Download Set design vocab

1. apron – section of stage that extends beyond the proscenium.
2. backing Flats – flats behind all other scenic elements.
3. book Flat – a standing hinged scenic device used to represent walls or rooms on stage.
4. border – Borders, which are also sometimes called teasers, are wide, short draperies that
span the width of the stage; these are used to mask lights and scenery that have been raised into
the fly loft
5. box set – Interior set built from flattage.
6. downstage – area of stage nearest audience.
7. dressing – to dress set by adding accessories such as sofa pillows, paintings, plants, window
coverings and books.
8. elevation – technical drawing showing side view of a set design.
9. flat –pieces of theatrical scenery which are painted and positioned on stage so as to give the
appearance of buildings or other background. They are also called backdrops or backcloths.
10. fly system- ropes, counterweights, pulleys, and other related devices within a theatre that
enables a technical crew to quickly move components such as curtains, lights, and set pieces on
and off stage by moving them vertically between the stage and the large opening above the
stage.
11. French flat – this standing scenery piece has no hinges and does not fold
12. front curtain- Variously called a grand drape, act curtain, house curtain, house drape, main
drape or, in the UK, tabs, hangs upstage (i.e., toward the rear of the stage) of the proscenium
arch.
13. genie Trap – a mechanized trap where actor shoots through stage floor.
14. ground-plan – technical drawing of a stage or performance space.
15. header – horizontal flying set piece.
16. In The Round- audience seated on all sides of stage.
17. legs- tall, narrow stage drapes that are used to mask the wings on either side of the stage.
18. model – model of stage design, we are creating models in this unit
19. model box – model of theatre in which stage design model is housed.
20. platforms-In theatre, a platform (also referred to as a riser) is a stationary, standard flat
walking surface for actors to perform on.
21. practical – a working object onstage, such as a door or window.
22. scenic artists – people who paint scenery.
23. scenery wagon- a mobile platform that is used to support and transport movable, threedimensional theatrical scenery on a theater stage. I
24. scrim – Sometimes made of gauze, this is a curtain made of an open-weave fabric that
appears opaque when lit from the front, but transparent when backlit.
25. size – glue like preparation made from animal bones, used to harden and preserve canvas on
flats.
26. tab or tableau – This curtain gathers the two sections of fabric up and to the sides (in a
"French Action") and usually forms a draped effect when it is opened.
27. teaser – Hard teasers are flat, horizontal pieces that are located just upstage of the grand
drape. Together, one hard teaser and a pair of tormentors (one on each side of the stage) are
frequently used to form a reduced-size "false proscenium" within the frame of the actual theater
proscenium.
29. thrust Stage – multi-sided stage (with at least one back wall)
30. tormentor- tormentors are flat, vertical pieces that are located just upstage of the grand
drape. Together, one hard teaser and a pair of tormentors (one on each side of the stage) are
frequently used to form a reduced-size "false proscenium" within the frame of the actual theater
proscenium.
31. treads – steps or stairs.
32. Scumbling- paint technique for creating texture on a set
33. drybrush- paint technique for creating texture on a set