ACT
1) Subdivision between sections of a play. A short play is a "One-Act-er", a play with one interval has two Acts etc. Acts are subdivided further into Scenes.
2) The thing Actors can do which makes them different from Techies (!!).

ACT DROP
Victorian stretched framed and painted canvas. Used as a visual stimulation during scene changes, and to indicate that there was more to come. Only operational one today is at the Gaiety Theatre, Isle Of Man (unless you know better...).

ACTING AREA
That area within the performance space within which the actor may move in full view of the audience.

AISLE
A passage through seating.

APRON
Section of the stage floor which projects towards or into the auditorium. In proscenium theatres, the part of the stage in front of the house tabs, or in front of the proscenium arch.

ARENA
Form of stage where the audience are seated on at least two (normally three, or all four) sides of the whole acting area. See Thrust.

ASM
Assistant Stage Manager.

AUDITION
Process where the director or casting director of a production asks actors / actresses / performers to show him/her what they can do. Sometimes very nerve-wracking, but auditions can be a fairly painless process if handled properly. Performers are often asked to memorise a monologue from a play they like to perform for the director. Books full of suggested monologues are available. You may be asked to do a "Cold Reading" which tests your own response to a piece of text you've not prepared.

AUDITORIUM
The part of the theatre accommodating the audience during the performance. Sometimes known as the "house". From the Latin Audio - "I hear".

BACKSTAGE
The part of the stage and theatre which is out of the sight of the audience. The service areas of the theatre.


BALCONY
(US) American term for the Circle - upper level in the auditorium.

BEGINNERS
A call given by the DSM to bring those actors who appear in the first part of a play to the stage. e.g. "Act One Beginners to the stage, please". The actors/actresses are then called by name.

BLACK BOX
A kind of studio theatre where the audience and actors are in the same room, surrounded by black tabs (curtains). Doesn't necessarily describe the audience layout.

BLACKOUT / BO / B.O.
Complete absence of stage lighting. Blue working lights backstage should remain on and are not usually under the control of the board, except during a Dead Blackout (DBO), when there is no onstage light. Exit signs and other emergency lighting must remain on at all times.

BLACKS
1) Black clothing worn by stage management during productions.
2) Any black drapes or tabs, permanently or temporarily rigged. Used for masking technical areas.

BLOCKING
The process of arranging moves to be made by the actors during the play, recorded by stage management in the prompt script.

BOOK FLAT
Two-fold piece of scenery. Book flats are free-standing when angled open, allowing quick setting and compact storage. Booking describes the action of opening or closing a book flat.

BORDER
A narrow horizontal masking piece (flattage or cloth), normally of neutral colour (black) to mask the lighting rig and flown scenery from the audience, and to provide an upper limit to the scene. Often used in conjunction with LEGS.

BOX OFFICE
Part of the theatre front of house area where audience members can buy tickets. Most Box Offices are now computerised, and offer phone reservations. Some offer online (internet) bookings also.

BOX SET
Naturalistic setting of a complete room built from flats with only the side nearest the audience (the fourth wall) missing.

BREAK A LEG
A superstitious and widely accepted alternative to "Good Luck" (which is considered bad luck). More available at the link below.
More on Break A Leg

BRIDGE
A walkway, giving access to technical and service areas above the stage or auditorium, or linking fly-floors.

BRIDGE LIFT
An elevator which raises and lowers sections of the stage floor, usually by electrical or hydraulic means.

CALL
1) A notification of a working session (eg a Rehearsal Call)
2) The period of time to which the above call refers. (eg "Your call for tomorrow nights show is 6.55pm")
3) A request for an actor to come to the stage because an entrance is imminent (these are courtesy calls and should not be relied on by actors - eg "This is your call for the finale Mr Smith and Miss Jones")
4) An acknowledgement of applause (eg Curtain Call)
5) The DSM on the book is said to be "calling the cues".

CARPET CUT
A narrow concealed slot along the front of the proscenium stage for clamping the downstage edge of a floorcloth. Becoming obsolete.

CAST
The members of the acting company.

CASTING
The process of the director choosing actors to perform the characters in the play.


CATWALK
An access walkway to equipment. Unlike a Bridge, not necessarily across a void.

CENTRE LINE
Imaginary line running down the stage through the exact centre of the proscenium opening. Marked as CL on stage plans. Normally marked on the stage floor and used as a reference when marking out or assembling a set.
See also SETTING LINE.

CLEARANCE
Message passed to Stage Management from the Front of House Manager that the house is ready for the performance to begin. (ie everyone is in their correct seat and there are no coach parties coming through the doors). Announced as "We have Front of House Clearance".

COMPANY
The cast, crew and other staff associated with a show.

COSTUMES
Clothes worn by the actors onstage. The responsibility of the WARDROBE DEPARTMENT.

CUE
The command given to technical departments to carry out a particular operation. E.g. Fly Cue or Sound Cue. Normally given by stage management, but may be taken directly from the action (i.e. a Visual Cue).

CUE TO CUE
("Topping and Tailing") Cutting out action and dialogue between cues during a technical rehearsal, to save time.

CURTAIN CALL
At the end of a performance, the acknowledgement of applause by actors - the bows.

CYCLORAMA
Usually shortened to just "cyc" (pronounced sike). The Cyclorama is a plain cloth or plastered wall filling the rear of the stage or TV studio. Often used as a "sky" backing to a traditional set, or as the main backing for a dance piece etc. The term is often loosely applied to a blue skycloth, or any flattage at the rear of the stage. Maybe curved at the ends. A more effective backing can be obtained by hanging a sharkstooth gauze just in front of the plain white cyc which gives a hazy effect of distance.
From Greek Cyclos (circle) and Horama (view or vision).
See also ISORA.

DARK
A venue that has been closed to the public. Some theatres go dark temporarily during production periods, when the next show is in preparation on stage.

DIALOGUE
The spoken text of a play - conversations between characters is dialogue. See MONOLOGUE and DUOLOGUE.

DIRECTOR
There are many types of director. Broadly, the role involves being responsible for the overall artistic vision of a production. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - Normally in charge of the programming of a venue. May also direct shows. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Manager in charge of the administration of a venue. TECHNICAL DIRECTOR - In charge of the technical requirements of a production. (The term LIGHTING DIRECTOR is used in the UK for a TV Lighting Designer).

DOWNSTAGE
1) The part of the stage nearest to the audience (the lowest part of a raked stage). [See Diagram]
2) A movement towards the audience (in a proscenium theatre).
Stage layout diagram

DRESS REHEARSAL
A full rehearsal, with all technical elements brought together. The performance as it will be "on the night".

DRESSING ROOMS
Rooms containing clothes rails and mirrors (often surrounded with lights) in which actors change into their costumes and apply make-up. Dressing Room doors have a list of the actors contained within. See also GREEN ROOM.

DSM
Deputy Stage Manager. In the UK, this is the member of the Stage Management team who attends all rehearsals and then calls the cues / runs the book for the show. Known in some places as a Stage Director.

END ON
Traditional audience seating layout where the audience is looking at the stage from the same direction. This seating layout is that of a Proscenium Arch theatre. See also THRUST, IN THE ROUND.

FLAT
A lightweight timber frame covered with scenic canvas. Now usually covered with plywood or hardboard and consequently not so lightweight. Most theatres have a range of stack flattage made to a standard size, and re-used many times. A Rail is a horizontal batten within a flat. A Stile is a side or vertical piece within a flat. A Sill is the bottom rail of a flat.
Châssis
See also Book flat.

FLY FLOOR(S)
High working platform at the side(s) of the stage from which the flying lines are handled. Often are also the site for socket panels for connecting flown lighting apparatus to dimmers, and also sometimes a lighting position. Known in the US as Fly Gallery.

FLY TOWER
Extension of the stage walls up to allow scenery to be flown up until it is out of sight of the audience, and to support the GRID. Known as the "flies". The ideal fly tower should be more than twice the height of the pros. arch, and is said to have "full flying height". Known in the US as the Fly Loft.

FOH
See Front of House.

FORESTAGE
That part of the stage which projects from the proscenium into the auditorium. See Apron.

FOYER
Part of the front of house area of the theatre into which the audience first arrive on entering the theatre. The foyer normally contains: Box Office, Toilets, Entrance to auditorium, Bar, Concession / merchandising stand.

FRONT OF HOUSE (FOH)
1) Every part of the theatre in front of the pros arch. Includes foyer areas open to the general public.
2) All lanterns which are on the audience side of the proscenium and are focussed towards the stage.

FRONT TABS
House curtains.

GET-IN
The process of moving set, props and other hardware into a theatre prior to the fit-up. (aka Load in or Bump in)

GET-OUT
Moving an entire production out of the venue, and into either a large waste-disposal skip, or into transport. Usually preceded by the strike. (aka Load out or Bump out.)

GREEN ROOM
Room close to the stage (i.e. the green) for the actors to meet and relax.
More information about Green Room

GRID
1) The support structure close to the top of the fly tower on which the pulleys of the flying system are supported. Constructed from metal or wooden beams. 2) Arrangement of scaffolding from which lanterns are hung in a performance

HALF
Call given to the actors half an hour before they will be called to the stage for the beginning of a performance. Given 35 minutes before the advertised time of commencement. Subsequent calls given are the "quarter" at 20 minutes, "the five" at 10 minutes and "beginners to the stage" at 5 minutes before curtain up. See also FRONT OF HOUSE CALLS.

HOUSE
1) The audience (eg "How big is the house tonight ?")
2) The auditorium (eg "The house is now open, please do not cross the stage")

IN THE ROUND
Form of audience seating layout where the acting area is enclosed on all sides by seating. There are often a number of entrances through the seating. Special consideration needs to be given to onstage furniture and scenery as audience sightlines can easily be blocked. See also THRUST, END ON.

INTERVAL
Break between sections of a performance. During a play, the interval is normally half way through a standard length performance (approx 1 hour each half) and is usually 15 or 20 minutes in duration. Known in the US as an INTERMISSION.

LIFT
The orchestra pit and/or sections of the stage may be mounted on lifts to make moving of heavy items (e.g. piano etc.) easier. Sometimes the forestage doubles as the orchestra pit by use of a lift.

LOGE
(esp.US) Seating area in traditional proscenium arch venues. Exact location varies according to the venue, but is usually a "box" position at the dress circle level. (From the French Logè)

MARKING OUT
Sticking tapes to the floor of the rehearsal space to indicate the groundplan of the scenery. Also for marking position of furniture etc. within a set. Always be aware that some tapes may damage or mark some wooden floor surfaces!

MATINÉE
Afternoon performance of a show. (From the Latin for "of the morning", but who does theatre in the morning?)

OFFSTAGE
1) A movement towards the nearest side of the stage from the centre. (e.g. "Focus that spot offstage a bit please")
2) The area out of sight of the audience (e.g. "Get that donkey offstage !")
Stage layout diagram
PASS DOOR
A fire-resisting door in the wall of the proscenium arch which is the only correct access between the auditorium and the stage.

PERCHES
Lighting positions (often on platforms) at each side of the stage, immediately behind the proscenium.
Some theatres use the term for vertical boom positions in front of the proscenium in the house.

PIT
The area housing the orchestra. Originally, a lower section between the front of the stage and the audience, although now describes any area around the stage housing the musicians.

PLASTER LINE
See SETTING LINE.

PRESET
1) Anything in position before the beginning of a scene or act (eg Props placed on stage before the performance, lighting state on stage as the audience are entering.)
2) An indepenently controllable section of a manual lighting board which allows the setting up of a lighting state before it is needed. Each preset has a master fader which selects the maximum level of dimmers controlled by that preset.

PROMPT CORNER
Area, traditionally on the stage left side of the stage, from which the stage manager (or DSM) controls ("prompts") the performance, from the prompt desk.

PROPS
(Properties) Furnishings, set dressings, and all items large and small which cannot be classified as scenery, electrics or wardrobe. Props handled by actors are known as handprops, props which are kept in an actors costume are known as personal props.

PROSCENIUM ARCH
The opening in the wall which stands between stage and auditorium in some theatres; the picture frame through which the audience sees the play. The "fourth wall". See END ON.

RAKED STAGE
A sloping stage which is raised at the back (upstage) end. All theatres used to be built with raked stages as a matter of course. Today, the stage is often left flat and the auditorium is raked to improve the view of the stage from all seats. A rake is expressed as a ratio (eg a 1:25 rake rises by 1cm vertically over 25cm horizontally). See also Anti-Rake.

REAR OF HOUSE (ROH)
The backstage and storage areas of the theatre. See also FOH (Front of House).

RUN
1) A sequence of performances of the same production. (e.g. "How long is the run of this show?" or "This show runs for two weeks")
2) A rehearsal of the whole show or a section of it (e.g."This afternoon's rehearsal will be a run of Act II followed by notes"). Run-throughs early in the rehearsal schedule are sometimes known as STAGGERS as actors are unsure of their lines.

SAFETY CURTAIN
A fireproof curtain that can be dropped downstage of the tabs to separate the audience from the stage in the event of fire. A Safety Curtain is required by most UK licensing authorities for theatres over 500 seats. The regulations also require that it is raised and lowered at least once in view of each audience (usually during the interval). Usually made from sheet metal and electrically operated, used to be made from iron faced with asbestos and lowered using a hydraulic damping system. Colloquially known as the "iron". Also known as FIRE CURTAIN. See also DRENCHER.

SCENE DOCK
High-ceilinged storage area adjacent to the stage, sometimes used for building and storing flats and other scenery.

SCENE SHOP
(US) Section of the theatre where scenery is constructed.

SET
1) To prepare the stage for action. (verb) - e.g. "Have you set the chairs for Act 1?"
2) The complete stage setting for a scene or act. (noun) - e.g."What's the set for the finale?" French: décors.

SETTING LINE
Imaginary line running across the width of the stage, in line with the proscenium arch, which is marked on the groundplan and is used as a reference when planning furniture layouts etc. Usually the furthest downstage anything can be set without fouling the house tabs.
Known in some theatres as the PLASTER LINE - this refers to the upstage edge of the proscenium wall.
See also CENTRE LINE.

SMOKE POCKET
A vertical steel channel on the upstage edges of the poscenium arch in which the edges of the fire curtain travel.

STAGE LEFT / RIGHT
Left/ Right as seen from the Actor's point of view on stage. (ie Stage Left is the right side of the stage when looking from the auditorium.)
Stage Right = OP (Opposite Prompt) French: Coté Jardin, Netherlands: Toneel Links (translates to Stage Left!)
Stage Left = PS (Prompt Side) French: Coté Cour, Netherlands: Toneel Rechts (translates to Stage Right!).
NB: The Netherlands and Germany use the opposite to the rest of Europe; i.e. Stage Left UK = Stage Right. The directions are seen from the director's perspective, NOT the actors.
Stage layout diagram
Derivation of Court & Garden

TABS
Originally "tableaux curtains" 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 centre and move outwards from that centre.
Rideau.

TECH
1) Short for Technical Rehearsal. (e.g. "The Tech took 14 hours")
2) A member of (amateur) crew ("I'm the lighting tech for this show")

TECHNICAL REHEARSAL
Usually the first time the show is rehearsed in the venue, with lighting, scenery and sound. Costumes are sometimes used where they may cause technical problems (eg Quick changes). Often a very lengthy process. Often abbreviated to the Tech. A DRY TECH is without actors to rehearse the integration of lighting, scenic changes etc. It follows that a WET TECH is a full technical rehearsal with actors and all technical elements, although this term isn't used as often as DRY TECH.

THRUST
Form of stage which projects into the auditorium so that the audience are seated on at least two sides of the extended piece. See also END ON, IN THE ROUND.

UPSTAGE
1) The part of the stage furthest from the audience.
2) When an actor moves upstage of another and causes the victim to turn away from the audience he is "upstaging". Also, an actor drawing attention to himself away from the main action (by moving around, or over-reacting to onstage events) is upstaging.
Stage layout diagram

VISUAL CUE
A cue taken by a technician from the action on stage rather than being cued by the stage manager. Often abbreviated to "Vis".

WINGS
1) The out of view areas to the sides of the acting area.
2) Scenery standing where the acting area joins these technical areas.