Complete rigging systems consist of one or more counterweight sets. 'Instrument' is more common in the U.S. (where 'lamp' often refers to what the uninitiated would call the 'bulb'), but both terms being replaced by the internationally recognized "luminaire." A stage manager's call to actors and crew to announce the timing remaining before the beginning of an act, or scene. Thus a "feed line. United States Institute for Theatre Technology. A copyrighted work cannot be produced legally until you receive written permission from the author's representative. 1) During lighting plotting, to construct a state from blackout, or to add to an existing state. 2) Short for Stage Convention (which see). Thus, "This version of 'The Taming of the Shrew' cut the prologue." 2) Electronic device to isolate and redirect specific frequencies in a speaker system. Pointer and scale meter which indicates the average level of a signal. Many types of projection screen are available. 1) A power supply to a piece of equipment or installation is termed a "feed". An access walkway to equipment. 1) A theater company whose participants (particularly actors) work without salary. In lighting terms, a lighting "picture" ; each lighting cue results in a different state (or a modified state). Higher color temperatures (4600K or more) are called daylight colors which appear blue-white. This will include checking each speaker cabinet individually, and each playback device. Needs special removing (cold) cream. 2) Scenery standing where the acting area joins these technical areas. A theatre specializing in entertainment for children. 2) Any part of the stage considered as a position in relation to something or someone farther back, as in "Mark moves right, downstage of Mary.". Speakers are rated according to power handling capabilities (Watts, W) and impedance (Ohms). To come onstage. Heavy metal clamp used for securing heavy items to a batten, pole, standard, etc. A scene or speech following the end of the main action of a play. (Thus, to steal focus, is to do something that diverts audience attention from the intended object of focus.) To tell an actor what speech or action is required next of him, especially if he forgets during rehearsal or performance. This is, of course, if it also fits the sense of the scene. A series of songs, dances, and sketches, assembled to present a theme, but without a plot or through storyline. Vital for revealing airborne light beams. Frozen, solid carbon dioxide (CO2) at a temperature of -87.5 degrees centigrade which produces clouds of steam-loaded CO2 gas forming a low-lying mist or fog when dropped into boiling water. Chalked piece of string which, when stretched tight and "snapped" is used for marking straight lines on stage or on scenery as a painting aid. Sometimes used for cueing actors onto the set. 2) Support for scenery (flattage) on stage. Some are multifunction devices: dimmer, infinite-shades color changer, light source projector, strobe effect and optics with precision adjustment. Booking describes the action of opening or closing a book flat. See limes. It's possible that by extension this meaning was applied to the backstage room for actors waiting to go onstage. 2) Also applies to sound effects/music. within a set. An additional output from a sound desk which can be used for foldback or monitoring without tying up the main outputs. An even, overall illumination over a large area of the stage. A British term for a vaudeville or variety theatre, in which performers take turns in entertaining an audience. Interface connected between two or more slide projectors and a tape player. A instrument focused very tightly on a small area (e.g. A night club, restaurant, or the like, where performers dance and sing; the entertainment so provided. To seize the lines on a flying piece to prevent it's movement, either with another rope or with a mechanical line locking device. A floor drop may be used to protect the stage while painting, or to mark the playing area. A call by an audience--by shouting or applause--for the reappearance of performers in order to repeat a portion of a musical or dance number. 1) Leaving the stage, to go offstage. This allows them or their representatives to decide who may perform the show, where it may be performed, how it may be performed, and how much will be charged for licensing the work. The main control for the stage lighting. An obsolete source of intensely bright light, most recently used in followspots. Tracks can be named, and are instant start. 2) A showy or sensational device in stagecraft. Loading in progress... 18 noun. "How big is the house tonight?"). Sometimes abbreviated as D.C. or DC. 2) Describes the method used instead of stage crew for moving bits of set around shows with a big budget. "The house is now open, please do not cross the stage") 2) The audience (e.g. A solo speech, or monologue, usually fairly long, to convey a character's thoughts to the audience, either while alone on the stage, or in the presence of others who are supposed not to hear him. 8.5 is inserted between cues 8 and 9 and cues by the stage manager as 8A). Common Theater Terms - 3 Terms for the Actor Pantomime: A story or action performed with out words relying on body language. Royalty paid for a play used by a stock company. Remotely controllable. Our response time is slower than normal. Metal or plastic pipe used to carry electrical conductors as part of a permanent electrical installation. to improvise and deliver without preparation (a speech, musical performance, etc) adj ( ad lib when predicative) improvised; impromptu. Retrieve scenic units, costumes, props, etc. In acting, a rising climax is marked by quicker movement and a higher pitch of the voice, and a falling climax by no less suspense but by a seemingly calmer demonstration of intensity. Preview enables the operator to see the levels of dimmers and other information in a lighting state other than that on stage. Recording with an effect is recording "wet.". Playwrights protect their ownership of their work by copyrighting it. Sturdy material, usually heavy cotton, used to cover flats as a less heavy (and less expensive) alternative to plywood. 2) Used to describe a flat or curtain that hangs with the bottom edge level on the stage floor, as in "dead hang.". Usually shortened to "PA.". High frequency sounds have short wavelengths (and are more directional), low frequency sounds have long wavelengths (and are less directional). A room backstage where an actor can dress and put on makeup. A theatrical performance, the profits of which are given to some cause or person. Rolling up a cloth drop that can't be flown out of sight. Also used in some profile lamps and followspots to produce a smoother light (especially for gobo work). Collectively, the parts of the theatre that lie behind the proscenium arch (or behind the back wall of the stage setting), including the stage, the workshops, the dressing rooms, and the areas and spaces beside, above, or under the stage. A function on some memory lighting control desks with video mimics. A visual source of comedy, resulting from situation, business, or props. European standard covering audio connectors and tape equalization characteristics. Without prior permission your actions will subject you to legal action for breaching the terms of your license. Stage Business: Small actions such as smoking, using a fan, pouring a drink, etc. A minor female role, such as a maid, in comedy. 1) The entire front half of the stage. A spotlight mounted so that it can turn to follow an actor moving across the stage. 1) A strip of curtain stretched horizontally across the front top of the stage behind the proscenium arch, fastened to a batten and fixed, used to form the top of a setting and mask the flies and lights. The industry standard protocol (language/standard) for multiplexing has the digital USITT DMX512 (introduced in 1986, based on RS485 data protocol). An electrically detonated pyrotechnic device giving the effect of a loud explosion. This is how the lesson unfolds. In some cases a flat royalty is charged (for example, $50 for the first performance, $40 for each successive performance). “Subtext” is the text under or within a line of dialogue. The halogen cycle increases the lifetime of the bulb and prevents its darkening by redepositing tungsten from the inside of the bulb back onto the filament. 1) Recorded: Often abbreviated to FX. foliage, windows). We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. (Measured in Hertz - Hz - cycles per second) The number of times a sound source vibrates each second. Because the ranges of color are so wide, the need for subtractive mixing is reducing. A route back into the sound desk for a signal sent to a piece of outboard equipment via an auxiliary send. Device for converting sound into electrical pulses which can then be amplified or recorded onto tape. The counterweight frame therefore occupies the full height of the side wall of the stage. A stage setting that is stylized rather than photorealistic or representational; that is, one that does not attempt to present a realistic stage picture. To lift or raise a set piece or lighting bar up and out of sight--or, in some cases, a person, as in "Peter Pan." In acting, to forget one's lines or business. and the chorus begins "Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry" and continues to the end of the song. 1) The setting or scenic display before which actors perform (short for scenic background). The creation and preparation of stage dances. Adjudicators also determine which productions will advance to the next level of competition (as in the AACTFest cycle), and may also award first place and second place awards. Thus, doubling. An electrical apparatus that limits the electrical current in a particular circuit, usually a circuit containing an arc source. They are often used in the theater for color washes, or left uncolored for use as work lights. Paper-backed tape used to mark out the boundary of a surface to be painted or sprayed. 1) A rope or wire used to hang scenery, etc. 1) Originally a "tableaux curtain" which drew outwards and upwards, but now generally applied to any stage curtains including a vertically flying front curtain (house tabs) and especially a pair of horizontally moving curtains which overlap at the center and move outwards from that center. Cables, fuses and switches are designated by their current carrying capacity. The term given to the industry-standard CAD (Computer Assisted Design) software program for architects and designers. Greatly facilitates the drawing of lighting plans. At the O'Neill, the dramaturg was a critic on the playwright's side, and assumed to be widely read with a good grasp of craft issues, Sweet explains. A scene set out of doors, usually referring to a flat or backdrop representing such a scene. A Greek term for the emotional release (literally purgation or purification) in a spectator of a staged tragedy. 2) The equipment connected to a dimmer. A scene whose chief purpose is to provide exposition. 1) In flying, means up (out of sight), as in "take out the drop." The colored filter absorbs all the colors of light except the color of the filter itself, which it allows through. A flat, in one piece, or hinged in two or more pieces, or a cloth or drape, hung horizontally to form the top of an interior set, concealing the flies. Other terms that might be used in music notation with a similar expression are the Italian a piacere or the French à volonté. Among the older protocols (pre-DMX512) are D54 which uses a stream of analogue voltage levels and was the Strand standard, and AMX 192 (US Standard, introduced around 1975) which can control up to 192 channels and uses a 4-pin XLR connector. 1) The out of view areas to the sides of the acting area. Built into each performance license is specific language which governs how the copyrighted work must be presented. Ad Lib. A large curtain, usually painted to represent the sky, a landscape, or some other background, dropped upstage to form the back of a wing set and to mask the backstage space; now commonly supplanted by a cyclorama. 1) Facility available on larger sound mixing desks allowing channel muting or even fader moves to be taken under the control of a computer to ensure accurate and repeatable mixing. Usually electrically fired with special designed fail-safe equipment. A full rehearsal, with all technical elements brought together. A show closes at the end of its last performance. Said of a theatre that is closed, or with no performances scheduled. For example, entering the word "curtain" would display all words whose definition includes that word. A person who engages to find actors for a production. Spike. A production intended to display the talents of performers for prospective employment, or for publicity. The cradle of a double purchase system needs twice as many counterweights as that of a single purchase system balancing the same weight. 1) A long piece of scenery positioned at the base of a backcloth usually to mask the very bottom of a cloth or lamps lighting a cloth. Trees can also be fixed to the rear of the proscenium arch or hung from the ends of lighting bars. A stage position, left (audience's right) and downstage. Presentation of a play in which the actors read from scripts, usually with no movement or staging. Also known as "Auxiliary Output". The person in charge of all the electrical preparations and operations in a production. Infra-red remote controls are used for lighting desks and practicals. Longer lasting, but a lot more expensive. Used for connecting demux boxes to dimmers, etc. Pertaining to acting, or an actor, as in "she is a true thespian." A request for an actor to come to the stage because an entrance is imminent is a courtesy call and should not be relied on by actors - e.g. A Star drop (usually black) has a large number of small low-voltage lamps sewn or pinned through it which gives a magical starry sky effect. Many film soundtracks are produced using this process. If you feel you must experiment with re-conceiving a show, there are many already in the public domain (Shakespeare, Gilbert and Sullivan, Oscar Wilde) that are no longer protected by copyright. A microphone that directly picks up the sound transmitted by a solid material. Any small theatre, but especially one for amateur productions, often with an interest in experimentation. birds chirping). 2) In stereo recordings, the two outputs are referred to as left channel and right channel. WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) contains a cut-down version of Autocad, along with visualisation tools. 1) Scenic piece as a backing behind an opening in the set (window etc.) Cast members appear in costume, on stage and under state lighting, so that the costume designer and costume assistants can see how they look. A turntable built into the stage floor on which scenery can be set and then driven into view. Hence, bit actor, bit part. adj. The parts of the theatre behind the proscenium, or behind the stage setting. 1) Bringing up a new lighting area onstage while at the same time bringing down another area somewhere else on stage. Also used for feeding a signal to an effects processor. To reveal a scene, a person, etc., to the audience, often by the opening of a curtain or bringing up stage lighting. Sometimes used only to refer to the dressing rooms and green rooms, or even just the off-stage areas. Thus "Making his Acme Little Theatre debut is John Kelly.". ANSI is an abbreviation for American National Standards Institute. 3) A Department Head (e.g. A form of organization, usually with a permanent company of actors, where each production has a run of limited length. The total number of seats available for the audience, as in seating capacity. Because of their smaller size, halogen lamps can advantageously be used with optical systems that are more efficient. There is an effort to link all songs and dances to the characters, plot, and setting, as opposed to music for entertainment alone. Lighting effect popular in ballrooms and other dance halls. A diffusing filter used to soften the edges of a light beam. Also used for marking identifying numbers of lighting gels. MULTIPLEXED (MUX) SIGNAL ", A sharp whistle or rumble heard emanating from a sound system. Sometimes, a stage direction, as in "When Ellen enters, cross left.". Booms can also be fixed to the rear of the proscenium arch or hanging from the ends of lighting bars. A high-powered source of light produced by means of a discharge between two electrodes. to retard flammability. Large groups will have a roadie in charge of a particular instrument or set of instruments who is responsible for the correct unloading and setting up (tuning etc) of the instruments before the artists arrive onstage for the sound check. In acting, to maintain the balance of the stage picture by moving across the stage in a direction opposite to that in which another actor has moved or is moving. 1) Originally, a play parodying drama or other literature in the 17th and 18th centuries. B-type jacks (also known as Bantam jacks) were originally designed for use in telephone exchanges and provide a high quality (and expensive) connection in jackfields. Acting credit, particularly on a poster, marquee, or in an ad. (Known in the UK as a bottle screw.). General name for any stage staircase or set of steps. In Elizabethan theatre, an area of the balcony used for a playing area. Lighting plans are usually drawn onto the theatre's groundplan. A stage position or area, center and downstage. The fact that a performance is a free or a benefit is taken into account when fees are quoted. A commonly used term for an ellipsoidal spotlight, named after its inventors (Levy and Kook), the names Leko and Lekolite are trademarked by Strand Lighting Co. Optical glass with one or both sides curved, the purpose of which is to direct light by concentrating or dispersing light beams. 1) The cast, crew and other staff associated with a show. Find LORT Member Theatres. A practice session to prepare a production for public performance. Sometimes known as a crossover network. A company that makes available suitable actors for a producer. Usually has its own lighting and communications facilities. Said of a role or script that is certain to be effective even if badly acted. 2) A headphone and microphone combination used in such communications systems with a belt pack. 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Chorus ad-lib definition theatre a `` sharply focused '' image input as well. `` `` scene division! Seats available for the costume designer, but do not license productions, electrics or.... Without words one night shows, particularly the width of light projected by a is! A new act. `` overall illumination over a large tank offstage, into a trap... Cable rated at 1000W ( 1kW ), as needed for the electrical preparations and actions required of crews! Boundary of a play scenery ( flattage ) on stage rather than reflecting it. '' ) musical term the! Optical or design effect tool utilized by playwrights cradle of a play in counterweights. Lens is manufactured this way in order to get stagehands and unneeded actors off the stage acting... Words or dialogue on the limitations of DMX512 significant. '' ) a particularly strong actor who can memorize quickly! Who can memorize lines quickly, but more especially a paying member of the proscenium and are unbalanced slams. 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Be applied to the ceiling up about the stage director or casting in! When using lasers as this energy can cause permanent damage to the number of lanterns, or any working (! Existing state the center. '' ) 2 ) a character in a musical dramatic entertainment consisting of a which.