Technical Theater Terms (copy)

Production team

staff who produce a play, television show, recording, or film

Production Design team

responsible for the visual concept of a show, identify a design style for sets, locations, graphics, props, lighting, camera angles and costumes

Producer

the sponsor, the money, raise the money for the show but has little say in the artistic vision

Artistic Director

oversees the selection and interpretation of the works performed in the show

Managing Director

responsible for the business, administrative, and operational management of the theatre company

Scenic Designer

person who designs the set, develops the environment of the show

Lighting Designer

designs the lighting for the production, the light location, brightness, visuals for them like lasers, strobes, spots, and sometimes video screens

Sound Designer

responsible for what the audience hears during the show, like mics, car horns, voiceovers, etc.

Playwright

writes the play, some are commissioned, some write plays and submit them

Director

oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theater production

Production Manager

works with designers, the technical crew, and the management team to make sure the technical elements of a show are completed safely, on time, and on budget

Property Manager

AKA prop(s) master, responsible for purchasing, acquiring, manufacturing, properly placing, and/or overseeing any props needed for a production

Scenic Artist

uses the scenic designer’s designs to create the set pieces, paints backdrops, murals, and prop pieces for shows

Technical Director

supervises all technical departments activities and oversees the use and maintenance of theater equipment, , from lighting to carpentry

Master Electrician

implements the lighting design for a production, oversees the preparation, hanging, connection, and focusing of stage lighting fixtures

Stage Manager

right hand to the director- oversees sets, props, lights, and sound, and calls all cues during performances, facilitates communication across all departments

Supernumerary

AKA extras, actors who have no lines throughout the production

Production concept

the way an artist, director, or theater group plans to perform a production, their interpretation of a show

Production meeting

venue where all creative and management teams share information and needs, establish deadlines, and create a schedule that works for everybody

Technical Rehearsals

rehearsal that focuses on the technological aspects of the performance, like lighting, set, sound, and costumes

Blocking

precise staging of actors to facilitate the performance, noting where they are positioned and move on stage during rehearsal

Cue

stage manager calls this event for a lighting change or sound effect etc.

Shift Rehearsal

rehearsal without actors to perfect the choreography and timing of all scenic and prop shifts

Lighting rehearsal

rehearsal to perfect the choreography and timing of lighting cues, adjusting brightness, angle, framing, or position along the way

dress rehearsal

rehearsal within the last week of a show opening where the actors will wear their costumes during the run of the show

limited run

show that will only be open for a certain period of time

prompt book

book that contains script copies and notes of the play’s cues, clocking, staging, scene shifts, costumes, props etc.

call time

the time that all actors and crew are expected to be at the theater

shift

moving actors or props from one setting to another during a show

proscenium

type of seating in which the audience sits on one side facing the stage; also name for the frame or arch separating the stage from the auditorium

arena

type of seating in which the audience totally surrounds the stage

tennis court

type of seating in which audience sits on two sides of the stage

thrust

type of seating in which the audience sits on three sides of the stage, AKA platform stage - theatrical stage without a proscenium, projecting into the audience and audience-surrounded on three sides

orchestra pit

area in a lowered area in front of the stage where musicians perform

wings

areas offstage (out of sight of the audience), used for performers preparing to enter, set storage for scenery changes, and stagehand work area

stage directions

script instructions detailing what actors do on stage, where they move, and other production requirements

apron

main area of the stage where the actors perform in front of the promescium

traps

a concealed hole in the stage floor through which actors, props, and scenery can be brought on and off stage

revolve

part of the stage that revolves or spins around a central pivot, uses 3+ settings constructed on a turntable for scene changes

grid

a support structure of the fly system that uses ropes and pulleys to ‘fly’ set elements and lighting (and even actors) into and out of place

legs

tall, narrow drapes hung parallel to the proscenium at the sides of the stage that frame the sides of the acting space and mask the wings, where actors and set pieces are preparing to enter the stage

boarders

short drapes hung above the stage, spanning its width, that mask equipment and hidden scenery above stage

show portal

portal consisting of a boarder and legs that can be moved to adjust the size and shape of the proscenium opening throughout the show

sky drop

a backcloth representing the sky

cyclorama

a large, concave curtain or wall at the back of the stage made out of a reflective material that reflects light and color when lit

dead hang

hanging something above the stage that cannot move up and down

flat

a flat set piece that is painted and positioned on stage to look like buildings or other backgrounds

platforms

a stationary flat walking surface built modularly to create levels of playing space for actors on the stage

scrim

open weave used to mask areas of the stage; solid curtain when lit from the front, see-through curtain when lit from the back

wagon

a mobile platform that is used to support and transport movable, 3D scenery on stage

stage jack

a triangular brace hinged or screwed to a flat or other set piece for support and extra rigidity

ways to get props:

1. build

2. buy

3. rent

4. pull

build

making props from scratch

buy

purchasing props from a store or vender

rent

borrow props from a store, person, or organization

pull

bring props out of a prop room

hanging

hanging up lighting instruments/curtains

focusing

pointing the light where it needs to be on stage

circuit

a number where a lighting instrument is plugged in

slip stage

large rolling platforms with scenery on them which are stored in the wings or rear stage and then slid into view

fly loft

the area above the stage that allows scenery to be flown up until it is out of audience sight

set props

include all the furniture on stage, and any other “objects” with are part of the set

hand props

are a small and movable property used by an actor during the performance of a play or a small property capable of being carried on and off a set easily

decorative props

include all the things that are used to enhance the setting visually but are not specifically touched by the actors

costume props

these are items that are not generally considered clothing, but would be designed by the costume designer and worn by the actors

rehearsal props

stand in for the actual prop as the actor works out the stage action and movement in the rehearsal process

batten

permanent or semi permanent lengths of pipe tied to lines from the grid and used for flying curtains, lights, or scenery

corner block

made of ¼ “ fir plywood; these are the mechanical fasteners that hold the frame together; are generally right triangles 10” x 10”

key stone

a ¼ “ piece of plywood used to connect the stile to the toggle bar on a flat

rendering

an architect’s not-to-scale drawing or plan, a not-to-scale rough sketch

thumbnail sketch

a very small, very loose, very fast drawing made at the start of the design process, which helps the designer begin to visualize the final product

painters elevation

scaled paintings (generally ½ “ = 1’-0”) of each piece of scenery showing all color and surface treatment, which the scenic artists will use as a guide for painting the set

parts of a ticket:

1. date

2. time

3. location

4. seat

date

month; day; year

time

what time the event is at

location

where the event is at

seat

what seat the ticket is assigned to

house seats

a theater seat reserved by the management for a special guest

dead seats

seat that cannot be sold, eg. broken seats

comp seats

complementary, free ticket

press seats

seats for members of the press

pape

leko

a lekolite; a brand of ellipsoidal reflector spotlight (ERS) used in stage lighting which refers to the half-ellipsoidal dome reflector within which the instrument’s lamp is housed

gel

the colored “filters” placed in front of the lights found in theaters, so to color the beam; referenced and referred to by number or a letter and number combination

gobo

used with projectors and simpler light sources to create lighting scenes in theatrical application; lighting designers typically use them with stage lighting instruments to manipulate the shape of the light cast over a space or object

gel frame

are the frames where the colored gels are held

lamp

another word for the light bulb in a lighting fixture; is made up of three parts - the filament, the bulb, and the base

spot light

device used to produce intense illumination in a well-defined area in stage, film, television, ballet, and opera production

light plot

a plan and complete set of instructions for lighting a stage production

sight lines

a line extending from an observer’s eye to a viewed object or area (such as a stage)

parts of a light:

1. c clamp

2. f-nut

3. yolk Bolt

4. yolk knob

5. shutter

6. barrel

7. barrel knob

8. degree

c clamp

commonly used in theatrical carpentry for the same purpose that non-theatrical carpenters employ them; create a quick, temporary, and non-destructive way of joining two objects together

f-nut

the small nut on the side of the c-clamp that adjusts the yolk; not used to focus lights

yolk bolt

the bolt that attaches the c-clamp onto the yolk of the light

yolk knob

allows you to adjust the tilt of the light where the yolk bolt allows adjustment of the pan

shutter

every leko has four; allows for light coming out of the front of the instrument to be shuttered off of places where there shouldn’t be light

barrel

the front part of the light; where the degree of the light will be listed; manipulated to focus and unfocus the beam of light

degree

how wide the angle of light is out the front of the instrument; smaller numbers are more narrow beam angles, meaning that the spread of the light is tighter and over a smaller area; larger numbers are wider beam angles

follow spot

a spotlight for following a performer moving about a stage

focus

where the light needs to be pointed on stage