APPENDIX B
GLOSSARY OF STAGE TERMS
Arch—Doorway or archway in section of scenery.Act—Division of play.At Rise—Beginning of play or act.Back Stage—Portion back of visible stage.Back Drop—Large curtain hanging at rear of stage showing a landscape, garden or woods.Borders—Section of different colored cloths or scenery hanging at intervals from above. Usually represents sky, ceiling or branches of trees.Border Lights—Rows of lights in tin troughs suspended from ceiling used to illuminate stage.Brace—Support, usually slender pole to keep scenery in place.Bunch Lights—Groups of lights on movable standards.Business Manager—Person who looks after finances of production, promotes advertising campaign, sells and takes tickets, etc.Comedy—A play light and amusing, having a happy ending.Costume—A character dress of a particular period or locality worn in a play.Cue—Last words of a speech indicating time for next actor to begin.Cross—To move from one side of the stage to the other side.Dimmer—Electrical device to regulate quantity of light on stage.Drops—Curtains or pieces of scenery extending height and whole width of stage.Down—Down stage means direction of audience.Discovered—In person on stage at beginning of play or act.Drama—A composition intended to portray life or character to be performed on stage.Farce—A light, somewhat ridiculous play usually short.Festival—A periodical season of entertainment embracing pageantry, drama, music and dancing.Footlights—Illumination on front of stage floor.Front—Part of stage nearest audience.Lash Line—Rope used to hold sections of scenery together.Left—Actor’s left on stage when facing audience.Music Plot—Brief statement of incidental music in play.Off—Away from visible stage.On—On stage.Pantomime—A dramatic performance where words are not used—a dumb show.Pageant—An outdoor spectacle or play of large proportions.Pastoral Play—A drama describing rural life.Prompter—One who reminds actor of parts forgotten.Property Man—One who looks after properties in play.Puppet Show—A small image in human form play.Properties—Articles used in play.Proscenium—Arch framing the stage where front curtain hangs.Run—Portion of stage leading to visible part.Set Piece—A structure built on stage like tree, wall or cottage.Set—Scenery for certain act in play.Scene—Subdivision of play or act in play.Stage-Manager—One who looks after arrangement of stage scenery for a play.Spotlight—Light aimed at certain section of stage.Tableau—Representation of some scene by grouping of people.Tormentors—Passages near proscenium opening.Trap—Hole in stage floor.Tragedy—A dramatic composition having an unhappy ending.Up—Toward rear of stage.Upstage—Part of stage farthest away from audience.
Arch—Doorway or archway in section of scenery.
Act—Division of play.
At Rise—Beginning of play or act.
Back Stage—Portion back of visible stage.
Back Drop—Large curtain hanging at rear of stage showing a landscape, garden or woods.
Borders—Section of different colored cloths or scenery hanging at intervals from above. Usually represents sky, ceiling or branches of trees.
Border Lights—Rows of lights in tin troughs suspended from ceiling used to illuminate stage.
Brace—Support, usually slender pole to keep scenery in place.
Bunch Lights—Groups of lights on movable standards.
Business Manager—Person who looks after finances of production, promotes advertising campaign, sells and takes tickets, etc.
Comedy—A play light and amusing, having a happy ending.
Costume—A character dress of a particular period or locality worn in a play.
Cue—Last words of a speech indicating time for next actor to begin.
Cross—To move from one side of the stage to the other side.
Dimmer—Electrical device to regulate quantity of light on stage.
Drops—Curtains or pieces of scenery extending height and whole width of stage.
Down—Down stage means direction of audience.
Discovered—In person on stage at beginning of play or act.
Drama—A composition intended to portray life or character to be performed on stage.
Farce—A light, somewhat ridiculous play usually short.
Festival—A periodical season of entertainment embracing pageantry, drama, music and dancing.
Footlights—Illumination on front of stage floor.
Front—Part of stage nearest audience.
Lash Line—Rope used to hold sections of scenery together.
Left—Actor’s left on stage when facing audience.
Music Plot—Brief statement of incidental music in play.
Off—Away from visible stage.
On—On stage.
Pantomime—A dramatic performance where words are not used—a dumb show.
Pageant—An outdoor spectacle or play of large proportions.
Pastoral Play—A drama describing rural life.
Prompter—One who reminds actor of parts forgotten.
Property Man—One who looks after properties in play.
Puppet Show—A small image in human form play.
Properties—Articles used in play.
Proscenium—Arch framing the stage where front curtain hangs.
Run—Portion of stage leading to visible part.
Set Piece—A structure built on stage like tree, wall or cottage.
Set—Scenery for certain act in play.
Scene—Subdivision of play or act in play.
Stage-Manager—One who looks after arrangement of stage scenery for a play.
Spotlight—Light aimed at certain section of stage.
Tableau—Representation of some scene by grouping of people.
Tormentors—Passages near proscenium opening.
Trap—Hole in stage floor.
Tragedy—A dramatic composition having an unhappy ending.
Up—Toward rear of stage.
Upstage—Part of stage farthest away from audience.