3. Stage Equipment

Terminology

Top view – Birds eye view, from the sky

Ground plan – to scale – drawing of the set from above
- Used to help – technical director build it, director block it, actors to rehearse (tape on floor) and lighting designer to plan lights
- From the top – must include set.

Front Elevation – drawing of something as seen from the front with detail.  Does not show how to build the set, only what it looks like finished from the front
- How to build – rear-elevations

Centerline section – section drawing – what you see if you stand on stage on the centerline and look for one side. Used to show height relationships between scenic pieces in the theatre.

Look at handout packet!!
Center line
Plaster line

Stage Equipment

Proscenium Stage

* Proscenium Arch – picture frame
- Vary in height/width – usually about 22 feet high and 36-40 feet wide.

* The stage – the playing space / upstage of the proc. arch

* Stage floor – what does it need to do??
- Safe surface for actors to move on (not too slippery, but still can dance)
- Ideally can be painted
- Change to the design of each show – unity of style!
- Durable – deal with lots of traffic and heavy machinery
- Sound-deadening – muffle footsteps and diminish sound of scene changes

* Stage directions – US/DS, SL/SR… review: why?

* Wings – Spaces on either side of the stage. Primarily used for storage
- Which wing?? Uses of terminology.

* Apron – extension of stage DS of the arch

* Orchestra pit – usually between the apron and the audience seating – Usually full width of the arch and 8-12ft wide to hold full band.
- Depth varies… hopefully deep enough to not block site of audience members
- The pit adds to the divide between the audience and stage, especially when not in use
- Sometimes can be covered with either apron/stage platforming or with more audience seating – Roberts, Sap and the Stadium

* Stage House – Physical structure enclosing the area above the stage and wings

* Drapes – Purpose? ALL are trying to mask something US
- main drape, main rag – covers the proc. opening
- can be flown or traveled – Traveler?
- Legs – vertical, mask sides – often black velour
- Borders/teasers – horizontal – mask fly and lighting equipment in the air
- False proscenium – made up of rigid tormentors (V) and teasers (H) - Like soft curtains - used to provide masking – shrink proc. opening
- Show portal – show specific false proc.
- US drapery - Cyclorama “Cyc” solid light color used to enhance lighting effects (projection screen) and a Scrim – gauze like
- A scrim will appear entirely opaque if everything behind it is unlit and the scrim itself is grazed by light from the sides or from above. A scrim will appear transparent if a scene behind it is lit, but there is no light on the scrim. 

* Fly – To raise object/person with a rope or cable – HANDOUT!
- Two types: rope set and counterweight… both work on the idea of counterbalancing.
1. Rope set - multiple ropes attach to the batten and are fed through loft blocks before traveling to the headblock above the operator. Operator controls all 3 ropes where they are tied off by hand to a pin rail. Use sandbags if load is too heavy for someone to pull manually. Can be dangerous if not done or maintained properly
2. Counterweight – like the ones here at RIC. Much safer. Ropes on the batten replaced by steel cable. Follow the same path, but permanently secured to the top of an arbor, not a pin rail. Weight loading platforms are up in the air so that weight can be added while scenery is safely on the ground.
- Double purchase versus single - Double allows the batten to move twice as far as the arbor. This frees up stage space, but requires double weight on the arbor.

* Fly floor or fly gallery – elevated walk way when pin rail/operation is located.

* Batten – wooden/metal pipe from which scenery/lights are suspended.

* Counterweight arbor – metal cradle that holds weights used in counterweight flying system
- Loading platform/weight floor – walkway suspended below the grid, where weight is loaded onto the arbor
- Safe operating tips - HANDOUT

FOUND in multiple theatre types...
* Traps – removable sections of the stage floor… can be filled with ladders, elevators, slide, etc… or left open for a controlled fall.
* Revolve – turntable or revolving stage (provides visual interesting and effective scene change method)
* The grid – network of steel beams supporting the systems used to raise and lower scenery. In proscenium houses its referencing the steel supporting the fly system. In thrusts and arenas – grid is used to support lighting sound etc… above entire stage and auditorium – look up! Other types have orchestra pits too…. discuss north shore. Pit versus grid platform… other solutions to band placement??