Theater terms

Question 1

ADA

Answer 1

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. It which prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities by public accommodations and commercial facilities, including theaters. The rule adds specific requirements addressing the obligations of public accommodations that own, lease, or operate theaters to provide effective communication to patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing, or blind or have low vision. The rule requires that movie theater auditoriums provide closed movie captioning and audio description when showing a digital movie distributed with such features unless doing so would result in an undue burden or a fundamental alteration. The rule requires movie theaters to have a specified number of captioning devices and audio description devices based on the number of auditoriums in the movie theater that show digital movies. The rule does not impose any specific requirements for movie theater auditoriums that exhibit analog movies exclusively. It also provides exclusive seating for individuals with wheelchairs as well as ramps.

Question 2

Apron

Answer 2

The flat wide part of the stage that projects into the audience and is used as the main acting area.

Question 3

ASTM

Answer 3

Abbreviation for American Society for Testing of Materials. It is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.

Question 4

Backstage

Answer 4

The area in a theater that is out of view of the audience, especially in the wings or dressing rooms.

Question 5

Bar Joist

Answer 5

A beam fabricated using lightweight rolled or fabricated sections that are used for long spans under light loading conditions.

Question 6

Batten

Answer 6

A batten is a long metal pipe suspended above the stage or audience from which lighting fixtures, theatrical scenery, and theater drapes and stage curtains may be hung. Battens that are located above a stage can usually be lowered to the stage or raised into a fly tower above the stage by a fly system.

Question 7

Beam Clamp

Answer 7

A device from which a load is hung, attached to the flange of a steel beam without altering the beam in any way.

Question 8

Black Box Theater

Answer 8

A simple indoor performance space with plain black walls and a level floor, typically designed to provide flexibility in the configuration of the stage and the audience seating.

Question 9

Boom

Answer 9

A vertical scaffold pole, which has fixed to it horizontal boom arms, onto which lanterns can be mounted, to create side light or cross light across the stage.

Question 10

Building Code

Answer 10

A building code is a set of rules that specify the standards for constructed objects such as buildings and non-building structures. Buildings must conform to the code to obtain planning permission, usually from a local council.

Question 11

Cable Clip

Answer 11

A bolted metal clip that secures cables

Question 12

Catwalk

Answer 12

An elevated service platform from which many of the technical functions of a theater, such as lighting and sound, may be manipulated.

Question 13

Certified Rigger

Answer 13

A rigger who is certified to work on ropes, booms, lifts, hoists, and the like for a stage production, film, or television show by the Entertainment Technician Certification Program.

Question 14

Clew

Answer 14

Device that connects several ropes or cables to one, usually stronger, rope or cable.

Question 15

Crash Rail

Answer 15

A member mounted to the T or J-Guides that limits the travel of arbors at their top and bottom trim. They are often provided with a wood or rubber bumper to reduce noise and shock due to sudden stops of the arbors.

Question 16

Curtain Track

Answer 16

operated via rope and pulleys which push and pull the curtains or scenery along the track. Can be manually operated or motorized.

Question 17

Dead Load

Answer 17

The permanent or non-removable part of a system load (i.e. the weight of a batten versus the load hung from it).

Question 18

Downstage

Answer 18

toward or at the front of a theatrical stage.

Question 19

Upstage

Answer 19

toward or at the rear of a theatrical stage

Question 20

Stage Left/Stage Right

Answer 20

The left and right of the stage from the POV of the ACTOR (NOT THE AUDIENCE!!)

Question 21

Drop Curtain

Answer 21

An unframed curtain that is lowered to a stage from the flies, often serving as background scenery.

Question 22

Dynamic Load

Answer 22

The loads in a system that change in magnitude, direction or location over time.

Question 23

Fire Curtain

Answer 23

provide a barrier between the stage and auditorium in the event of a fire. The curtain prevents the heat, smoke and flame from a fire on stage from affecting an audience while the auditorium is evacuated.

Question 24

Fly

Answer 24

A theatrical rigging system, is a system of rope lines, blocks (pulleys), counterweights and related devices within a theater that enables a stage crew to fly (hoist) quickly, quietly and safely components such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects and, sometimes, people.

Question 25

Front of House

Answer 25

In the performing arts, front of house is the part of a performance venue that is open to the public. In theatres and live music venues, it consists of the auditorium and foyers, as opposed to the stage and backstage areas.

Question 26

Hoist

Answer 26

A geared mechanism, either hand operated or motorized, for use in raising (vertical movement only) equipment. The gearing produces a mechanical advantage in speed and load capacity.

Question 27

Off Stage

Answer 27

the area behind or to the side of the stage, so that the audience no longer sees them.

Question 28

On Stage

Answer 28

The portion of the stage area visible to the audience, usually defined by masking curtains, scenery, an orchestra shell, or by lighting.

Question 29

Plan View

Answer 29

section viewed from the top.

Question 30

Elevation

Answer 30

A working drawing usually drawn to scale, showing the side view of a set or lighting rig. (Side View)

Question 31

Section

Answer 31

A part of the theater. The theater has two sections, the house and the stage; there is also a backstage area in many theatres. The house is the seating area for guests watching a performance and the stage is where the actual performance is given

Question 32

Proscenium

Answer 32

the frame or arch separating the stage from the auditorium, through which the action of a play is viewed.

Question 33

Raked Stage

Answer 33

a theatre stage that slopes upwards, away from the audience.

Question 34

Scrim

Answer 34

a theater drop that appears opaque when a scene in front is lighted and transparent or translucent when a scene in the back is lighted.

Question 35

Sight Line

Answer 35

a line extending from an observer’s eye to a viewed object or area (such as a stage) a theater with excellent sight lines.

Question 36

Slack line

Answer 36

A cable that droops or leaves the sheave or drum groove because it lacks tension in the line.

Question 37

Static Load

Answer 37

A load that does not change position or magnitude over time.

Question 38

Structural Drawing

Answer 38

An engineering drawing that describes the size, location, and attachment details of the building structure.

Question 39

Winch

Answer 39

A machine for pulling and holding equipment using a rope or cable.

Question 40

Wings

Answer 40

the portion of the stage area located to either side of the acting area.