Script Vocabulary
The person who writes the play.
Who is the playwright?
the “picture frame” outline, dividing the auditorium from the stage.
What is a proscenium?
This makes the stage bright or dark. Can be different colors.
What is lighting?
These people help carry out all of the processes required to make a show run, and all of the technical processes happen.
Who is the stage crew? (or crew)
The person in charge of all of the technical elements of the show.
Who is the technical director (TD)?
The person/people responsible for moving things furniture, scenery, or props on stage.
Who are the stagehands, deck crew or running crew.
Upstage, downstage, centerstage, stage left, stage right.
What are Stage Directions
Items that the actors hold in the show, that help them tell their story or create their character.
What are hand props?
The people who imagine and conceptualize the costumes, scenery, lighting and other items needed to put the show together and fulfill the director's concept.
Who are the designers?
A long pipe cabled above a stage on which curtains and scenery are attached to be raised and lowered during a production
What is a batten?
The instructions in a script that tell the actor (and sometimes the PSM) what to do.
What are stage directions?
Proscenium, Thrust and Arena.
What are three different types of stages?
This is used to make the stage look like a specific location required in the play or scene.
What is a set?
This person must be organized. This person is the mediator between the director and the cast and crew. This person calls the show.
Who is the stage manger?
A stencil for lighting, used to create lighting effects on stage, in the form of shapes.
What is a gobo?
The person who helps directors and actors find all of the answers about the world of the play.
Who is a dramaturg?
The ropes, wires, pulleys and counterweights that are used to "fly" scenery in or out, during scene changes.
What is fly system? (or fly rail).
This element helps the audience hear the actors, sets the mood and adds effects.
What is sound? (sound effect, sound design)
The person who tells the actors what to do and how to do it.
Who is the director?
When the technical crew and actors practice all of the technical elements in a show.
What is tech rehearsal?
The person who teaches the music in a musical.
Who is the music director?
The overhead view (birds eye view) of a to-scale drawing of a set.
What is a ground plan?
These are used to help identify the actors in their parts, as well as identify the time period. They can help actors look different and play different parts within the same show.
What are costumes?
This person is in charge of selecting the show, managing the budget, choosing the location and hiring the production team.
Who is the producer?
A loosely-woven drape used to mask the upstage region when lit from in front, but appears to be transparent when objects are lit from behind
What is the scrim?