Here
are some Theatrical terms that you'll be glad to know, whether you're enjoying
a play, building the scenery, or performing on stage!
Did
you know that many people are unfamiliar with the Names of things
on the stage?
If
you're one of them, never fear! This page is here to clue you in on the
stage "lingo"
used
in theatres around the world.
Click
here, and you'll see a color illustration to
show you what we're talking about.
Then
read the definitions below and you'll soon be a stage expert!
Up
Stage - This is the area of the stage all the way at the back, furthest
from the audience.
If you're an Actor, and
you're moving away from the audience, then you are moving "up stage".
Down
Stage - This is the area of the stage closest to the audience. When
you move "down stage", you are moving toward the audience.
Stage
Right - Pretend you are an Actor facing an audience. Now hold out
your right arm and point your finger. You are pointing "stage right"! That's
the area of the stage to your right if you're facing the audience.
Stage
Left - Pretend you are an Actor facing an audience. Now hold out
your left arm and point your finger. You are pointing "stage left"! That's
the area of the stage to your left if you're facing the audience.
Proscenium
- Only the real INSIDERS know this one. The proscenium is the wall that
separates the stage from the audience AND forms the opening that frames
the play. That opening is called the "proscenium arch".
You
may have seen large draperies hanging over the stage to hide the walls
and the
backstage
areas.
Even
these have names!
Border
- The "border" is a long, wide piece of drapery that crosses the stage
above the actor's heads. When you want to hide lights, pipes and the ceiling,
you hang up or "fly" a set of "borders".
Leg
- The leg is also a long piece of drapery, but it's narrow, and hangs all
the way down to the stage floor. When you want to hide the "wings" you
hang up or "fly" a set of "legs"
( see below for "wings"
)
Before
we go further into the proper names of what's on stage, maybe you'd like
to test your memory a little. Click here, if
you'd like to take a quick quiz.
READY
FOR MORE?
Click
here, to see a new stage. We've taken away the PROSCENIUM to get a
better look.
Battens
- Those draperies that hang on stage have strings at the top, and they're
tied to long metal pipes called "Battens". They are called "Battens" because,
long ago the people who worked backstage were often retired sailors!
Since sailors were already
experts at hoisting things into the air with rope, they were the perfect
folks to hire for "flying" scenery.
Sailors tied the BORDERS
and LEGS to long lengths of wood. They were used to calling them the same
thing that they called them on ships; "BATTENS"
Wings
- The areas behind the PROSCENIUM that are to the right and the left of
the stage.
When
you are waiting for your turn to go out onto the stage, (but the audience
can't see you) you are standing "in the WING". If you are moving scenery
off of the stage to make room for a new part of the play, you are "striking
scenery into the wings".
Those
two were pretty easy. How about another quiz? Click
Here, and see how much you remember!
Just
three more for today, Ready?
Click
here, for the last picture. We've taken away the BORDERS and LEGS to
get a better look.
Apron
- In some theatres, the stage comes out past the PROSCENIUM into the audience
area. When you are all the way DOWN STAGE, and the proscenium is behind
you, you are standing on the APRON.
Line
Sets - This is the High Tech word for ropes.
The ropes going up the
wall in the WING go up to a lot of pulleys, then out over the stage, then
down to the BATTENS. When you pull the right LINE SETS, the BATTENS move
up and down, and the scenery tied to them "flies" in and out !
( Not all theatres have
LINE SETS )
Cyclorama
- It's hard to read, but great to have! The CYCLORAMA is a big, curved
piece of fabric. When it is lit up with lights it makes the background
look as though it goes on forever !
Also, since it is white,
you can make it any color you want by pointing different colored lights
at it.
( Not all theatre have
CYCLORAMAS )
How
about one last quiz? Click here, for
the easiest one yet! As a special bonus,
we've put one last Stage Name into the picture and it's easy to
remember !
Thanks
For Learning about Stage Names and Stage Directions !
Come
back to the "What's New" Page for more Stage Talk at a later date
!
