8/25/17 Test Flashcards
Proscenium theater
Large arch opening
Stage separated from audience
Most formal and least intimate
Curtains
Thrust proscenium theatre
The stage has an outcropping that is surrounded by seats
Allows 3/4 views of actors
Greater sense of intimacy
Arena Theatre
Also known as theatre in the round
The seating surrounds the stage
Action can be seen from all angles
Does not use walls or elaborate seating
Drafted plan view
The best way to see what each type of theatre offers
Most important are floor plan and section plan
Drawn to specific scales
Most common scales
1/4”=1’
1/2”=1’
Floor plan
View of the theatre as if you were looking directly down at the floor of a theatre from above
Section view
View of the theatre as if you split the theatre in half and are looking at it from the side.
Symmetrical only needs one
Asymmetrical requires one for each half
What is shown on a floor plan
Exits, storage areas, line sets, battens, curtains, and any other useful information
Black box theatre
Most economical and flexible
Simply a large room where the audience and stage are part of each other
Most intimate because audience is part of the show
Jargon
A specific vocabulary used only in a specific field in communication
House
Where the audience sits
On stage
The area of the theatre where performance are conducted
The booth
Also called the lighting booth or technical booth
Area facing stage used by the lighting crew, sound crew, and stage manager conduct the technical workings of the production
Wings
Area to the right and left of the stage floor not visible to the audience
Traps
Trapdoors built into most stage floors to allow access to trap room
Trap room
Area below stage floor
Backstage
Area off stage used by the crews and actors
Not visible to the audience
Fly loft
Area built directly over on stage . Used to “fly” scenery, curtains, and lights in and out
Deck
The floor on which the players perform
Used most commonly by lighting and paint shop crews
Stage floor
The floor of the stage
Used by technical director and crew
Blocking
The planned movement of an actor around the stage
Blocking instructions
The instructions on moving across the stage given to the actor by the director over the course of the rehearsal period
Upstage
Away from the audience
Downstage
Towards the audience
Raked
A sloped floor
Common 9 square grid
Left and right are from the actor’s POV
Up right Up center Up left
Right Center Left
Down right Down center Down left
Dance reference
A scale (numbered or lettered) added to the fore stage for reference so the dance numbers are more precise. Scale is usually 18" to 24" for the reference points
Arena/theatre in the round navigation
Uses navigation in terms of a clock face
Twelve o’clock always faces the light booth
Still uses up stage in the center
Down stage is the edge
