CO., INC. www.syracusescenery.com 101 Monarch Drive Liverpool, NY 13088-4514 1 P: (315) 453-8096 800-453-SSSL F: (315) 453-7897 E: [email protected] GUIDE TO STAGE CURTAINS INTRODUCTION Stage Curtains are fabricated in every size and shape. The term stage curtain refers to any and all curtains that hang on (or sometimes near) a stage. Syracuse Scenery & Stage Lighting Co., Inc. specializes in manufacturing stage curtains. Stage curtains are differentiated from other types of curtains by their stage function, by their size and fabric selection, and by their fabrication specifications. Specifications for fabrication of stage curtains are numerous. In order to provide information to our customers and potential customers, Syracuse Scenery offers a glossary of the terminology used in our work, a description of some of the more common fabrics used in the manufacture of stage curtains and our professional standard of fabrication. Syracuse Scenery & Stage Lighting Co., Inc. has been in the business of stage curtains for over 80 years. The company has manufactured curtains ranging from helicopter simulator cockpit covers, to the most decorative curtains for showrooms, as well as stage curtains for thousands of schools, colleges and auditoriums in the United States and other countries. TYPES OF CURTAINS audience sees only what is occurring on the stage. The curtain arrangement enhances the background of the event occurring There are many names used for stage curtains. Syracuse on the stage. In most colleges and universities, stages are Scenery first printed the above illustration in 1972 to show predominantly used for productions. In these facilities there our customers the terms we use for various stage curtains. is usually a Front Curtain and functional backdrops, scrims or This simple illustration has been copied by fabric suppliers cycloramas. Other curtains on the stage are used as masking, and other manufacturers, and has now become a standard keeping the audience from seeing the functional parts of the in itself. This illustration shows a typical elementary or stage and making the stage background disappear. secondary school stage curtain layout. Stages in elementary and secondary schools serve many purposes. The curtains For stages where the curtains are used as scenery, we use the are usually arranged so, without any other scenery, the term “setting” to describe all of the curtains that are located SYRACUSE SCENERY & STAGE LIGHTING CO., INC. www.syracusescenery.com 101 Monarch Drive Liverpool, NY 13088-4514 P: (315) 453-8096 800-453-SSSL F: (315) 453-7897 E: [email protected] 2 layout of stage curtains in plan view on a certain part of the stage and that are made of the same OLIO SETTING: The term “Olio”, which is defined as a fabric or color. medley of tunes, is taken from the vaudevillian era when acts on stage were performed in front of this curtain setting. The Each “setting” has predominant uses, but each facility can Olio Setting is located anywhere from immediately behind the also have its own specific uses for curtains and may have more Main Setting to approximately the mid-stage area. The Olio or fewer curtains than are illustrated. Setting was historically gold and somewhat fancier than the other curtains. In modern usage, the Olio Setting is usually a MAIN SETTING: The Main Setting usually functions as neutral color to provide a backdrop for a speaker. If the Main the decorative closure of the stage area proper or the dividing Setting does not completely clear off the stage, the color of line between the audience area and the stage area. In fabric the Olio Setting should coordinate with the Main Setting. and color the Main Setting should enhance the appearance If the Olio Setting is used only for midstage masking, and is of the auditorium and coordinate with the seating, carpeting not to be used to cut off the stage for a smaller playing area, and architectural details. the Olio Setting will usually be of the same fabric and color as the Cyclorama Setting. The Main Traveler can open in the middle, or if space allows, it can be opened by lifting straight up. It can also do both. Other names used for curtains in the Olio Setting include: The curtain can also be raised by brailing. A brail curtain OLIO TRAVELER - Speaker Curtain, Midstage gathers up from the bottom using lift lines running through Traveler, Midstage Cut-Off Curtain, 2nd Curtain rings sewn onto the backside of the curtain. OLIO VALANCE - Midstage Valance, Midstage Teaser Other names used for the curtains in the Main Setting OLIO LEGS - Tormentors, Tabs include: MAIN TRAVELER - Act Curtain, House CYCLORAMA SETTING: The Cyclorama Setting provides Curtain, Front Curtain, Grand Drape, the major masking on the stage. The purpose of masking Main Curtain, Proscenium Curtain curtains is to conceal the side walls, rear wall, and overhead MAIN VALANCE - Teaser, Proscenium Valance areas of the stage house from the audience view. The MAIN LEGS - Tormentors, Tabs SYRACUSE SCENERY & STAGE LIGHTING CO., INC. www.syracusescenery.com 101 Monarch Drive Liverpool, NY 13088-4514 3 P: (315) 453-8096 800-453-SSSL F: (315) 453-7897 E: [email protected] Cyclorama Setting is often used as scenery, providing an to 36' in height. The Scrim is often placed in the midstage “invisible” background for presentations. The Cyclorama area for special effect purposes. In order to be most effective, Setting should be black when the stage is used mainly for careful lighting placement and choice of fixtures is essential. dramatic presentations. Many elementary and secondary There are several varieties of scrim. The most commonly used schools use their stage areas primarily for band and choral scrim fabric is Sharkstooth Scrim.