Theatrical Design and Production Full Vocab

the centers of adjacent elements, such as holes, are spaced 1 inch apart

a mixer device with four inputs and two outputs

those spaced 6 inches apart

those spaced 18 inches apart

in costuming, anything other than clothing that is worn or carried, including wigs, hats, footwear, jewelry, and similar items

the sound-transmission characteristics of a room, space, or material; also, the science that studies these qualities

a plastic most readily identified by its trade name Plexiglas; available in rigid sheets and in liquid form (for us as a casting resin)

those areas of the stage on which specific scenes, or parts of scenes, are played

the transmission of light of varying hues to the eye and the brain's interpretation of the ratio of the light mixture as a specific hue

long-handled pliers with a series of jaw pivot points that provide a variety of jaw-opening ranges; used for gripping square and round objects with a great deal of leverage; also known as alligator pliers

generally known by the trade name Crescent Wrench, the adjustable-end wrench has smooth jaws that adjust to fit almost any small to medium-sized nut; used to tighten bolts and nuts

a wooden clamp with two adjustable faces; the jaws can be adjusted to various angles that are useful in holding furniture frames while the glued joints are drying

an optical phenomenon in which objects that are farther away appear less sharply in focus and less fully saturated in color

a nonwheeled caster that lifts objects and holds them up using high-volume, low-pressure compressed air; three to four air castes are used to raise most objects; the one-foot-diameter air casts, load rated at 2000 pounds, is the standard size used in theatrical production

extremely strong, flexible, multistrand, twisted metal cable; 1/8-inch aircraft cable is frequently used for flying heavy scenery because it has a breaking strength of approximately one ton

an L-shaped piece of steel rod with a hexagonal cross-sectional shape; used for working with Allen-head screws and bolts

adjustable arc-joint pliers

surrounding or background

the unit of measurement of electrical current

a device used to boost the signal received from a transducer to a level that will drive a loudspeaker

synonym for loudness

in electronics, a circuit or device in which the output varies as a continuous function of the input

color that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel; also known as related colors

transparent pigment made from aniline, a poisonous derivative of benzene; characterized by brilliant hues and full saturation; a strong solution can be made by putting one teaspoon of dye into a quart of boiling water

a natural glue (a by-product of the meat-packing industry) used for securing muslin to flat frames and as a binder in dry pigment and binder scene paint

a heavy, solid metal device with variously shaped faces; used in conjunction with a mechanic's or blacksmith's hammer for shaping metal

a decorative item attached to a basic form

the flat extension of the stage floor that projects from the proscenium arch toward the audience

an electric current that leaps the gap between two closely placed electrodes

a welder that uses an electrical arc to melt the metals being welded. The approximately 1/8-inch-diameter electrode melts and flows into the welding zone to provide filler metal

a stage completely surrounded by the audience

a basic skeletal form that holds the covering materials in the desired shape or alignment

person responsible for the major artistic decisions of a theatrical production company--hiring of production personnel, selection of season, and so on

in this case, the property of being able to be assigned; e.g., an assignable input may be connected to any output or any number of outputs

a sense of equipoise achieved through dynamic tension created by the juxtaposition of dissimilar design elements

the smallest particle of a chemical element that retains the structural properties of that element

a generally accepted theory concerning the structure and composition of substances

to decrease or lessen

the seating area from which the audience observes the action of a play

spiral-shaped bits designed to be used with a brace; used for drilling holes (1/4 inch to approximately 2 inches in diameter) in wood

flats, drops, or draperies placed on the offstage side of doors and similar openings to prevent the audience from seeing backstage

literally to paint on the back. You paint the back, or reverse, side of the scenery or drop

a fine-toothed (twelve to fourteen teeth per inch) crosscut saw with a stiffening spine on its back; used with a miter box to make accurate miter cuts

the arrangement of parts of a composition to create a sense of restfulness; also, to adjust the loudness and equalization levels of individual signals while mixing; to achieve an appropriate blend

a sound cable in which two insulated conductors are wrapped in a braided or foil shield

a latex cap that covers a person's hair

a hammer made of hardened steel with a round ball on the back of its head; used for bending and shaping metal and seating rivets

a vase-shaped vertical member that supports the handrail of a staircase rail

a stationary power saw with a narrow continuous loop (or band) blade that passes through a table which supports the work; used for making curvilinear cuts

the vertical member that supports the handrail of a staircase rail

similar to a pipe clamp except a notched bar is substituted for the pipe

an accessory for a Fresnel spotlight whose movable flippers are swung into the beam to control it

the first coat of the finished paint job; provides the basic color for the ensuing texture coats

an insulated box with a carefully designed hole or port in front that synchronizes the phase of the rearward speaker excursion with its forward excursion to reinforce the base frequencies

a wooden dowel or metal pipe (generally 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter) attached to the onstage lines from a ropeset or counterweight system. Scenery is attached to it

a drop that can be quickly attached to or removed from a batten by the use of batten clamps

two pieces of lumber butted end to end with a small piece of similar width attached directly above the joint

that point where the light emitted by an instrument is diminished by 50 percent when compared with the output of the center of the beam

a lensless instrument with a parabolic primary reflector and a spherical secondary reflector that creates an intense shaft of light with little diffusion

a woven nylon belt with a ratchet device to tighten the belt around the work; used to clamp irregularly shaped objects

a handheld, portable power tool that uses belts of sandpaper for rapid sanding of (primarily) wood

a stationary stand- or bench-mounted power tool consisting of an electric motor with shafts extending from either end; various grinding and buffing wheels, as well as wire brushes, can be mounted on the shafts to perform a variety of grinding, buffing, and polishing functions

a stationary stand- or bench-mounted power tool that consists of a combination of a belt and a disk sander; used to bevel or smooth the surface or edges of wood and some plastics

measuring device similar to the combination square except that the angle of the blade is adjustable; used for marking angles between 0 and 90 degrees

a measuring device similar to a tri square except that the angle between the blade and handle is adjustable; used for transferring angles from one piece of work to another

two directions; a microphone pickup pattern primarily receptive to the front and back

an adhesive to paint that "glues" the pigment and fillers to the painted material after the vehicle has evaporated

when the stage is completely dark. The stage lights are out and no other lights are on.

the capillary migration of an applied dye or paint to an area outside the area to which it is applied

a combination of more than one type of fiber; they are created to take advantage of the best properties of all fibers in it

the actors' movements on the stage

in makeup, to cover with soap, spirit gum, wax, material, or preformed plastic film so that no hair is evident

a small plane with a shallow (approximately 15 to 20 degrees) blade angle; used to smooth across the grain of wood

to copy drawings made on tracing vellum; the lines are printed in blue or, sometimes, black; also known as the diazo process

a drawing reproduction technique in which the background is blue and the lines are white; frequently used as a misnomer for blueline

a unit of measurement equivalent of a piece of stock lumber that is 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick

the electricians who run the light board during rehearsals and performances

a transparent, open, hexagonal weave material; used as a glass substitute, diffusion drop, net backing for cutout drops, and similar applications

a hair pin made of springy flat metal wire bent in a tight U shape. The legs--one straight, the other wavy--touch each other and provide the clamping power to hold the hair in place. Generally used with shorter hair.

the upper part of a woman's dress

a heavy, soft, absorbent paper; similar to blotter paper

heavy-duty shears with a great deal of leverage; used to cut through bolts and mild-steel round stock up to 1/2 inch in diameter

to fold hinged flats together so that they resemble a book

two large flats about the same width as the proscenium arch, stored in a booked position in the flies; when needed to create a ceiling, they are opened and lowered onto the walls of the set

• a rolling scaffold with several levels; used for painting vertical scenery
• a device to hold color media in a followspot

any lights hung above the stage, behind the borders (horizontal masking pieces). In this context, they were striplights--long, narrow, troughlike fixtures usually containing eight to twelve individual lamps

wide, short, framed or unframed cloth drops suspended over the stage to prevent the audience from seeing above the stage. In the Restoration Theatre, borders normally matched the decorative treatment on the wings and drops. In modern practice, they are frequently made of black, unpainted velour

flying hardware; a metal strap iron with a D ring at the top and a hooked foot at the bottom; used at the bottom of heavy flats to support the load under compression

to pour paint back and forth between buckets to ensure a complete and uniform mix

a wrench with a closed, toothed head that must be fit over the head of the bolt or nut; used to tighten bolts and nuts

nail with a narrower shaft than a common nail, to reduce the chance of splitting the lumber

a hand-cranked drill used for turning auger bits; used for drilling large-diameter holes in wood

bracing hardware attached to the stile on the back of a flat to provide means for securing a stage brace to the flat

a term that defines a material's ability to transmit heat, air, and water vapor

fabric similar to damask but light in weight; woven patterns achieved by weaving high-luster yarn into a matte-finish background can be either raised or flat; used for making costumes, upholstery, and decorative drapery

the Pyrex glass or synthetic quartz container for a lamp filament and gaseous environment; synonymous with envelope

to record on a CD

a medium-weight brown paper, available in 36-inch-wide rolls; also known by its trade name, Kraft paper

a wood joint; two pieces of wood are square cut and fit together end to end, end to edge, edge to edge, end to face, or edge to face

a welded metal joint; the pieces being welded are joined edge to edge

a type of detail drawing that subscribes to the principles of oblique drawing except that all depth measurements are reduced by one-half or some similar ratio such as 1:4

to tell specific crew members when to perform their cues

a block of material in the shape of a head, covered with canvas. Wigs are pinned to it for styling and storage

the electrical capacity of a condenser, or capacitor

the foundation structure of something, for example, the framework of a cabinet

a heart-shaped pickup pattern that primarily picks up sounds in front of, and slightly to the sides of, the microphone

a thick cardboard, similar in thickness to 3x5 notecards and file folders

a 2- to 3-foot piece of wooden, steel, or aluminum I beam with glass-tube spirit levels at either end and the middle; used to determine true horizontal and vertical

a folding wood rule

a vise for holding wood; attached to a workbench, one or both faces are covered with hardwood to prevent the vise from scratching, denting, or marring the surface of the work

the part of a stair unit that supports the tread and risers

a bolt whose upper face has a rounded surface and whose underside has a slightly tapered square collar a little wider than the diameter of the bolt shaft; used to join wood to wood or wood to metal

the process of transferring line work (and color blocks) from the painter's elevations to the scenery

a natural or synthetically derived phosphoprotein--a chief component of milk

a paint with a casein binder; has good covering power, is water-resistant when fully dry, and can usually be thinned with a ratio of between two and four parts water to one part paint concentrate

• casket lock
• a heavy- duty hidden lock used to hold platforms together and for similar applications

audio recorder tape, also used in computer storage

a wheel/axle device attached to platforms and the like to make them roll; for theatrical use, they should have hard rubber tires, a load rating of at least 300 pounds, and sturdy construction

any number of liquid plastics used for casting forms in molds

roman term for auditorium

a clamp composed of a U-shaped frame with a threaded shaft; work is clamped between a pressure plate at one end of the U and the toe of the shaft; used for a wide variety of jobs, such as holding work together while parts are being assembled or while glue joints are drying

flying hardware; a flat metal plate with an O ring in the center; attached to the primary structural members of ceiling flats to provide a means of attaching the flying lines to the ceiling

a leader line that runs perpendicular to the set line from the midpoint or center of the opening of the proscenium arch

a sectional drawing with the cutting plane located on the center line of the stage and auditorium; used to show the height of the various elements of the stage and theatre and any pertinent set pieces

a pointed tool made of hard steel; used for indenting shallow holes in wood and metal

force that moves away from the center; for example, the circular motion of electrons spinning around a nucleus generates it

a metal or plastic housing holding a long piece of twine and filled with dry scenic pigment; used for marking straight lines

an electronic patching system in which one or more dimmers can be assigned to a control channel, which in turn controls the intensity level of those dimmers

the distinctive qualities , traits, and personality of a person, place, or thing. Also, the emotional quality (e.g., soft, hard, harsh, sensuous) of a line

a sheer, usually translucent, cloth frequently made from rayon or silk; used for scarves and diaphanous blouses or gowns

a shutter

saturation

the adjustable jawed clamp at the end of a drill that holds the drill bits

a conductive path through which electricity flows; also, to connect a lighting instrument to a stage circuit

a device to protect a circuit from an overload; it has a magnetic device that trips opens to break circuity continuity

a portable circular-bladed saw; the angle and depth of cut is variable; used to cross- and angle-cut as well as rip stock and plywood

a hammer with two sharply curved claws projecting from the back of its head that facilitates nail removal; used for driving nail

a piece of wood used to brace, block, or reinforce

digitized pictures that can be transferred, or clipped, from the original program into a document on which you are working

a small-diameter cotton rope; not used for raising or suspending loads, but is the standard rope for lash lines and is used as the operating rope for traveling drapes (travelers)

a wedge-shaped nail made of soft iron used to attach cornerblocks and keystones to the frame of a flat; it is driven through the wood onto a steel backing plate, which curls the end of the nail back into the lumber

in context, refers to night clubs in which high-energy music (live or pre-recorded) is the prime attraction

a box nail with an adhesive applied to the shaft that tightly bonds the nail to the wood

one who makes shoes

a chisel made of hard steel; used for cutting or shearing mild steel and nonferrous metals

a slight surface texture achieved by pressure paper between cold rollers; no oil residue results, so the paper can be used with transparent watercolor, designer's gouache, acrylic, markers, pencils, pastel, and so forth

a picture made of various materials (e.g., paper, cloth) glued on a surface; can include drawn or photographic images as well

a perception created in the brain by the stimulation of the retina by light waves of certain lengths; a generic term applied to all light waves contained in the visible spectrum

a lightweight metal holder for color media that fits in a holder at the front of a lighting instrument

colored plastic, gel, or glass filters used to modify the color of light

a 12-inch steel rule with a movable handle angled at 45 and 90 degrees; used for marking those two angles, and the rule can be used for measuring

a lightweight cotton fabric with a short, feltlike, almost matted pile; available in two weights and widths, the heavy-weight is suitable for stage drapery; the material face is generally too susceptible to wear for use as an upholstery fabric; also known as duvetyn

nail with a large head and thick shank; used for heavier general construction

two hues that, when combined, theoretically yield white in light or black in pigment; colors that are opposite to each other on a color wheel. In practice, mixing these pigment colors results in complex dark grays, not true black

an arrangement of parts to create a whole

a surface that curves in more than one direction (like a ball) or changes the radius of its curve (like a playground slide)

a pump that drives air into a tank; the output pressure from the tank is controlled by a valve called a regulator

a revolving stage with, usually, two sections, one rotating inside the other

in context, primarily refers to touring rock and country western shows

a device that condenses the direct and reflected light from a source and concentrates it on the slide-plane aperture of a projector

thin-wall metal (aluminum or steel) tubing; used as a housing for electrical wiring and decorative stage material

a tool for bending conduit

nerve cells in the retina that are sensitive to bright light; they respond to red, blue, or green light

an electrical gutter or wireway that carries a number of stage circuits; the circuits terminate on the connecting strip in female receptacles

any sound created by editing, manipulating, or changing previously recorded sound

also called panel adhesive; an adhesive contained in a caulking tube; dispensed with a caulking gun; available in a number of formulations for use in gluing wall panels to studs (wood to wood), Styrofoam to wood, wood to metal, and so forth

a calendar that details when various technical elements of a production will be constructed

those who build the set, move it into the theatre, and set it up onstage

in a two-line-weight system, a thick line .5mm thick (in pencil) or .0020 to .0025 inch thick (in pen)

an adhesive for bonding nonporous surfaces together; surfaces bond as soon as they come in contact with each other

a platform made of a folding framework of nonvariable height; the top and center supports are removable; the frame folds into a more compact unit than does the standard parallel

the juxtaposition of dissimilar elements

a lightweight handsaw composed of a U-shaped frame with a narrow, fine-toothed (sixteen to eighteen teeth per inch) replaceable blade; used for making curvilinear cuts in thin plywood and lumber

a cotton material whose pile ridges, called wales, alternate with a low-luster backing; available in a wide variety of wale widths and depths; heavier weights are used for upholstery, while lighter weights are used in costuming; waleless corduroy is similar to a short-nap velour, with similar uses

a triangular-shaped piece of 1/4-inch plywood used to reinforce the joint between a stile and a rail of a flat

a diagonal internal framing member that helps keep a flat square

a L-shaped piece of 1/16 inch galvanized steel, predrilled for use with flat-head wood screws; used to reinforce corners of doors, windows, and so on

corrugated strips of metal used primarily to hold lightweight frames together

person responsible for the design, visual appearance, and function of the costumes, accessories, and makeup

person responsible for the construction of the costumes and supervision of the costume shop

a durable lightweight, coarse-weave material; used for covering platforms and making ground cloths

a lightweight cotton canvas, used more in costumes than some construction

the short hairs covering the cotton seed

a tough cotton fabric with a ribbed finish similar to a narrow, short-nap corduroy; good for stage draperies, costumes, and upholstery

a metal cradle that holds counterbalancing weights used in flying

in reference to hard drives, to become inoperative. Data cannot usually be retrieved from a hard drive after this event

a thin, crinkle-finished, soft cloth usually made from rayon, silk, or fine cotton; frequently used for women's blouses

adjustable-end wrench

a handsaw with an approximately 26-inch blade whose angle-sharpened teeth bend outward so that the kerf is wider than the blade designed to cut across the grain of the wood. Crosscut saws with ten to twelve teeth per inch are suitable for most scenic purposes

an electronic device that splits the signal from the amplifier into frequency ranges most appropriate for use by woofers, mid-range speakers, and tweeters

a round metal bar with flattened metal claws similar to those on a claw or rip hammer on one end and a tapered wedge on the other

a directive for action, for example, a change in the lighting

designing the light cues. Manipulating, and recording, the distribution, intensity, movement, and color of the lights for each cue to create the appropriate look for that moment in the play

to harden and reach full strength (in reference to adhesive)

a portable power saw with a reciprocating blade mounted in a swiveling head; available with a variety of blades to make intricate curvilinear cuts in materials ranging from fabric to wood, paper, and plastic

a list of the color media required for the lighting design for a particular production categorized by hue and size; used to assist in ordering and cutting the color media for a lighting design

a semiportable stand-mounted circular-bladed power saw that can be equipped with a wood or metal cutting blade for square and angle cutting of lumber or metal stock; can be set up for cutting either wood (wooden table without holding clamps) or metal (metal table with holding clamps); also known as a motorized miter box

silhouette

person who pins patterns to fabrics and cuts the material

the plane at which an object is theoretically cut to produce a sectional view

a powerful, rapid-bonding adhesive that will bond almost anything; generically known by the trade names Super Glue, Krazy Glue, and so forth

a lensless instrument with an eccentric reflector used to create a smooth wash of light on a cyc or skytab from a close distance

a large drop used to surround the stage

a specialty circular saw blade consisting of a set of toothed blades that sandwich a chisel-like chipper. The blades smooth-cut the outside edges of the kerf while the chipper gouges out the wood between the blades. The distance between the blades is variable; used with table and radial-arm saws.

a wood joint made by cutting a notch or groove in the face of one piece of lumber to receive the edge of another piece of stock

rich-appearing cloth with raised patterns of high-luster yarn that are normally woven into the matte finish of the background cloth; used for making costumes, upholstery, and decorative drapery

to suspend without means of raising or lowering

to lift without counterbalancing

a unit for expressing the intensity of sounds; an increase or decrease of one of these units is just about the smallest change in loudness that the human ear can detect

the covering surface of a structure on which people will walk

any item that is used to enhance the setting visually but is not specifically touched by an actor, such window curtains, pictures, doilies, table lamps, bric-a-brac, and so forth

refers to the time interval that the second part of a split time fade follows the first

a mask, normally mounted on a stick, that covers half the face

a coarsely woven cotton or cotton blend twill

a form used by the lighting designer to record pertinent information (dimmer levels, timing, "go" point, and so forth) about every cue in the production

a recognizable pattern of compositional elements that provides a distinctive reflection of the social and political history of the time

drawings that describe the detail of objects. Usually drawn in a fairly large scale, normally between 3/4inch=1foot and 1 1/2inch=1foot.

trim, appliques, buttons, ribbons, braid, and so forth attached to a garment to enhance its appearance

pliers with beveled cutting faces on the jaw rather than flat gripping faces; used for cutting soft wire

to soften the appearance of light by using a translucent filtering element to scatter the light rays

a form of recording in which the audio information is stored on the magnetic tape as binary information rather than an analog signal

an electro-mechanical device that converts the pressure of a stylus on a flat plane (tablet) into binary information that can be understood by the computer

the relative length and width of a line

an electrical device that controls the intensity of a light source connected to it

an electrical circuit terminating on one end at a dimmer. The other end terminates at either a patch panel or onstage; synonymous with stage circuit when it terminates onstage

person responsible for interpreting the script, creating a viable production concept, and directing the actors

separate and complete; in context, pertaining to information represented by binary code

to create a worn or aged appearance as with fabric, wood, or metal

a concept in which dimmers are placed at the point of use--close to where the fixture to be dimmed is located--rather than in a centralized dimmer rack

nails with two heads; they are driven into the wood until the lower head is flush with the surface, leaving the upper head exposed so that it can be pulled out easily; used for scaffolding or any temporary structure that needs to be dismantled quickly

two plano-convex lenses placed with their curved surfaces facing each other; creates a system that has a shorter focal length than either of its component lenses

a block and tackle configuration that provides a 2:1 mechanical advantage

a mechanical dimming device used in followspots

a short cylinder of hardwood, usually birch

a butt joint that is internally supported by dowel pegs

a vertical element of heavy fabric that frames the sides of a window or an archway

to produce a likeness that is a proportional reduction of an object

a hand-held router similar to a dentist's drill that can be equipped with a number of bits for grinding, cutting, or carving of wood, metal, and plastic

to place decorative props such as curtains, doilies, knickknacks, or magazines on the set to help make the environment look lived in and provide clues to the personalities of the characters who inhabit the set. Also, to work with hair or wig to create a specific style or look

costume-crew personnel who assist actors in putting on their costumes

a run-through with all technical elements, including costumes and makeup

a stationary bench or stand-mounted power drill with a variety of speeds. The chuck will generally hold bits up to 1/2inch in diameter

a large expanse of cloth, usually muslin or scenic canvas, on which something (a landscape, sky, street, room) is usually painted

a small connecting strip, generally containing four to eight circuits, that can be clamped to a boom or a pipe

in this case, a motorized system in which steel cables are wound around a drum or cylinder and the taking up, or letting out, of the cables is controlled by the rotation of the drum. Each one is equipped with a motor, gearbox, and brake.

a painting technique frequently used to create a wood-grain appearance; done by slightly charging a brush and lightly stroking it across the surface of the work

gypsum board typically used to cover interior walls in home construction; normally 1/2 inch thick, although other thicknesses are available

a speaker enclosure similar in operational theory to the bass-reflex enclosure except that a tube of specific diameter and length is substituted for the open hole, or port; it reinforces bass frequencies

a device covering the nose and mouth that filters particulate matter from the air

a 5- to 6-inch wide strip of cloth of the same material as the flat covering; used to hide the joints between flats in a wall unit

Commando fabric

a motor-driven unit capable of producing crude moving images with a scenic projector

any pipe that is used to hold lighting instruments

the flow or movement of electrons through a conductor

the difference in electrical charge between two bodies; measured in volts

a thermostatically controlled pot used for melting animal glue

a portable, handheld power drill; some models have variable-speed and reverse controls; it generally accepts bit shanks up to 3/4inch in diameter

those who work on the stage lighting for a production

a form used by the board operator that contains the primary operating instructions for every lighting cue in the production

a directed flow of electrons used to create kinetic energy

a portable, hand-held power tool that resembles an electric hand drill; equipped with a variable-speed motor, a clutch, and a chuck that holds a screwdriver tip; used to invert and remove screws

a negatively charged fundamental particle that orbits around the nucleus of the atom

the field of science and engineering concerned with the behavior and control of electrons within devices and systems, and the utilization of those systems

a large elevator used to shift large scenic elements or whole sets between the area beneath the stage and the stage

a small elevator used to shift small pieces of scenery, or an actor, from the basement underneath the stage to the stage or vice versa. Usually no larger than 4x4 or 4x6 feet. Also known as a disappearance trap.

a lensless instrument with a conical ellipse reflector; used for lighting cycs and drops; also known as a scoop

a lighting instrument characterized by hard-edged light with little diffusion; designed for long throws, it is manufactured with fixed and variable focal-length lenses; the light beam is shaped with internally mounted shutters

fabric whose surface has been coated with abrasive grit; used for smooth wood, metal, and plastic

an oil-, lacquer-, or synthetic-base paint that has a hard surface and excellent covering power; it is usually formulated so that it dries with a smooth satin or gloss finish

the Pyrex glass or synthetic quartz container for a lamp filament and gaseous environment; synonymous with bulb

an extremely strong, waterproof plastic most frequently used in the theatre as an adhesive and casting resin

a two-part epoxy-base adhesive available in a variety of formulations that enable the user to do gluing, filling, and painting

an electronic device that selectively boosts or attenuates specific frequencies or ranges of frequencies

a non-speaking part. A person who provides "visual dressing" for the scene

a thin piece of plastic film or latex glued over the eyebrow; also known as an eyebrow block

a gradual increase; in lighting, usually from darkness to a predetermined level of brightness; synonymous with fade-up

a gradual decrease; in lightness, usually from a set level of brightness to darkness

a device, usually electronic, that effects a gradual changeover from one circuit to another; in lighting it changes the intensity of one or more dimmer circuits; in sound it changes audio circuits or channels

the amount of time it takes for a fade--either fade-up or fade-down--to be completed

a rigid framework covered with drapery material that is used to adjust the height and width of the proscenium arch. Sometimes unframed drapes are used to create a false proscenium

using techniques with paints/varnishes to create the illusion of a particular type of surface or material; for example, painting wood to look like metal or stone

lamps made in the United States are designated with a three-letter code that specifies all design criteria such as wattage, voltage, filament, and base type, color-temperature-rated life, and so forth. FEL specifies a very specific 1000 Watt lamp.

a material made by matting together short fibers by the use of heat, water, and light pressure

the metal part of a brush that binds the bristles ot the handle

that point where the light output diminishes to 10 percent of the output of the center of the beam

the light-producing element of a lamp; usually made of tungsten wire

a material that creates opacity (covering power) in paint

a metal piece of the same composition as the material being welded; used to replace the metal lost during welding or to fill a hole or groove in the work

a welded metal joint; made when the edge of one piece is welded to the face of another; both sides of the joint should be welded

the light or lights that fill the shadows created by the key light

a nail with a slender shaft and minute head; designed to be drive below the surface of the wood so that the nail head can be hidden

the onstage pipe for lighting instruments that is closest, from the onstage side, to the proscenium arch

a specialty lumber, straight grained and free from knots, that is 1 1/4 inches thick

a lighting instrument

a welded metal joint; similar to a butt weld, except the edges of the material are bent up; the weld is made by melting the upturned flanges

a lightweight, loosely woven material usually made from soft-finish wool, wool blend, or cotton thread; used for men's and women's suits, trousers, and shirts

a framework, normally made of wood or metal; usually covered with fabric, although a variety of other covering material may be used

common screw with a flat head that is beveled on the underside to easily dig into the wood; used for attaching hardware (hinges, doorknobs) and joining various wood elements together

animal glue with glycerine added

the base of the vertical plane in a perspective drawing; for a proscenium sketch, it is usually drawn across the stage in contact with the upstage edge of the proscenium arch; in a thrust drawing, it is normally placed just outside the auditorium end of the thrust; in an arena sketch, it is usually placed in the aisle closest to the observer

painting scenery--flats, drops, and so forth--on the floor rather than standing up or attached to a paint frame

bracing hardware; a block of wood with a non-skid material (foam, rubber) attached to the bottom; the foot of a stage brace is attached to the top of it, and weights (sandbags, counterweights) are piled on to keep it from moving

a connecting box, usually containing three to six circuits, whose top is mounted flush with the stage floor

a thin piece of plastic coated with metal oxide, used to record the information stored in a computer's memory

a family of tough, durable, low-friction, nonstick plastics best known by the trade name Teflon; used in the theatre as a bearing surface where its slippery qualities can be used to advantage

smooth, level, even

a chemical that reduces surface oxidation and thus aids in soldering or welding

to raise an object or person above the stage floor with ropes or cables

single drop, hung on a U-shaped pipe, that surrounds the stage on three sides

the elevated walkway where the pin rail is located

the open space above the stage where the scenery and equipment are flown

the distance from the lens at which light rays converge to a point; for lenses used in stage lighting instruments, the focal length is usually measured in even inches

to direct light from the lighting instruments to a specific area

a 6-foot wooden rule, composed of twelve segments that fold into a unit 7.5 inches long; used for measuring lumber in scenic construction

a lighting instrument with a high-intensity, narrow beam; mounted in a stand that allows it to tilt and swivel so that the beam can "follow" an actor

a particular style or design of typeface

lights placed along the front end of the stage

a process that creates apparent depth in a set by angling the horizontal line

representing the lines of an object as shorter than they actually are in order to give the illusion of proper relative size

space enclosed within a line or lines that meet or cross; also, elements that have similar physical characteristics, such as arena theatres, thrust stages, proscenium stages, and so forth

structures originally designed for some other purpose that have been converted into performing spaces

a large steel L, typically 16 inches on the bottom leg and 24 on the vertical leg; used for checking the accuracy of 90-degree corner joints

an electron that has broken away from its "home" atom to float free

a mixture of dye and shellac; made by mixing alcohol-based leather dye (e.g., Fiebing's Leather Dye) with shellac that has been reduced (1:1) with denatured alcohol

the rate at which an object vibrates; measured in hertz (cycles per second)

a type of step lens with the glass cut away from the convex face of the lens

a spotlight that produces a soft, diffused light; the Fresnel lens is treated on the plano side to diffuse the light

a front view of each wall segment of the set, including all detail such as windows, doors, pictures, and trim

the area in an auditorium that is close to the stage

an opaque, highly reflective, usually white material used to reflect a projected image; the projector is placed on the audience side of the screen

scale drawings made actual size

a three-dimensional thumbnail sketch of a scenic design; normally built on a scale of 1/4 or 1/2 inch to 1 foot; usually made from file folders or similar cardboard; also known as a white model

an accessory for a Fresnel spotlight that masks the beam to create a circular pattern also called a snoot or top hat

a device to protect a circuit from an overload; it has a soft metal strip that melts, breaking circuit continuity

any paint left over from previous paint jobs; the various paints are mixed and neutralized to create a medium-gray or light-brown hue; frequently used for a prime coat

• to put a color filter into a color frame and insert it in the color-frame holder of a lighting instrument
• generic name for the color media used in lighting instruments

plaster of Paris in liquid state; approximately the consistency of sour cream; dries to a hard plaster finish

an ornamental flat braid or round cord used as trimming

a transparent, usually lightly tinted, layer of thin paint

highly reflective, mirrorlike

a thin metal template inserted into an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight to create a shadow pattern of light

a base coat that gradually changes hue or value over the height or width of the painted surface

the curtain that covers the opening of the proscenium arch

slang synonym for grand drape

a teaser or border made of the same material as the grand drape; used in conjunction with the grand drape, it masks the scenery and equipment just upstage of the proscenium arch

an equalizer with individual slide controls affecting specific, usually fairly narrow, segments of the sound spectrum; so called because the position of the individual controls graphically displays a picture of the equalization of the full sound spectrum

a soft carbon similar to the lead in a pencil; sticks can be purchases in most art supply stores

a network of steel I beams supporting elements of the counterweight system

transferring a design from an elevation to the scenery by use of a scale grid on the elevation and a full-scale grid on the scenery

a circular metal eyelet used to reinforce holes in fabric

a hole punch, a small anvil, and a crimping tool; used to seat grommets

a scale mechanical drawing in the form of a horizontal offset section with the cutting plane passing at whatever level, normally a height of four feet above the stage floor, required to produce the most descriptive view of the set

generally low, horizontal flats used to mask the base of cycs or drops; frequently painted to resemble rows of buildings, hedges, or similar visual elements

the grouping of two or more dimmers/channels under one controller

a triangular piece of material used to reinforce a corner joint

an adjustable frame handsaw with an extremely fine-toothed (twenty to twenty-five teeth per inch) replaceable blade; used for cutting material

a piece of round metal wire bent in a slightly opened U shape. Used with longer hair than bobby pins

a wood joint made by removing half the thickness of both pieces of lumber in the area to be joined so that the thickness of the finished joint will be no greater than the stock from which it is made; also called a halved lap joint

the quality and characteristics of a fabric that can be evaluated or defined by a sense of touch

a hand-cranked device used for spinning drill bits; used for making small-diameter holes in wood

a portable, handheld version of the bench grinder; useful on pieces that are too heavy or awkward to be worked with the bench grinder

a small item that is handled or carried by an actor

the part of the stair rail that is grabbed with the hand; supported by the banister and newel posts

flying hardware; a metal strap with a D ring at the top; the hanger iron is attached to the top or bottom of the back of a flat, one end of a line is attached to the D ring, and the other end is attached to a counterweight batten

the process of placing lighting instruments in their specified locations

small segments of the light plot, typically pasted onto cardboard so it can be carried in an electrician's pants pocket, that detail all of the hanging information about a specific location such as the first electric or down left boom

those responsible for the hanging, circuiting, patching, focusing, and coloring of the lighting instruments; they are under the supervision of the master electrician

the various locations around the stage and auditorium where lighting instruments are placed

in this instance, hang out means that most wrinkles will disappear from the fabric if it is hung up

the small label usually attached to the cardboard core of a bolt of fabric that indicates the percentages of various component fibers

generic term for composition sheet goods such as Masonite and particle board

covered with a hard-surfaced material such as plywood. The hard surface is frequently covered with a fabric before painting

a computer storage device; a spinning magnetic or optical disk on which data are stored and from which data can be retrieved

the horizontal element of the false proscenium; usually hung from a counterweighted baton so that its height can easily be adjusted

the physical elements of the computer and the various electronic equipment, printed circuit boards, and so forth inside the computer

frequencies that are exact multiples of a fundamental pitch or frequency

a sense of blending and unity that is achieved when the various parts of a design fit together to create an orderly, congruous whole

• a housing that holds scenic-projector lenses in fixed positions to project images of a specific size
• a high-quality electromagnet on a tape deck or tape recorder that is used to implant, retrieve, or erase electrical data

a multisheave block with two or more pulley wheels, used to change the direction of all the ropes or cables that support the batten

a small flat that can be placed between two standard-sized flats to create a doorway or window

a high-temperature air gun, visually similar to a handheld hair dryer

the use of a heat gun to fuse two pieces of plastic

similar to the electric hand drill, but with a heavier-duty motor; the chuck will generally accept bit shanks up to 1/2 inch in diameter

bracing hardware similar to the rigid foot iron but hinged so that it can fold out of the way for storage

saw-toothed cylinders of hardened stel with a drill bit in the center that is used to center the saw in the work; used with a power drill to make holes from 3/4 inch to 2 inches in diameter in wood that is 1 1/2 inches thick or less

sections of a painted surface that appear lighter than the rest of the surface because the area is either unpainted or the paint was too lightly applied.

a site or addressable location on the Internet which contains information about (generally) a particular service, interest group, resource, or business

a coarse, loosely woven material usually made from cotton, linen, or wool

a manufactured paper product with a hexagonal structure similar to honeycomb

a sheet containing pertinent information (hanging position, circuit, dimmer, color, lamp wattage, focusing notes) about every lighting instrument used in the production. Also known as an instrument schedule

in perspective drawing, a line representing the meeting of the earth and the sky; normally drawn parallel to the top or bottom edge of the paper

a section drawing with a horizontal cutting plane; the cutting plane does not remain fixed--it varies to provide different views of important details

a dispersion device attached to the front of a pressure driver to direct the sound emitted by the pressure driver into a specific pattern

a handheld electric tool that heats sticks of adhesive to make rapid-hold bonds on a wide range of materials, such as wood, plastic, paper, cloth, metal, dirt, sand, and so forth

a glass dichroic filter that reflects the infrared spectrum while allowing visible light to pass

a slick, smooth texture achieved by pressing paper between hot rollers; this treatment leaves a thin layer of oil, which makes the paper unsuitable for use with transparent watercolors. It works well with designer's gouache, pencils, acrylic, and markers

an intense circle of light created when a projector lens is seen through a rear projection screen

a tool for cutting foam; it consists of a wire that is heated to incandescence

synonym for auditorium

the qualities that differentiate one color from another

a directional, narrow, elongated cardioid pickup pattern that all but eliminates pickup from anywhere except directly in front of, and for a short distance immediately behind, the microphone

watercolor paper mounted on pressboard backing

a picture or concept of what the light should look like for a production

an electric heater that can be immersed in a bucket of liquid to heat it; used for heating water for starch mixtures, aniline dye, flameproofing solutions, and so forth

a power-driven tool that uses sockets to tighten or loosen bolts or nuts; may be either electric or pneumatic

resistance in an AC circuit; the only difference between it and resistance is that it is defined as resistance to the flow of an alternating current

bracing hardware; an improved version of the stage screw consisting of a steel plug, threaded on the outside and inside, that is inserted into an appropriately size hole drilled into the stage floor. The screw screws into the plug, and the plug can be removed and a piece of dowel inserted into the floor to fill the hole

an air-tight, heavily insulated box that absorbs the sound waves produced by the rearward excursion speaker; it is inefficient and requires a high-wattage amplifier to achieve satisfactory sound levels

the elevated area located directly above the inner below in the Elizabethan theatre

the curtained areas at the upstage edge of the playing area in the Elizabethan theatre

a form used to record all of the technical data about each instrument used in the production; also known as a hookup sheet

the relative loudness of a sound

a device with movable overlapping metal plates, used with an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight to change the size of the circular pattern of light

a flat having nonsquare corners

a scaled mechanical drawing that presents a pictorial view of an object on three axes; the primary axis is perpendicular to the base line and the other two project from its base, in opposite directions, 30 degrees above the base line

a triangular brace

a device used to hold pieces together in proper positional relationship

a flat less than 2 feet wide

parallel beams that support flooring

the width of the cut made by a saw blade

a handsaw with a narrow, tapering blade of ten to twelve teeth per inch; used for making curvilinear cuts in plywood and lumber

the brightest light on a particular scene

a wedge or rectangular-shaped piece of 1/4-inch plywood used to reinforce the joint between a stile and toggle bar of a flat

the linear distortion created when a projector is placed on some single other than perpendicular to the projection surface

to cut all the individual pieces needed to make something before assembly is started; like a model airplane kit

refined shellac or varnish with quick-drying additives

large wood screw with a hexagonal or square head; used in situations where bolts are not practical, such as attaching something to a wall or floor

the process of gluing thin pieces of wood together to make a thicker pieces

a wood joint made when the faces of two pieces of wood are joined

a welded metal joint; made when the pieces being welded are overlapped

a method of joining scenery; a piece of 1/4-inch cotton clothesline (lash line) is served around special hardware on adjoining flats to hold them together

lashing hardware secured so that the pointed end projects over the inside edge of the stile

lashing hardware with a hole through which the lash line passes, attached to the inside edge of the stile

used for same purposes as a lash-line cleat, but has a hook instead of a point; used on extra-wide stiles or in situations that preclude the use of a lash-line cleat

S hook

a natural or synthetic liquid plastic with the flexible qualities of natural latex or rubber; bonds well and is flexible

a milky-white flexible cement

a paint with a latex binder; has fair to good covering power, may or may not be water-resistant, and can be thinned very little, usually no more than one pint of water per gallon paint

a stationary, stand- or bench-mounted, variable-speed power tool that rapidly spins wood so that it can be carved with the use of special chisels. Can be used to turn foam.

also known as Phillipine mahogany; 1/8-inch lauan plywood is strong and quite flexible; commonly used as a flat-covering material and for covering curved-surface forms

in a two-line-weight system, a thin line .3mm thick (in pencil) or .010 to .0125 inch thick (in pen)

the movable flap of a hinge

refers to plays that rely on the spoken word to convey the message; does not include musicals, reviews, dance, opera, or concerts

narrow, vertical stage drapes used for masking

a projector that works by projecting a shadow image without a lens, such as the Linnebach and curved-image projectors

in rendering, the qualities of brilliance, visual depth, and sparkle

a plaster mask of a person's face. A negative mold is made by covering the person's face with plaster of Paris or alginate. The negative mold is used to make a positive cast that is the life mask.

a jack equipped with swivel casters, used to pick up and move platforms

a cylindrical space approximately 8 to 12 feet in diameter and 7 feet high; they are located within acting areas to facilitate creating a smooth wash of light within the acting area

generally, some type of action involving lighting; usually the raising or lowering of the intensity of one or more lighting instruments

person responsible for the appearance of the lighting during the production

a network of pipes, usually connected in a grid pattern, from which lighting instruments and other equipment can be hung

a device that produces a controllable light; for example, an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight or a Fresnel spotlight

a drawing that illustrates the plan angle and color of the various sources that are illuminating the image of light

a run-through, without actors, attended by the director, stage manager, lighting designer, and appropriate running crews to look at the intensity, timing, and placement of the various lighting cues

a composite side view, drawn in scale, of the set showing the hanging position of the instruments in relation to the physical structure of the theatre, set, and stage equipment

a guide for use in drawing lighting symbols

a scale drawing showing the placement of the lighting instruments relative to the physical structure of the theatre and the location of the set

a production run of predetermined length, for example, two weeks, six weeks, and so forth

the wires in low-voltage control systems; frequently called "lines" rather than "wires"

a signal voltage range, approximately .75 to 1 volt; specified as a voltage range rather than one particular voltage because the voltage and current of the signal vary with the intensity and frequency of the sound

the electronic equivalent of a loudness setting for the line level signal; an optimum line level signal would be loud enough to be distinctly heard by the next equipment in line--the power amplifier--but not so loud as to introduce distortion

an excellent flat-covering material; extremely durable, it accepts paint very well and doesn't shrink much; expensive

the vertical line drawn from OP to the floor line in a perspective grid; it represents the line of sight from the observer to the vertical plane

in makeup, any saturated color that is used as rouge, as eye shadow, or to create other areas of highlight or shadow

painting narrow, straight lines; done with lining brushes and a straightedge

identifiable clothing associated with a specific occupation or trade

a device that converts electrical energy into another form of energy; a lamp converts electrical energy to light and heat; an electric motor converts electricity to mechanical energy

the moving of scenery and associated equipment into the theatre and their positioning (setup) on the stage

a walkway suspended just below the grid where the counterweights are loaded onto the arbor

generally known by the trade name Vise Grip; they are available in a wide variety of sizes and configurations; used for gripping and holding, the size of the jaw opening and amount of pressure applied by the jaws are adjustable by the screw at the base of the handle

a rail that holds the rope locks for each counterweight set

a grooved pulley mounted on top of the grid, used to change the direction in which a rope or cable travels

pliers with long, tapering jaws; used for holding small items and bending very light wire; also called needle-nose pliers

a transducer used to convert an electrical signal from an amplifier into audible sound

the hardware, operating systems/software, and peripherals based on the Apple Macintosh computer

bolt with a square or hexagonal head used to attach metal to metal

a vise with toothed steel faces; used to hold and clamp metal; can be used to hold wood, but the serrated steel faces will mar the surface unless protective blocks of wood are used to sandwich the work

synonym for grand drape

a hammer with a wooden, plastic, or rubber head; the wooden and plastic mallets are generally used for driving chisels; all three can be used for shaping thin metals

person responsible for the business functions of a theatrical production company--fund-raising, ticket sales, box office management

a strong, yet flexible rope; used in the theatre for raising and suspending loads and as the operating line for counterweight systems

small scenic representations of the standard locations (heaven, hell, garden, palace, etc.) used in medieval plays

an extra-heavy-weight line that forms a border from the plate 1/2 inch in from the edge of the paper

to block the audience's view--generally, of backstage equipment and space

a registered trade name for a sheet stock made from binder-impregnated wood pulp compressed into 4x8 foot sheets

the three-dimensional manifestation of form

person responsible for ensuring that the lighting equipment is hung, focused, and run according to written and verbal instructions from the lighting designer

person responsible for costume construction and direct supervision of costume crews

dull, nonreflective

utility knife

a picture, in scale, drawn with drafting tools, that provides an illusion of depth

a hammer with a heavy, soft metal head; used for shaping metal

a machine that, in one operation, sews a seam, cuts both pieces of fabric about 1/4 inch from the seam, and makes an overcast stitch on the edge of both pieces of fabric to prevent raveling

any file with very fine teeth; used for smoothing metal

audio recorder tape for use in small cassettes; used in computer storage

a transducer used to convert sound waves into electrical energy

a speaker designed to reproduce the middle range of audible frequencies--roughly 200 to 1000Hz

a welder that focuses a flow of inert gas (usually carbon dioxide or argon) on the welding zone to prevent or reduce oxidation of the weld; the electrode is a thin piece of wire automatically fed through the welding handle from a spool stored in the housing of the power unit

to pick up a sound with a microphone; to place one or more microphones in proximity to a sound source (instrument, voice)

a medium-length, easily worked ferrous metal that is easy to weld; the metal most commonly used in stage construction

one who constructs and styles hats

an angle that is cut in a piece of wood or metal, usually in pairs to form a corner

a guide used with a backsaw to make accurate angle cuts in wood

similar to a butt joint, but the edges to be joined are angle, rather than square, cut

to blend the electronic signals created by several sound sources

an electronic device used to mix the output of a variety of sources and route the blended signal(s) on to other equipment; it can be used for both recording and playback

an object that is being used as the subject of a mold casting

a matrix used to create a form

a heavy cylindrical arbor in which a variety of matched cutter blades or knives can be fit; used with a table or radial-arm saw to cut decorative molding

a heavy-weight, smooth-jawed adjustable wrench for use on large nuts or work that is too large for an adjustable-end wrench

a single-strand, transparent, monofilament line; sold as fishing line in sporting goods stores; also known as trick line

the feeling of a play--comic, tragic, happy, and so forth

a square hole; used in conjunction with a tenon to make a mortise and tenon joint

a wood joint made by fitting a tenon (square peg) into a mortise (square hole)

a drill bit housed inside a square hollow chisel; used with a drill press to make square holes

cutoff saw

an electromechanical device that controls the movement of a cursor on the computer screen; used by the operator to provide directives to the computer program

a vertical crossbar in a window

• to transmit two or more messages simultaneously on a single channel or wire
• to carry out several functions simultaneously in an independent but related manner

a horizontal crossbar in a window

a flat-surfaced, woven cotton fabric

a tool with a movable jaw on one end for grasping nail heads and a movable slide hammer on the other to drive the jaws into the wood to grasp the nail; used to pull nails out

long-nose pliers

subtractive color mixing; the selective absorption of light as the result of mixing complementary pigment hues; the creation of gray

a fundamental particle in the structure of the nucleus of an atom; possesses a neutral charge

the post at the bottom or top of a flight of stairs that terminates the handrail

a plierlike tool that crimps Nicopress sleeves onto wire rope or cable to make permanent, nonremovable friction clamps

a style in which the portrayed elements do not represent physically identifiable objects

any sound effect that does not reinforce a readily identifiable source such as a doorbell or telephone

a wood joint made by cutting a notch from a piece of lumber; the size of the notch is determined by the width and thickness of the other piece of stock that the notch will receive

harmful to one's health

the central part of an atom, composed of protons and neutrons

tool similar in appearance to a screwdriver with a cylindrical socket instead of a slot or Phillips head; used for tightening small hex (six-sided) nuts

a device used to focus a projected image on a screen or other surface

a scaled mechanical drawing with one face of the object, drawn as an elevation, placed at right angles to the observer's line of sight; the remaining faces project from the elevation to the right or left using a 30- or 45-degree base line

the law that states: as voltage increases, current increases; as resistance increases, current decreases

an abrasive composite stone, usually with different grits on opposite faces; used for sharpening knives, chisels, and other cutting tools

in all directions; a spherical microphone pickup pattern

a wrench with nonadjustable U-shaped jaws on both ends; the opening between the jaws is of a specific width to grip bolts and nuts of specific diameters; used to tighten bolts and nuts

the circular area on which the majority of the action of the play took place in a Greek theatre

the space between the stage and the auditorium, usually below stage level, that holds the orchestra

a series of elevations, drawn to scale, that show each side or face of an object

a garment, usually made of lace or a similar lightweight, semitransparent fabric, designed to lie on top of another garment

a flat-surfaced cotton or cotton-blend material frequently used for making shirts

a chemical reaction between metal and air that forms a thin, discolored "skin" over the work that effectively prevents heat transfer. It adversely affects the strength and conductivity of both soldered and welded jousts.

a staging convention used during the medieval period. Basically, a bare platform backed with a plain curtain mounted on a wagon. The wagon could be pulled from town to town.

a small rectangle of paper or thin cardboard painted in a specific hue

persons responsible for painting the scenery and properties; they are under the supervision of the scenic artist

elevations of a set painted to show the palette and painting styles to be used on the actual set

to rotate an object about its vertical axis

an adhesive product, such as Liquid nails, packaged in a caulking tube and intend to be dispensed with a caulking gun

both sides covered in paper

a non-toxic modeling material that can be sculpted, molded or shaped, and air dries to a hard finish that can be carved or sanded

a process of building up a form by laminating wheat-paste-soaked strips of newspaper; also available commercially in a powdered form to make a paste suitable for forming in molds

an equalizer in which individual frequencies or custom-designed bands of frequencies can be programmed for boost or attenuation

long, high walls that extended on either side of and parallel with the skene of the Greek theatre

a holder for a parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) lamp; creates a powerful punch of light with a soft edge; the PAR 64 is commonly used for concert lighting

a sheet stock composed of small wood chips and sawdust mixed with a glue binder and compressed into 4x8ft sheets; it is quite brittle, so it cannot be used as a load-bearing surface

to connect a stage circuit to a dimmer circuit

a cross-connect or patch panel for sound

an interconnecting device that allows one to connect any stage circuit to any dimmer

person who makes patterns based on information contained in the costume designer's sketch, notes, and instructions

the hardware, operating systems/software, and peripherals based on the IBM personal computer

a hand-held computer used for making/keeping notes, schedules, phone numbers, and similar functions

the bottom edge of a perspective drawing

screwdriver with a cross-shaped head for a cross-shaped slot

a composite picture made by combining several separate pictures; can include nonphotographic images as well

extremely strong wire made from spring steel; frequently used for flying scenery because of its strength; should not be sharply bent as this significantly reduces its strength

a configuration in which the spectators watch the action of the play through a rectangular opening; synonym for proscenium arch stage

hooks and eyes that facilitate rapid hanging and removal of decorative draperies

voltage produced when pressure is placed on certain crystals

a loosely woven bag containing powdered eraser material

material that imparts color to a substance such as paint or dye

starter hole

a flattened metal bar configured like a crowbar

a horizontal pipe or rail studded with belaying pins; the ropes of the rope-set system are wrapped around the belaying pins to hold the batten at a specific height

a counterweighted batten or fixed metal pipe that holds lighting instruments

a threaded pipe with a movable end plate and an adjustable head plate; used for clamping furniture frames and similar wide objects; a bar clamp is similar, except that a notched bar is substituted for a pipe

a tool used for making clean right-angle cuts through steel tubbing of half-inch and larger diameters

similar in shape to the monkey wrench, it has jaws that are serrated to bite into the soft metal of pipes; used for holding or twisting pipes and their associated couplings

• the ground in front of the stage where the lower-class audience stood to watch the play in Elizabethan theatres
• in twentieth-century theatres, a commonly used abbreviation for orchestra pit

• the size of a particular typeface
• the characteristic tone produced by a vibrating body; the higher the frequency of a vibration, the higher this is

a picture element; the smallest discrete part of an electronically projected picture, as on a computer monitor

the ground-plan view of an object

a knife-edged tool used to smooth or round the edges or corners of wood

a lens with one flat and one outward-curving face

in drafting, a leader line extending across the opening of the proscenium arch

a sheet of mechanical drawings, drawn to scale

the open acting area in front the mansions of the medieval stage

devices used to play recorded sound; usually composed of some combination of a turntable, a tape deck, a CD player, or a computer; an equalizer; an amplifier; and a speaker

person who develops and writes the script

a printer used to produce computer generated drafting sheets and drawings on large paper

a wooden insert used to replace a knothole or other imperfection in the surface layer of a sheet of plywood

fabric similar to velveteen but with softer and longer pile; common drapery and upholstery fabric

refers to TEK screws specifically designed to attach plywood to metal. The flat head of the screw is typically driven flush with, or slightly into, the top surface of the plywood

a sheet stock made by laminating several layers of wood; its superior strength is created by alternating each successive layer so that its grain lies at a 90-degree angle to the layers immediately above and below it

a compressed-air-powered tool similar in appearance to a pneumatic stapler but using clips of adhesive-coated nails rather than staples

a compressed-air-powered stapler capable of driving staples with legs up to 1 1/2 inches long; adhesive coated staples are generally used for assembling flat frames, putting tops on platforms, and similar functions

using a mouse to initiate a specific action on a computer