Technical Theatre Terminology
This term refers to any object an actor handles onstage.
What is a prop?
This term refers to the area farthest from the audience on a proscenium stage.
What is upstage?
Designers use this element to direct focus onstage, often through brightness, direction, or contrast.
What is light?
This team member coordinates all technical rehearsals and ensures crews and designers have what they need to complete tech.
Who is the stage manager?
This document sent after each rehearsal summarizes blocking updates, notes, props needs, and questions for designers.
What is the rehearsal report?
This curtain hides the backstage area from the audience and hangs just upstage of the proscenium.
What is the grand drape?
This wide structural frame separates the audience from the stage.
What is the proscenium or proscenium arch?
This designer creates the physical world of the play, including sets, props, and sometimes projections.
Who is the scenic designer?
These colored tape markings on the stage floor help actors and crew know where scenery and props should go.
What is a spike mark or a spike?
This word means “to adjust a lighting fixture so its beam hits the correct place.”
What is focus?
The imaginary dividing line between onstage and offstage is said to be “crossed” when an actor steps into view.
What is the 'fourth wall'?
This type of prop must be replicated every performance because it breaks or is consumed onstage.
What is a consumable?
This production role ensures the show stays on budget and on schedule and serves as the lead administrative overseer.
Who is the producer?
This rehearsal, run partly by the SM, blends performers, tech cues, and crews for the first time.
What is tech rehearsal?
These tall, narrow pieces of fabric mask the wings on the sides of the stage.
What are legs or wings?
Type of stage where the audience surrounds on three sides?
What is a thrust stage?
These interchangeable metal plates create textured patterns such as leaves, stars, or windows when placed inside an ERS.
What are gobos?
These people press the GO button.
Who are the board operators?
During performances, the SM uses this specialized skill to ensure lighting, sound, and scenic cues happen in perfect timing.
What is call the cues?
This flat metal or glass insert placed in a lighting instrument creates patterns onstage.
What is a gobo?
In a fly system, this rope or steel cable-operated unit allows scenery or electrics to travel up and down.
What is a line set?
This common scenic material is used to cover flats and platforms, prized for being lightweight, versatile, and paint-friendly.
What is lauan?
This person is in charge of hiring, department spending, and overseeing tech and the run of the show. They're one step above the Stage Manager on the hierarchy.
Who is the production manager?