Scenic Design
This is the painted or decorated background at the back of the stage that helps show the setting of a scene.
What is a backdrop?
This device changes sound waves into electrical signals so voices can be amplified.
What is a microphone?
This lighting instrument is commonly used to create a focused beam of light on actors.
What is a spotlight?
A prop that an actor carries or uses during a performance is known by this term.
What is a hand prop?
The person responsible for creating the clothing worn by actors in a production has this job.
What is a costume designer?
A floor plan created by a scenic designer shows this type of view of the stage.
What is a bird’s-eye (overhead) view? (or Floor plan or ground plan)
In theatre, prerecorded sounds like thunder, doorbells, or city traffic are called these.
What are sound effects?
Changing the color of a stage light is often done using this thin colored material placed in front of the instrument.
What is a gel?
Furniture items like tables, couches, or chairs used on stage are often classified as these types of props.
What are set props?
Clothing and accessories worn to help actors appear from a specific historical time period are called these.
What are period costumes?
This type of flat is covered with fabric instead of plywood, making it lighter and easier to move.
What is a Broadway flat?
This term describes unwanted high-pitched noise caused when a microphone picks up sound from a speaker and loops it repeatedly.
What is feedback?
This lighting angle, coming from above and in front of the actor, is one of the most common ways to light performers naturally.
What is front light?
This crew member is responsible for organizing, tracking, and maintaining all props during rehearsals and performances.
What is the props master (or props manager)?
A clothing change done during a performance, often backstage in under a minute, is called this.
What is a quick change?
Scenic designers often use this artistic principle to arrange scenery so the audience’s eye is drawn to important areas on stage.
What is composition (or visual balance/focus)?
A sound designer adjusts bass, mids, and treble levels using this process.
What is equalization (EQ)?
This lighting principle refers to how bright or dim a light appears on stage and can help create mood, focus, and time of day.
What is intensity?
A rehearsal object used in place of the real prop until the actual item is ready is called this.
What is a rehearsal prop?
Costume designers often create these detailed colored sketches before costumes are built.
What are costume renderings?
A designer wants to make a stage look deeper and larger than it actually is. This scenic technique uses angled scenery and smaller objects upstage to create that illusion.
What is forced perspective?
A musical is using body mics, orchestra microphones, backstage paging, and prerecorded effects all controlled together from one central device. What piece of equipment is doing this?
What is a sound mixing console (or sound board)?
A lighting designer creates a visual plan showing where every instrument hangs and what each one does. This document is called a what?
What is a light plot?
In professional theatre, actors should never bring personal items onstage without approval because every object onstage must support this overall design concept.
What is the director’s/design concept (or visual storytelling)?
A costume designer chooses rough fabrics, faded colors, and torn clothing to visually communicate a character’s difficult life. This element of design is being used to communicate information before the actor even speaks.
What is texture (or visual characterization through costume design)?