THEA 200 Introduction to Theatre Production Final Exam Study Guide

A Comprehensive collection of vocabulary terms covering stage spaces, production roles, technical elements, and play-specific details from the Intro to Theatre Production study guide.

Proscenium Stage

The most common stage type where the audience sits on one side facing the stage, which is framed by an arch.

Thrust Stage

A stage that extends out into the audience area with the audience sitting on three sides.

Arena Stage / Theatre-in-the-Round

A performance space where the audience completely surrounds the acting area on all four sides.

Black Box

A flexible studio-style space where seating and staging can be reconfigured from production to production.

Upstage

Moving away from the audience, toward the back of the stage.

Downstage

Moving toward the audience, toward the front of the stage.

Stage Left

The actor’s left side when they are facing the audience.

Stage Right

The actor’s right side when they are facing the audience.

House Left / House Right

Locations from the perspective of the audience looking at the stage; House Left is opposite of Stage Left.

Centerline

An imaginary line running from upstage to downstage through the exact center of the stage.

Plaster Line

An imaginary line at the point of the proscenium arch that runs from one side of the theatre to the other; same as the curtain line.

Proscenium Arch

The architectural frame that surrounds and defines the stage opening, separating the audience from the stage.

Curtain (Main Drape)

The large curtain separating the stage from the audience that rises to begin the show and falls at intermission or the end.

Apron

The portion of the stage floor extending forward from the main curtain toward the audience.

Orchestra Pit

The sunken area between the front of the stage and the first row of audience seats where musicians perform.

Wings

The out-of-sight areas on the left and right sides of the acting area used for storage and actor entrances.

Teaser

A horizontal masking curtain hung just upstage of the proscenium arch to hide the fly space and set stage height.

Tormentor / Leg

Vertical masking panels upstage of the proscenium arch on each side that hide the wings from view.

Fly Rail

The control station where the ropes and lines of the fly system are operated and tied off.

Counterweight System

A mechanical system of lines, battens, and weights used to raise and lower heavy scenery and lighting.

Cyclorama (Cyc)

A large curved or flat backdrop at the back of the stage, often lit with colors to suggest sky or open space.

Platform

A raised, stable structure used to create different levels on the stage.

Level Set

The process of bringing all flying scenery battens and linesets to the same or designated trim heights.

Front-of-House (FOH)

All areas and activities on the audience side of the theatre, excluding the stage and backstage.

Box Office

The location where audience members purchase tickets for a performance.

House Manager

The person overseeing front-of-house operations, including the lobby, ushers, and patron experience.

Ushers

Front-of-house staff who guide audience members to seats and distribute programs.

Producer

The person with ultimate power and financial control over a production; they control the budget and major decisions.

Artistic Director

The person responsible for the artistic vision of an entire theatre company, including choosing seasons and hiring directors.

Director

The person who interprets the script and guides actors to create the artistic vision of a specific production.

Author / Playwright

The originating artist who wrote the play.

Choreographer

The person who creates and stages the dances in a production.

Production Manager

The person who oversees the design and technical team, coordinating schedules and running production meetings.

Technical Director (TD)

The person accountable for the construction of scenery, properties, and the technical preparation of lighting and sound.

Scene Designer / Set Designer

The person who designs the physical surroundings and suggests the style and tone of the production through scenery.

Head Carpenter / Master Carpenter

The person accountable to the Technical Director for the actual construction of the set in the scene shop.

Scenic Artist

The person in charge of painting scenery and props, working from the painter’s elevation.

Lighting Designer

The person who creates the look and design of all lighting and develops the light plot.

Head Electrician / Master Electrician

The person accountable for the physical setup, hanging, and focusing of lighting instruments.

Sound Designer

The person who creates sound effects, underscoring, and the amplification plan for a production.

Sound Engineer

The technical expert responsible for maintaining and setting up all sound equipment.

Costume Designer

The person who creates the visual design for all costumes via renderings.

Cutter / Draper

A costume shop professional who cuts fabric and drapes or fits it on the performers.

Stitcher

A person in the costume shop whose primary job is to sew the costumes.

Wardrobe

The department responsible for maintaining and cleaning costumes during the run of a show.

Fittings

Scheduled appointments for actors to try on costumes for alterations and adjustments.

Prop Manager / Master

The person who manages all props, including finding, building, and tracking them.

Stage Manager (SM)

The person who runs the show during performances and calls all cues using the word "Go."

Assistant Stage Manager (ASM)

The junior stage management member responsible for running the backstage area during the show.

Prompt Script

The Stage Manager’s book containing the full script, blocking, cues, contact lists, and schedules.

Blocking

The planned movement and positioning of actors on stage as determined by the director.

Blocking Notation

The system used to record actors' movements in the prompt script during rehearsal.

Equity / AEA (Actors’ Equity Association)

The labor union representing professional stage actors and stage managers.

I.A.T.S.E.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the union for backstage workers.

Half Hour

An AEA rule requiring company members to be in the building 30 minutes before the curtain rises.

Scene Shop

The workshop where scenery is designed and constructed before being loaded into the theatre.

Drop

A large, unframed piece of fabric with a painted scenic image that can be flown in and out.

Paint Frame

A large vertical frame used by scenic artists to paint drops and flats.

Ground Plan

An overhead drawing showing the exact location of stage elements like walls and furniture.

Designer Elevations

Scale drawings showing the front view of scenery walls from the audience perspective.

Painter’s Elevation

A detailed guide created by the Scene Designer showing colors, textures, and patterns for the Scenic Artist.

Model

A three-dimensional scale model constructed from cardboard to visualize the set in 3D.

Set Props

Large items that are part of the set itself, primarily furniture.

Hand Props

Items that actors physically handle during a performance, such as a telephone or a cup.

Trim Prop / Set Dressing

Non-essential decorative items like books or pictures used to create atmosphere but not handled by actors.

Rehearsal Props

Stand-in items used during practice that are similar in size and weight to the actual props.

Light Plot

A technical drawing showing the exact position of every lighting instrument in the theatre.

Hang & Focus

The two-part process of installing lighting instruments and then aiming them toward specific areas.

Light Cue (Light Q)

Any individual change in the lighting state on stage during a performance.

Dimmer

The electronic device used to control the brightness level of a lighting instrument.

Two-fer

An adapter used to allow two lighting instruments to share a single circuit and dimmer.

Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight (ERS)

The most common lighting fixture, producing a sharp, hard-edged beam that can hold gobos.

Follow Spot

A powerful spotlight requiring a human operator to follow a performer on stage.

Intelligent Light

A motorized lighting fixture that can change color, focus, and position remotely.

Mixer

The central audio device used to combine and route sounds from various input sources to speakers.

Intercommunication System

The headset and beltpack system used by the Stage Manager to coordinate technical departments.

Costume Renderings

Detailed colored illustrations used to show what completed costumes will look like.

Muslin

An inexpensive fabric used to create a mock-up of a costume to test fit before using real fabric.

Read Through

The first rehearsal event where the cast reads the complete script together, usually around a table.

Run Through

A rehearsal where a section or the whole show is performed start to finish without stopping for pacing and continuity.

Tech Rehearsal

The rehearsal where lighting, sound, and scenery shifts are first integrated with the actors.

Dress Rehearsal

The final rehearsal stage where costumes are added and the show runs exactly as it will on opening night.

The Importance of Being Earnest

A 3-act comedy of manners by Oscar Wilde, set in 1895 Victorian England.

Jack Worthing

A character found as a baby in a handbag at Victoria Station who proposes to Gwendolen.

Lady Bracknell

Gwendolen’s formidable mother and the gatekeeper of Victorian society in Oscar Wilde's play.

Arsenic and Old Lace

A dark comedy by Joseph Kesselring about sweet elderly aunts who murder lonely men with poisoned wine.

Teddy Brewster

A character who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and treats the basement as the Panama Canal.

Happy Dale Sanitarium

The facility where the Brewster family characters are committed at the end of Arsenic and Old Lace.

Wait Until Dark

A thriller centered on Susan Hendrix, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher for the class.

Harry Roat

The villain in Wait Until Dark who is searching for a doll containing heroin.

Gloria

The young girl in the building who helps the protagonist in Wait Until Dark.