theatre quiz 1

THTR

Proscenium

“Normal” theatre, with the audience on only one side, features a “proscenium arch”. Advantages: Allows for the greatest capacity of audience seating, allows for the most backstage stage space, allows for the greatest chance of “theatre magic”, and heightened designs.

Thrust Theatre

Has an audience on three sides of the playing space. Allows for greater intimacy between the performers and the audience. Allows for less elaborate designs, but still offers designers the space to create something fully fleshed out. Advantages: Can make an intimate space, and often designs are cheaper to create, as there is less space to fill.

Arena/ Theater in the Round

Has audience of all four sides of the stage • Uses vomitorium’s to enter and exit the playing space. Offer’s little space for backstage areas, and designers must work minimally to not disrupt sightlines. Advantages: is the most intimate configuration, allows the audience to feel as thought they are part of the staging.

Alley/Traverse

Has audience on two sides of the stage. Allows for creative staging. Allow for audience to engage with actors, but also with other audience members. Advantages: good staging solution for showing opposition and confrontation

Blackbox

A Flexible theater space with a low hanging grid, masking, black floors and walls, and flexible audience seating. Offers the ability to make any of the previous theater layouts in addition to non - traditional layouts. Often the smallest venues of all types of theaters Advantages: allows for imaginative layouts and designs.

Stage

The “playing space” of the performers. This is where the action of the story takes place.

Stage directions

refer to the area of the stage the action is to take place. This is always in reference to the performers perspective.

The apron

refers to the area of stage that goes past the proscenium arch towards the audience.

The pit

refers to where the orchestra sits, usually below the apron of the stage.

Traps/trapdoors

are hidden doorways in the stage floor that allow performers to emerge or disappear from below the stage.

Backstage

Refers to the areas of the stage that are out of view from the audience. In stage directions, we refer to this as offstage.

Wings

refer to the area just off of the playing stage where actors wait for entrances and exits. This is where an assistant stage manager, members of the Run Crew, and members of the wardrobe team will be stationed, as needed, during the performance.

Crossover

refers to an area (often directly behind the playing space) that allows actors and crew members to cross to either wing as needed.

quick change booth

These are constructed when an actor needs a quick costume change because the time between their entrance and exits does not allow them to go to their dressing room.

The House

Refers to the audience seating area.

Front of House

is separate to the production team. Their primary focus is to the venue and not to the performance

The Control Booth

behind the house where the stage manager calls the cues show and where the light board (controlled by the light board operator) and sound board (controlled by the sound board operator) are kept.

cue

a directive for action. For example, a change in lighting.

The Grid

Structural support in a grid formation overhead of the playing space. Primarily used for rigging purposes and hanging lights.

Catwalks

Areas above the house that are used to front light the stage

Grand drape

the main curtain on a stage, often richly colored.

Portal

an archway formed by two legs and a border or similar framed opening.

Tormentor

The first set of tall and narrow drapes hung upstage of the proscenium and used to mask the wings of a stage

Teaser

traditionally the first short and wide drape upstage of the proscenium.

Legs

tall, narrow drapes hung parallel to the proscenium at the sides of the stage.

Borders

are short drapes hung above the stage, spanning its width. They're used to mask equipment and hidden scenery above.

Tabs or German masking

refers to curtains that run perpendicular to the proscenium arch. They are the only curtains that run up and down the length of the stage, not side to side.

Show curtain

a specialty curtain designed as scenery for a play

Fire curtain

a flameproof curtain that will drop in the case of a fire. It separates the audience from the stage.

Ground row

a piece of hard scenery used to mask any lights that sit on the stage of the floor

Backdrop

a painted piece of fabric (usually muslin) that adds dimension to scenery, usually landscapes, cityscapes, or sky.

Scrim

A loose weave backdrop that allows the audience to see through it, but can also be painted or projected on.

Cyclorama

A large backdrop that allows lighting designers to create colorscapes.

The Fly System

A system of ropes or cables allowing scenery , lights, speakers, and masking to be flown in and out.

Batten

pipes suspended above a stage used for supporting scenery, drapery, and lights.

Arbor

a metal frame that supports the weight stack onto a fly line.

Rope lock

a hand operated lock that stops or allow the fly line to move.

Weights

stackable weight that serve to counterbalance the weight loaded onto the batten.

Pin rail

rail off stage in which the fly lines are tied off or locked.

The Production Team

The individuals involved in realizing and implementing the creative teams' concepts to create the actual show.

Theater Board/ Administration

A group of individuals who are otherwise not involved with the in the creation of specific productions. They are responsible for funding and the theatres organization. they select and oversee the artistic director. they report to the theatrical community and the theatre organization of which they lead.

Artistic Director

the leading creative force behind the theatre company. They select the productions that will be produced and select the director for the productions. They report to the board for the administration.

Managing Director

the leading organizational force within a theatre company. They work alongside the artistic director and are responsible for the dayto-day operations. They oversee the hiring process, marketing, educational programming. They oversee the production manager. They report to the board or the administration.

The Production Coordinator/Manager

is responsible for overseeing and allocating money and resources and is responsible for coordinating between technical departments. Oversee the designers, stage manager, and technical director. Reports to the Managing Director and the Artistic Director.

The Director

The leader of the creative team. Responsible for the vision of a specific production. Has the ultimate authority to make changes or decisions. Oversees actors, designers, musical directors and choreographers. Reports to the Artistic Director.

Set Designer

IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THE WORLD OF THE PLAY (I.E THE SETTING). IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERPRETING THE DIRECTOR'S VISION IN A VISUAL WAY. WORKS ALONG SIDE TECHNICAL DIRECTORS TO CREATE THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF THE SET. OVERSEES PAINTERS AND PROPS. REPORTS TO THE DIRECTOR.

Costume Designer

is responsible for creating looks for each character. The costume designer is responsible for interpreting the director's vision, actor’s interpretation of their character, and contextualizing character through clothing. The costume designer works with the supervisor to help in the creation of the physical garments. Oversees costume technicians, wigs, hair, and dyers. • Reports to the Director.

Lighting Designer

IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THE MOOD OR ATMOSPHERE OF THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH LIGHT. IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERPRETING THE DIRECTOR’S VISION AND ENHANCING THE VISUAL AESTHETIC OF THE STORY. OVERSEES LIGHTING ELECTRICIANS AND LIGHTING BOARD OPERATORS. REPORTS TO THE DIRECTOR.

Sound Designer

is responsible for enhancing the world or mood of the play by selecting and creating sounds. Is responsible for interpreting the director's vision through an audible medium. Collaborates with musicians and musical directors to create a soundscape for the production. Oversees sound engineers and sound board operators. Reports to the director.

Projection Designer

is responsible for creating and implementing video projections. Oversees projection technicians and video creators. Often times, however, the projectionist is a team of one. Is responsible for interpreting the director's vision, often by enhancing the set design. Reports to the director

The Stage manager

is the overseer and coordinator of all elements that are going to be present during a performance. The stage manager schedules and runs all rehearsals, schedules meetings and coordinates between the creative team. The stage manager runs the show once it reaches stage. They coordinate between all crews and calls each show. Stage managers report to the director

The Technical Director

coordinates and implements all technical aspects of a production. Schedules timeline for builds and tech rehearsals. Works closely with designers (except costumes) to realize their design concepts. Oversees carpenters, and stagehands. Reports to the production manager/ coordinator.

The Costume Supervisor/coordinator

coordinates the creation, implementation, and purchase of garments. Creates build timelines, schedules and runs fittings. Works closely with the costume designer to bring their vision to life. Oversees the costume technician, and the wardrobe crew (sometimes called wardrobe running). Reports to the production manager/coordinator.

Property Masters

are responsible for overseeing the creation or obtention of props for rehearsal and for the production. The property master oversees prop artisans, prop painters, and prop buyers. The property master reports to the set designer and production coordinator.

Cutters

Create clothing patterns, cut fabric, and assemble the costumes for women’s garments based off of the costume designer’s concept.

Drapers

Create clothing patterns, cut fabric, and assemble the costumes men’s garments based off of the costume designer’s concept.

Stitchers

Help the cutter/draper assemble the garment by stitching it together.

Milliners

creates hats based on the costume designers' renderings.

Sound Engineers

Implements the sound designers designs and ensures a balanced and clear audio experience for the audience. Maintains and utilizes the audio equipment. Reports to the sound designers.

Lighting Electricians

In charge of making the lighting designers vision a reality. Maintains and handles lighting and electrical equipment. Reports to the lighting designer

The Run Crew

ensures that the show runs. They move props, set pieces, set up changes, in time with the pace of the show. Organizes the backstage area (under the direction of the assistant stage manager or stage manager.) Reports to the stage management team

Light board operator

Programs lighting counsels to the lighting designers' specifications. They also control the consol during the performances in time with the stage managers direction.

Sound board operator

Programs the sound designers' cues in the board and plays them under the stage mangers direction. Controls the levels and any mixing needed during the performance.