Download UnitOne-VocabularyLIST

Introduction to Technical Theatre
Unit 1: Vocabulary
Technical Theatre Vocabulary
Act- A division of the play into parts, usually two, but sometimes more
Act Drop- Painted cloth lowered to close the proscenium opening between acts
Acting Area- The space (stage, platform, floor) set aside for theatre performances
Ad-lib- An improvisation of dialogue or stage business that is not written in the script
Antagonist- Character who provides an obstacle or conflict for the Protagonist in a play
Apron- The area of the stage in front of the curtain line, also called the forestage. This may be a
platform placed over the orchestra pit when a larger acting area is needed.
Arena Stage- Space where audience sits on all sides of the stage (see Theatre in the Round)
Audition- The opportunity to read for a part in a play, sometimes requiring a monologue, song,
or dance. This is usually done before a casting director or the production director
Auditorium- Part of the theatre building that holds the audience, also called the “house”
Avista- Process of changing the scenery in full view of the audience, usually done by a crew
dressed in all black and working in dimmed lighting
Backdrop- A flat surface the width of the stage, usually made of canvas, hanging from the flies at
the rear of the staging area and painted to represent the desired setting
Backing- Flats, screens, and drops used backstage to mask the audience’s sight lines through the
doors and windows of the set
Backstage- The area behind the set or backdrop that is not seen by the audience (also, see Wings)
Barn Door- Device consisting of two or four hinged metal flaps placed in front of a lighting
instrument and manipulated to change the light beam pattern into any number of shapes
Batten- A horizontal pipe suspended from the flies on which scenery and lights may be hung
Beat- The length of a pause between words, speeches, or actions (roughly the count of 1)
Below- To be downstage or someone or something (see Downstage)
Black Box- A small theatre where the interior is painted black, black drapes are used, and it can
be set up in various ways to accommodate various stage set-ups
Technical Theatre Vocabulary
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Blackout- A lighting cue that requires the lighting technician to totally darken the entire stage
Blocking- Designated plan for movement of actors throughout a scene in a play or musical
Boat Truck- A wagon or low platform, running on casters, on which whole units of scenery can
be moved on and off stage
Boom- A vertical pipe used to mount a lighting instrument, also used to extend a microphone
over a set (A Boom is sometimes also called a “boomerang”)
Border- A short drape hung above the stage to mask the flies when the set does not contain a
ceiling
Box Set- A setting of three walls and a ceiling, leaving the fourth wall to be imagined by actors,
this type of setting usually consists of working doors, windows, and realistic furnishings
Bump Up- To quickly raise the intensity of stage lighting
Call Back- The second stage in the audition process in which actors under serious consideration
for roles to be cast return for further readings, to sing, or to dance
Call Board- A bulletin board placed backstage upon which schedules, announcements, and
information is posted for the cast and crew
Cast- All of the actors performing in a given play
Catwalk- A narrow metal bridge up in the flies by which the stage crew can reach and adjust the
hung scenery
Cellar- The space immediately under the stage that contains scenery-changing machinery and the
trap chamber for the trap door (see Trap)
Choreographer- The person who designs the dance steps to be used in a play or musical
Costume- Clothing worn by the actors in a performance
Costume Shop- The room(s) where the costumes for a play are “built” and sometimes stored
Counterweight System- Mechanical system of pulleys, ropes, and weights, such as sandbags,
used to hang scenery. The scenery is at one end of the rope, the counterweight at the
other, usually operated by a stagehand.
Cross- A stage direction meaning to move across the stage from one side to the other
Technical Theatre Vocabulary
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Cue- A signal from the stage manager to actor, stage crew, or other crew member to carry out a
predetermined action such as a lighting or sound effect, make an entrance, or change
scenery
Deck- The stage floor
Detail Scenery- Small, easily changed pieces of scenery in a larger setting (desk, chair, etc.)
Dimmer- An electronic device to lower or raise the intensity of a lighting instrument
Director- The person responsible for the direction of the actors in a play, one who determines the
interpretation of the production, the person who supervises the players as they rehearse
and who coordinates all the technical elements that support the performance
Director’s Notes- The comments and criticisms the director presents to the cast after a rehearsal
or performance
Dramaturg- One who studies a play to interpret it for a company of actors, answering questions
about the text, the language, the period, the characters, often aiding in authenticity for
design elements in setting and costume
Dresser- Assistant to the actors for the purpose of helping with costume changes or preparation
Dressing the Set- Term used for the process of decorating the set
Effects- Onstage and offstage sounds or lights made by technicians
Ellipsoidal (ERF- Ellipsoidal Reflector Floodlight)- lighting instrument used to cast a broad
wash of light over an area without a sharp edge
Fade- A gradual dimming of the intensity of the stage lighting
Flat- The basic unit of stage scenery usually consisting of a wooden frame with canvas or muslin
stretched to fill it, and a wooden crosspiece for backing
Flies- The area above the stage, hidden from the audience, to which scenery can be lifted
Floodlight- A light with a large reflector and a high-wattage lamp that fills a large stage area
Fly(ing)- To fly scenery is to hoist it to or from the Flies
Focus- The adjustment of the size and shape of a beam from a stage light, also the direction from
which the beam is aimed
Freeze- To remain motionless onstage for a predetermined amount of time during a play
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Fresnel (Fer-nell)- A lighting instrument with a lens of rings, it can cast a pool of light with soft
edges that blends with other lights
Gel- A very thin sheet of gelatin, available in a wide range of colors, set in a frame and mounted
in front of a light in order to color the beam
Globe Theatre- During Elizabethan period, stage famously used for Shakespearian plays
Gobo- A disc of heat-resistant material into which a pattern- circles, stars, tree branches- has
been cut. When the gobo is placed over the lens of an Ellipsoidal spotlight the pattern is
projected onto a backdrop or set wall (also called a “cookie”)
Green Room- A room backstage where actors wait for their entrance cues
Grid- The framework of wood or steel above the stage from which scenery is hung or flown
Ground Plan- The bird’s-eye view of the set, also called a “Floor Plan”
House Manager- One who oversees or runs the box office where tickets are sold. This person
also gets the audience in/out of the theatre, hires and manages ushers
House Right/Left- Directions viewed from the perspective of the audience
Incident Light- Light falling on a surface (actor, furniture, set, etc.) directly from above
Jack- Wooden triangular brace hinged to the back of a flat to provide support
Jump- A cable connecting two or more lighting instruments or circuits
Key Light- Light on an actor’s face that appears to be coming from a source (lantern, lamp, etc.)
Lamp- Proper name for a light bulb, also the term for any lighting instrument, particularly a
spotlight
Lighting Design (Lighting Plot)- Design concept created by Lighting Designer/Technician to
create mood, focus, and reflect appropriate setting for the scene
Lighting Tree- Vertical tri-pod stand top-mounted with a horizontal bar to hold instruments
Makeup- Cosmetics actors use on stage
Greasepaint- foundation or base for the rest of the makeup (easily blended and durable)
Pancake- a compressed powder applied with a sponge
Technical Theatre Vocabulary
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Noises Off- Any sound effect needed for a production (lightning, crash, etc.) that happens
offstage or is pre-recorded on a tape recorder, CD, etc.
Par-Can (Parabolic Reflector Lamp)- Area wash lights commonly called “cans” due to their
shape, with built-in reflectors, they are good for small spaces or for general lighting
Platform Stage- Flat space on a Pageant Wagon used for acting out plays about morality and
religion
Props- “Properties”, range from hand props to set props, and are sometimes borrowed or created
for specific productions- these are usually designated as things that actors handle
Proscenium Arch- Picture-frame like border that frames the stage area.
Proscenium Stage- Theater set-up where audience sits in front of stage
Protagonist- “Good guy”, or character who undergoes the most change in the production
Scenery- Background forms (walls, archways, sky, trees, stairs, etc.) that provide the setting for
the play
Scrim- Theatrical gauze hung as a drop in front of a scene- when light hits front it creates a wall
or regular backdrop; when light shines from behind, scrim creates hazy/fog-like scene as
it becomes invisible
Set Design- Design concept created by Scenic Designer/Technician to give the story a specific
area in which it takes place
Spike- Mark on the stage floor that indicates the location of stage furnishings
Strike the Set- To dismantle the set of a play after the run has been completed
Theatre in the Round- Circular space where audience sits around the stage
Thrust Stage- Space where audience sits on three sides of the Proscenium stage
Trap- Opening in the stage floor used for special effects such as appearances and disappearances
Unit Set- Arrangement of scenery where some or all pieces of set can be used in different
combinations for different scenes throughout the play
Wash- A soft, single-color light that bathes the set (popular choices are pale blue and warm gold)
Wings- Space on either side of the acting area for waiting actors, scenery, and crew members