Stage Left! Stage Right! Places! Action!

8/20/2019

Have you heard any of these terms before? Have you read them in a script?

There are so many theater terms used in the process of staging a production. Some are fairly straightforward: we know what a director is, what an actor is, and what a script is. But what about cheating out? What does it mean to spike?
Well, let's explore!

Let's start On Stage!

Stage Left: When an actor stands on stage, facing the audience, his or her left is referred to as stage left. All terms are relative to the actor.
Stage Right: When an actor stands on stage facing the audience, his or her right is stage right.
Upstage: When an actor moves away from the audience towards the back of the stage, they are moving upstage.
Downstage: When an actor moves to the front of the stage, towards the audience, they are moving downstage.
Centerstage: The center of the stage, from the actor or audience perspective!
Backstage: The area behind the curtain that can't be seen by the audience is backstage. This is where actors grab props, change costumes, or simply wait for their next cue.

Now on to Staging!

Blocking: Shortly after handing out the script, the director will start blocking. This is when the director, assistant directors, and stage manager will work out which actor stands where and when. This is no small task! The director has to make sure everyone on stage can be seen when they are on stage, whether they're delivering lines or simply providing reactions!
Cheat: To cheat is to make an action onstage look real, despite the fact that the actor isn't really doing said action. Most often, the term used is cheating out. Have you ever watched a production and noticed the actors are facing more towards the audience than each other? They're cheating out, because it's the best way to show the audience their expressions, and makes it much easier for the audience to hear!
Spiking: When the stage manager and stagehands work out where the set pieces will go during the show, it's called spiking. Usually the spots are marked with tape--a bright color so stagehands can see it in the dark between scenes!
Striking: Removing things from the stage is called striking. Usually, this refers to the end of every show weekend, when crew--and sometimes cast!--take all set pieces, props, and extras off of the stage and move it to either storage or, if the props are personal belongings, their houses! However, sometimes, if a scene calls for an empty stage, the director will call for the crew to "strike the set," meaning they'll just take everything backstage.

It's Showtime!

Tech Week: Tech Week refers to the final week before the shows. Rehearsals usually happen more often, and can last longer, depending on what the director wants. The reason it's called Tech Week is because the show is run through completely using all sound, light, and visual tech that the stage manager and director planned to use. Tech week is good for last minute changes, too! You never know how something translates to the stage, so it's important to be flexible!
Call Time: A call time is the time the director has the actors show up at the performance space. Generally, call times can seem way earlier than the actual performance, but it's because actors need to get ready! They need to get into costume, make sure their props are in place, and ensure they're all ready to perform!
Time Calls: Time Calls, not to be confused with the term above, are given by the crew, and tell the cast how long they have before the show starts. On in five!
Curtain Call: Take a bow! At the conclusion of a show, when everything is resolved, the curtain will close. When it opens, the entire cast comes out to bow. This is called a curtain call. During the curtain call, the cast will acknowledge the staff who help in tech, the music, and the backstage hands. It's very important that everyone is celebrated!

There is clearly a lot going on in the show process. We only touched on a short list of terms! We try to include everyone in the process, so it's important to share our knowledge so we can all grow together! Perhaps we'll do another list down the line, but for now, enjoy this quick post! More will come as the season begins!

Published by Laura Stall

Laura serves as Barrier Free's Content Creator. In addition to working on the social media, Laura will be posting blogs! She is very excited to start covering rehearsals and social events!

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