Copy of `A glossary of teatre terms`
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A glossary of teatre terms
Category: Arts > Teatre
Date & country: 05/08/2007, UK Words: 165
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MaskTo hide: an actors masks another when he stands in front of him and prevents the audience from seeing him properly. Also a noun: fabric hiding a row of lanterns hung above the stage.
MixerOr Mixing Desk. A device for mixing together and modifying sounds from a variety of sources: microphones, tapes, CDs, musical instruments, etc..
Mr SandsTheatrical code to warn theatre employees of a fire without frightening the audience. "Mr Sands is in the foyer" means that fire has broken out in the foyer.
MultiplexA means of sending control signals from a lighting control console to the dimmer packs. Signals are sent down one cable rather than one per channel as is the case with analogue desks. At the dimmer end, a de-multiplexer (DMUX) is used to separate the signals and route them to the right dimmer. Often shortened (in brand names) to MX.
Musical Director(MD) In complete control of the music in the production, under the overall control of the Director. Rehearses the singers and musicians, conducts the orchestra or band, and usually arranges the music too.
NotesAt the end of each rehearsal, the director will give his notes, which are his comments on the performance.
Number 1 BarThe lighting bar immediately behind the proscenium arch (qv) or the front bar which hangs over the stage in a non-proscenium arch theatre.
OPOpposite prompt: the right hand side of the stage as you face the audience.
Open WhiteA lantern (qv) is said to be "in open white" if no filter or gel is used to colour its light.
PaperComplimentary (i.e. free!) tickets. If someone says, "The house is all paper tonight", it means that most, if not all, of the audience have free tickets.
Par CanA type of lantern (qv) which projects a near parallel beam of light, much used by rock bands. The lamp is a sealed-beam unit (like car headlights) fitted inside the "can". Available, usually, in 300W or 1kw power, they are sometimes known as parblazers, while lighting manufacturer Strand calls them "beamlights".
Pebble ConvexA type of spotlight (qv), with a harder-edged beam than a fresnel (qv) but softer than a profile (qv). They have a convex lens with a pebbled rear surface. Strand call their PC lanterns "prism convex".
PerchA place for hanging lanterns, on the side wall of the theatre auditorium.
Phantom PowerA means of powering condenser microphones. A current of (usually) 48 volts is sent along the mic cable from the mixing desk or, where the mixer does not have phantom power facilities, from a phantom power box, into which the mic is plugged and which, in turn, plugs into the mixer.
Phono PlugA type of connector used on some sound equipment, usually domestic HiFi or video gear.
Pin SpotEither a small (usually 100W) spotlight used for special effects (i.e. with a mirror ball) or, more usually in the theatre, a follow-spot with its iris diaphragm closed to its smallest diameter to illuminate, for instance, just a face.
PitThe sunken area in front of the stage in which the orchestra sits.
PlotLighting term: the actual brightness settings of each lantern and the LX cues. Also used to describe the process of setting the cues. Can also be used as an alternative for "blocking", i.e. setting the actors in their positions on-stage at an early stage in rehearsal.
PracticalAdjective used to describe properties or scenery which have to work as in real life when used; e.g. a practical ceiling light must actually light up when switched on by an actor.
PresetThe ability, on a manual lighting control desk (as opposed to one which is computer-controlled) to set up a lighting cue before it is actually operated. Also the lighting state on a stage before the show actually starts.
Prism ConvexAnother name for a Pebble Convex spotlight.
ProducerIn amateur companies usually synonymous with the Director, but in the professional theatre the person who makes all the necessary arrangements for the production to be put on: finding the finance, smoothing the way for the Director. Almost the equivalent of the Business Manager. The best producers (the best known is probably Cameron Mackintosh, who produced Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and many oth...
ProfileA type of spotlight (qv), with an optical system rather like a projector which produces a narrow, hard-edged beam of light.
Prompt (Side)The left side of the stage, as you face the audience.
Prompt CopySee Book. The copy of the script n which all notes, moves, cues etc. are noted.
PrompterAmateur companies almost always have a prompter, someone who sits in the wings (qv) and prompts the actors if they forget their lines. There is no such position in the professional theatre - pros should not forget lines! Neither should amateurs, for that matter, but it happens - so, if a prompt is needed, it is given by whoever is "in the corner" (qv).
PropertiesSmall items (a sword in an historical play, for instance, or a briefcase) which actors carry onto or around the stage. Also used loosely for "set dressing" (qv). Usually abbreviated to props.
Property Master(or Mistress) Responsible for the obtaining and/or construction of the properties (qv).
ProsceniumThe traditional picture frame type of stage, usually with a curtain. Often abbreviated to "pros".
Proscenium Arch(Or "pros arch"). The actual opening of a proscenium stage.
PyropotA safe container into which a pyro (see Pyrotechnics) charge is plugged for firing.
PyrotechnicsUsually abbreviated to "pyro". The use of explosions, flashes, smoke, etc. on-stage.
RakeMany stage floors, usually in theatres built for dance or variety, are higher at the back than at the front, to give the audience a better view. These stages are said to be "raked", and the "rake" is the angle of slope from back to front. In most modern theatres it is the audience seating that is raked, not the stage.
RepriseMusical term: to repeat, in whole or in part, a song which has already been sung in the show.
RevolveA stage or, more usually, part of a stage, which can revolve through 360 degrees. The most famous, to older UK TV watchers, is the revolve which was used at the end of the TV show Sunday Night at the London Palladium.
RigA lighting term. To set the lanterns in position. As a noun, its refers to the actually positioning of the lanterns.
RightThe right hand side of the stage as you look at the audience. Also known as the "opposite prompt" or "OP" side.
Rostrum(Plural: rostra) A moveable platform
Safety CurtainA curtain of fireproofed material (once upon a time it was asbestos), usually with a metal frame, which is covers the entire proscenium (qv) opening and acts as a firebreak between the stage and the auditorium. Known as the "iron", when it is raised or lowered, the theatrical term is "Iron going in (or out)".
Scene DockBackstage area for storing scenery (and loads of other things too!).
SetThe scenery for a particular show or inidividual scene.
Set DressingItems on a set which are not actually used by anyone but which make it look more realistic (e.g. curtains over a window, a bowl of flowers on a table, and so on).
SightlinesThe area of the stage which can be seen by everyone seated in the auditorium. In some (badly designed!) theatres, a member of the audience sitting at the ends of certain rows, can only see two thirds of the stage!
SkyclothAlternative name for a cyclorama (qv).
SpecialLighting term: a lantern (qv) - usually a spotlight (qv) - not used for general illumination but for a special effect, such a lighting a single actor in one place.
Spotlight(Or, simply, "spot") A type of lantern (qv) whose beam is focused through a lens or series of lenses to make it more controllable.
Stage Manager(SM) In charge of everything that happens backstage: all other backstage peronnel, including heads of departments, report to him. In the professional theatre, once the show starts its run, he takes complete control (including taking any rehearsals for understudies etc.), as the Director's job is finished once he has given his notes after the final dress rehearsal.
StateA lighting term, referring to the lanterns (qv) and their dimmer (qv) settings, used in a particular cue. We talk of a "full-up state" when all lanterns are used at full brightenss, or a "red state", when only lanterns with red filters are on. During the plotting of the lighting, the operator may be told to "go back to a state of 2", which means to set the dimmers as they were in cue 2.
Strike(See also "Take Down") To dismantle the set and remove it from the stage.
Strobe A lantern which emits a regular, controllable series of high power flashes rather than continuous light. NOTE: strobes can induce fits in epileptics and so warning about their use should always be given in the programme and verbally before the show starts.
Tab DressingLight on the House Tabs (see "Tabs") before the curtain goes up and during the interval.
TabsCurtains. The curtains which close across the proscenium arch (qv) are called "House Tabs".
Talloscope(I have to confess that I am not certain the spelling is correct!) Scaffolding on wheels for miving around the stage to rig and focus lanterns.
ThrustA type of stage which projects out into the auditorium and has audience seated on three sides.
TracksThe rails on which curtains (tabs) run,
TrapA trapdoor set in the stage floor.
TruckA rostrum or platform on wheels, on which scenery can be mounted so that it can be rolled into any position on-stage.
UnderstudyAn actor playing a small part in a production or, in the professional theatre, often an Assistant Stage Manager, who has learned and rehearsed the part of one of the leading actors to take over from him/her in the event of illness etc.
UpstageAt the back of the stage; away from the audience. As a verb: when one actor deliberately draw the attention of the audience to himself for purely selfish purposes.
USLUpstage left.
USRUpstage right.
Wardrobe Master(More usually Wardrobe Mistress) Responsible for the making (under the direction of the Designer), repair and washing of all costumes.
WayAnother word for "channel" (qv).
WingsThe sides of the stage, out of sight of the audience, where actors stand before making their entrance, and where props are kept, ready to be brought onto the stage.
XLRA type of connector for sound equipment. The best microphones use these rather than jacks. Now becoming more common on all kinds of sound equipment. Mics which require phantom powering (qv) must have XLR connectors: one terminal carries the signal, one is a shield, and the third carries the phantom power current.