Theatre Terms
HOW TO SEARCH:
- Enter a word in the "Search Terms and Definitions" box.
- For example, entering the word "curtain" would display all terms whose definition includes that particular word.
- When in doubt, use the simplest version of the term--for example, search for "prop" instead of "props" or "properties," and "Fade" instead of "Cross-Fade."
| Theatre Terms (A-Z) Sort descending | Definition |
|---|---|
| POINT CUE | A cue inserted during/after plotting between two existing cues. (e.g. 8.5 is inserted between cues 8 and 9 and cues by the stage manager as 8A). Most computer lighting desks have the ability to either insert an additional cue in a sequence, or to link to another cue out of the sequence, and then link back again. Inserting cues into a plotted sequence on a manual lighting desk is more awkward, because it is a running plot (where only the changes between cues are noted down). |
| POINT UP | To stress certain lines, movements, or gestures, by directing the attention of the audience to something of dramatic importance, as in order to create suspense. |
| POSITION | The place where an actor stands at any given moment. |
| PRACTICAL | Noun. Any object which appears to do onstage the same job it would do in life, or any working apparatus (e.g. light switch or desk lamp). An electrified prop. |
| PRATFALL or PRATTFALL | A stage fall on the buttocks, with humorous exaggeration. |
| PRE-RELEASE | A dramatic work that has been awarded to a specific publishing house and is in the typesetting, proof, or printing process, but is not yet listed for licensing. |
| PRESENTATIONAL | A style of acting and staging that relates directly to the audience, instead of attempting to represent actual life realistically in every detail (representational). |
| PRESET | 1) Anything in position before the beginning of a scene or act (e.g. Props placed on stage before the performance, lighting state on stage as the audience are entering.) 2) An independently controllable section of a manual lighting board which allows the setting up of a lighting state before it is needed. Each preset has a master fader which selects the maximum level of dimmers controlled by that preset. |
| PREVIEW | A function on some memory lighting control desks with video mimics. Preview enables the operator to see the levels of dimmers and other information in a lighting state other than that on stage. |
| PRIMARY COLORS | The primary additive colors of light are red, green and blue, and the subtractive colors are cyan, magenta and yellow. |
| PRINCIPAL | An actor who has an important or leading role; sometimes used to refer to actors with speaking parts, as opposed to walk-ons. |
| PRODUCER | The person who arranges for the production of a play or musical, especially the financing and management. |
| PRODUCTION | 1) Collectively, the staging of a play or musical in general, including financing, management, direction, acting, costuming, lighting, makeup, scenic design and construction. In essence, the produced work, presented to an audience. Thus, "the play" can mean the printed work, whereas "the production" always means the work as presented to the public. |
| PRODUCTION DESK | Table in the auditorium at which director/designer etc sit during rehearsals (especially technical rehearsals). Usually has its own lighting and communications facilities. |
| PRODUCTION MANAGER | Responsible for technical preparations, including budgeting and scheduling of productions. |
| PROFESSIONAL | As opposed to nonprofessional or amateur, the term refers to people or a production, in which all who take part earn their living in the theatre. |
| PROFESSIONAL RELEASE | A play licensed only to professional companies. |
| PROFESSIONAL RIGHTS | A professional company is one that pays a salary to actors, directors, designers and other staff, whether or not the company is profit or not-for-profit. Rights for professional companies are normally based on a percentage of the gross, with an up-front payment against profits. The payment--based on seating capacity and ticket prices--is credited toward the total royalty due at the end of the run, typically based on 8-10% of the gross box office receipts, to be calculated and reported weekly. |
| PROFILE | 1) The body position of an actor whose right or left side is turned toward the audience. 2) A shaped piece of scenery added to the edge of a flat instead of a straight edge. Also known as a cutout. 3) A type of instrument with at least one plane-convex lens which projects the outline of any chosen shape placed in its gate, sometimes with a variable degree of hardness/softness. Profiles include four beam-shaping metal shutters, a gate to take an iris or gobo and an adjustment to make the beam smooth and even ("flat") or hot in the center ("peaky"). |
| PROJECTION | The throwing of an image onto the stage by means of light, for an optical or design effect. In the case of digital/scenic projections, this includes long-throw front projection, rear projection, and short/ultra-short front projection. Long-throw front projection is a common installation, with a projector at the back of the house. However, this may throw the image on the actors as well, produce shadows, and wash out stage lighting. With rear projection, the projector is placed backstage and the image is projected onto the back of a special translucent projection surface. This avoids the shadows that may come with front projection, but it also requires 8-15 feet of dedicated space behind the projection surface. Ultra short-throw front projection is an increasingly popular method, with the projector rigged directly above the stage to avoid casting shadows. It’s often used for backdrops on a cyc or scrim, or for a rain effect on stage. For a complete explanation, see our article, "Demystifying Digital Scenery." |