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Theatre Terms

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Displaying 541 - 560 of 990
Theatre Terms (A-Z) Definition
HAND Applause, usually in the forms "get a hand" or "give a hand."
Hang To suspend any piece of scenery or equipment, such as lights.
HEADS UP A shouted warning (often just "Heads !") for staff to be aware of activity above them. Also used when an object is being dropped from above.
HEADSET 1) General term for theatre communication equipment. 2) A headphone and microphone combination used in such communications systems with a belt pack.
HEMP A type of rope used for flying, made from fibers found within the bark of the cannabis plant.
HEMP SET The simplest flying system consisting of a series of hemp ropes threaded through pulleys on the grid, and tied off on the fly floor on a cleat. The usual arrangement is for three ropes to be attached to a flying piece, named by their position relative to the fly floor (short, center and long). These names are used when leveling the flying piece, and giving it a dead. The three ropes are pulled or let in together, sometimes requiring more than one person to operate.
HIGH HAT

Also known as a Top Hat. Sometimes poor fixture optics or poorly maintained lenses can cause light to be directed into the audience or onto scenery, and top hats can help control that. It is also often objectionable to the audience or camera to see the bright source of the light and top hats can shield the bright source from view.  Black top hats and half top hats are usually flocked on the interior to reduce light reflection.
HIGHLIGHT To accentuate part of the face by means of a spot or line of light-colored makeup. Thus, "highlighting."
HISTRIONIC or HISTRIONICS 1) Of or pertaining to acting or actors; theatrical. 2) As "histrionics" to mean any dramatic representation, although more frequently to mean over-emotional acting.
HIT A great popular success. Originally (1835), the term meant "a wonderfully favorable impression."
HOLD In acting, to pause, as for an audience's laughter or applause.
HOLD THE BOOK To serve as prompter.
HOOFER A dancer, especially a tap dancer.
HOOK A hook on a pole used to pull an unwanted performer off the stage on amateur night in a variety show. Originally 19th century term.
HOOK CLAMP A clamp with a wing bolt for hanging a lamp on a horizontal lighting bar.
HOT SPOT 1) A stage area that is brightly lighted. 2) The brightest rays of a light beam, particularly as seen by an actor. An experienced actor learns to recognize and locate any instrument's hot spot, and to center him or herself in it for maximum visibility.
HOUSE 1) The auditorium (e.g. "The house is now open, please do not cross the stage") 2) The audience (e.g. "How big is the house tonight?")
HOUSE LIGHTS The auditorium lighting which is commonly faded out when the performance starts.
HOWL

Another term for acoustic feedback in a public address or stage microphone system. A simple PA (public address) system consists of a microphone, an amplifier and one or more speakers. Whenever those three components are used together, you have the potential for feedback. Feedback occurs when the sound from the speakers makes it back into the microphone and is re-amplified and sent through the speakers again. This loop happens so quickly that it creates its own frequency, which we hear as a howling sound. The distance between the mike and the speakers has a lot to do with the frequency of the howling, because that distance controls how quickly the sound can loop through the system..
HYDRAULIC System of controlling machinery or moving scenery using oil or water under pressure to move a piston or "ram". Used in many large-scale shows to automate scene changes.