Exam One Study Guide

What is a "dutchman"?

(Covering a seam) A 6" wide strip of muslin which is "glued" (with paint) over the joint between adjacent flats. The process: (1) Paint the flat. (2) Paint the strip of muslin. While both are wet, (3) place the painted side of the muslin against the freshly painted flat. (4) Apply a third coat of paint over both the flat and the unpainted side of the muslin.

What is stock scenery?

(Setting) Standard sized drops, platforms, and flats (including door, window and fireplace flats) which can be easily assembled into a set. Because they are standardized, they can be quickly repainted and used in another production. The use of stock scenery can reduce the set budget for a show to the cost of paint.

What is the difference between a lay-in brush and the lining brush, also known as a "scenic fitch"?

- (3" to 6" in width) Used in priming, base painting, wet blending, and dry brushing as well as painting the architectural molding (chair rail, mopboard...) in an interior box set. - (1/4" to 2" in width) - Primarily used to line-in highlight and shadow.

What are the types of props?

- A hand prop - A small object, which is used by an actor -- a book, wine bottle, glass... - A set prop - A large movable object, often a piece of furniture, which is used by an actor -- a sofa, table, chair, floor lamp... In a union house, the floor lamp would be placed on the set by the prop crew but would be plugged in by a member of the electric or light crew. - Set dressing - Any object which is mounted on the set but is not used by an actor -- the draperies over the window, the painting on the wall, the books in the bookcase, etc. Set dressing gives the room character.

What are the three types of rigging systems?

- A hemp or rope set system - the oldest, simplest, most flexible and most dangerous rigging system. A set of ropes (often 3/4" hemp) run from the pipe (or batten) up to the loft blocks clamped to the grid, across to the head block secured to the side wall of the fly loft and down to the pin rail. If a rope set is used during a show a sandbag will often be attached to the rope set to help balance the weight of the load. Very heavy. - A counterweight system - easier and safer to use. A set of steel cables (lift lines) run from the steel pipe (or batten) up to the loft blocks across to the head block and down to the top of the counterweight arbor. A rope haul line runs from the top of the arbor up to the head block, down through the lock rail, around the tension pulley and back up to the bottom of the arbor. A 400-pound load on the pipe (20 spotlights, for example) is balanced with 10 40-pound cast iron counterweights (bricks) in the arbor. - A dead hung system - the pipe is permanently chained to the grid. If you need to hang a light you get out the ladder. Basic "Shoe" Tie Knot

What is a drop and why do we mark the center of a drop?

- A large piece of painted canvas hung from a pipe (or batten). Generally used as a backdrop behind the set. A drop is generally made by sewing together two or more strips of muslin. The top and bottom edge are usually sandwiched between two 1x3 battens or sewn to 4" wide jute webbing. - The center (center mark) of a backdrop is usually marked with a colored tie line or a marking of some sort. Why? A painted backdrop is hung starting at the center and working towards the ends of the pipe. If the drop is longer than the pipe, the excess is looped back towards the center of the stage.

What is a sky drop and what is a Cyc used for?

- A light sky-blue drop or white plastered wall at the rear of the stage. It is generally used to represent an endless, cloudless sky. - A curved white drop located at the back of the stage used to project color and images. It starts down left, curves around the back of the stage, and ends down right.

What is a flat and what are the types of flats?

- A wood frame (1x4s) covered with canvas (or Luan). Usually assembled to create the walls of a realistic interior set. - Broadway or soft covered and Hollywood (also known as hard). The Hollywood is framed with the 1x4 on edge and covered with 1/4 plywood or Luan (also known as 1/4" Mahogany Underlayment) instead of muslin. No keystones or corner blocks are needed as Luan stiffens the frame.

What is a jack and what is a stage brace?

- An uncovered three-sided flat containing a stile which is at least two-thirds the height of the flat, a bottom rail (one fourth the height of the flat), and a diagonal brace. Typically it is screwed (or hinged) to the back of the flat and secured to the floor with an L bracket or 2x4 block. - Two overlapping pieces of hardwood which can be adjusted in length. The top contains a "double-pronged curved hook" that fits into the eye of a brace cleat. The bottom is attached to the stage floor with a stage screw.

The type of wood is:

- Dimensional Lumber - 1x4 (bracing and framing) or 2x4 (legging) - Sheet Material - a sheet of plywood (¾" plywood, Luan and Masonite (covering stage floors to paint)) used as the flooring in theatrical platforms.? Standard size is 4x8 feet. Luan, also known as Philippine mahogany, is an inexpensive, thin (1/4") flexible, 3 ply, plywood commonly used to cover hard or Hollywood flats.

What should you do before using or maintaining any power tool?

- Make sure that all power tools are turned off before leaving the machine - Unplug portable power tools when they are not being used - Unplug all power tools before changing blades, bits, or making adjustments.

What are the main sub-disciplines and their technical department of stagecraft?

- Scenic design/Carpentry (scenery and props), which includes all drawings and models needed to construct all scenic elements and Props for a production. - Lighting design/Electrics, which involves the process of determining the angle, size, intensity, shape, and color of light for a given scene. Hanging, focusing, procurement and maintenance of lighting and special effects equipment, aspects of show control. - Electricity and wiring. - Sound design/Audio, which can include musical underscoring, vocal and instrument mixing as well as theatrical sound effects. - How to set up a sound system, etc. - Costume design/Wardrobe - which involves the design and the construction of costumes.

How many legs does a 4x8 platform need? How should the legs be attached to the platform frame? State a technique which can be used to brace the legs of a platform.

- Six. The spacing between legs should not be more than 4 feet. - Legs are traditionally bolted to the platform stile with 3/8" carriage bolts for anything over 3'-0" high. Anything lower just screw in. - Legs are normally braced by running 1x3 (or 1x4) diagonals from the bottom of each leg to the platform rail and stile. Each leg requires two diagonal braces. The separation between the braces should be 90 degrees. - Cross-bracing - crossing wood to make things stronger

What are the two Theatrical Unions?

- The scene, costume, and lighting designer are represented by the United Scenic Artists of America. (USAA) - The stagehand in the commercial American theatre is represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), a large organization which not only represents stagehands but also projectionists, film editors and other craft people employed in the film and television industry.

What is the difference between an independent door unit and a dependent door unit?

- The shutter, facing, and thickness are assembled into a single unit which is then slipped (and bolted) into the "hole" of a door flat. During strike the door unit is pulled out of the flat and stored in the shop for reuse. - The facing is attached to the front of the flat and the thickness and shutter are attached to the rear of the flat creating a single unit. During strike, the entire unit is disassembled into a door flat, a shutter (or door) and a pile of lumber.

What is the difference between the tormentors and the legs and the difference between the teaser (or valance) and the borders?

- The tormentors and the legs are narrow (8' wide) curtains hung behind (up stage of) the act curtain. They are used to establish the width of the setting and mask (hide) the off-stage space. The legs are generally hung parallel to the front of the stage on 6' to 10' centers. Most stages require three sets of legs to mask. - The teaser (or valance; first leg) and the borders are short, full stage (48' wide x 8' tall) curtains hung behind (up stage of) the act curtain. It is used to establish the height of the setting and to mask the lights and scenery hung above the acting area. Together the tormentor and teaser form an inner portal or false proscenium which frames the action of the play. Typically the borders are hung downstage (in front of) each set of legs.

What are book flats and three-fold flats?

- Two flats which are hinged (and dutchmaned) on the face. They can be folded together like a book for easy storage. Opened to a 90-degree angle, they can create a stable scenic unit for a multi-set show. - Hinged (and dutchmaned) on the face for easy storage. When opened, they create a mini-box set.

What are the standard tread width and the two riser heights?

11 inches. Stair treads are normally cut from 3/4" plywood. Riser heights are 6 inches to 8 inches.

How many standard 4x8 platforms will be needed to assemble a 16x24 deck? Sketch a diagram of how these platforms could be assembled.

12 platforms. Three across (3 * 8' = 24') by four deep (4 * 4' = 16') These 12 platforms will weight over 1140 pounds.

To frame a 4x8 platform you need? (Sketch frame pattern and label the parts.)

2- 8' stiles, 2- 4' rails, and 3- 4' toggles. The spacing between toggles is normally 2'-0", 2'-8" for two toggles.

The standard width of a stock door, window, or fireplace flat?

4 feet. Length = 8 feet.

What is the standard height and the standard width of the flats in a stock set?

4x8. Units over 8' in height are difficult to handle. Probably the most commonly used set height is 12 to 16 feet. 4 feet width. Walls wider than 4 feet are assembled from two or more.

How can a 3-rise step unit suggest a flight of stairs to the second floor?

A 4x8 flat (representing a wall) and a 4-foot wide platform can be assembled to suggest stairs to the second floor.

What power tool is primarily used for making straight cuts in plywood?

A circular saw, also known as a skill saw (brand name), also a saw for both ripping and cross-cutting sheet material.

What is the fire curtain?

A flame resistance drop hung immediately behind the proscenium arch. In the case of a fire, the curtain is dropped to protect the audience.

What is a designer's elevation?

A front view of each individual piece of scenery. The Designer's Elevations/Front Line Elevation are used by the shop crew to determine the height and architectural detail of each scenic unit.

What is a traveler?

A full-stage drape which is split in the center. When opened it travels to the side and is stored off-stage left and right.

What is stagecraft?

A generic term referring to the all the technical aspects of theatrical, film, and video production - the backstage elements.

What is a black box theatre?

A large, flexible theatrical space which can be easily adapted into any (end, thrust, arena, or corner stage) theatrical form.

Scenic Artist

A member of the "set crew." Using the painter's elevations developed by the Scene Designer as a guide, he paints the scenery in the scene shop before the set crew places it on stage. The Scenic Painter or Paint Charge is in charge of the painting of the set, drops and all scenic elements.

What is a found space?

A nontheatrical space -- the rotunda of the state capitol, a church, warehouse, courtroom, carpenters shop -- which is used for production.

What is an "end" stage?

A proscenium theatre without an arch. It's typically a room with the audience seated at one end and the actors performing on a low stage at the other. There is usually no proscenium, no front curtain, and no wing space. It is often used in very small off or off-off-Broadway theatres.

Which product, a colored rendering or a scale model, most accurately reflects how a set will look under the light on opening night?

A rendering. Watercolor, ink, color pencil, etc.

What is a trap?

A section of the stage floor which can be removed, giving the actors and crew access to the basement. It is generally used for those plays which require an entrance from below.

What is a ground plan?

A top view (cut-view or bird's eye) of the set. The ground plan is used by the crew to locate the set on the stage floor.

What is a "yellow card" show?

A touring production which is staffed by an IATSE crew. The Master Carpenter sends a "yellow card" to the business agent of the local IATSE union. This card established the size of the required crew for each department (carpentry, electric, props, and wardrobe) for each call (in, show, and out). It is the responsibility of the union to provide the necessary stagehands.

What is a platform and what is the standard size of a stock theatrical platform?

A wood frame (1x4s or 2x4s) covered with 5 ply 3/4" plywood (deck). Used by a designer to create different levels (or elevation) on the stage floor. 4x8. Other special sizes are 4x4, 2x8, 2x4, 2x2, and the right triangles which can be created by cutting any of these along the diagonal.

What is the process of assembling a set on stage?

All flown units (legs, electric pipes, drops) load-in first, Followed by the platforms, Flats, Door and window units, and finally, the Furniture and set dressing.

What is the center line?

An imaginary line that marks the center of the stage. It is one of the two reference lines used when locating points on the stage.

What is a scrim?

An open weave fabric which is often used for "magical" effects. When lit from the front it appears solid; when the lights behind are turned on, the fabric becomes transparent revealing whatever is upstage.

The two techniques a scene painter can use to "cartoon" a design onto a drop (or flat)?

An overhead (or slide) projector can be used to project a copy of the scene designer's elevation on the drop. A grid system (a 1/2" square on the elevation = a 1' square on the drop) can also be used to transfer the drawing from the elevation to the drop.

Return

Between legs; where actors go to go on/off stage

Two common pieces of hardware which can be used to assemble rigid platforms or flats into a unit

Carriage bolts & clamps

The three techniques which can be used to brace a set?

Design as many square corners into the set as possible (and logical). Run a tension line from the set piece to the grid. Brace the flats with a jack or stage brace.

What are the standard warnings given by the prop master to both actors and techies?

Don't play with the props. Don't sit on the furniture. Don't touch someone else's prop. If it's not yours, leave it alone. Put your prop back on the table when you're done. If it's not a prop, don't put it on the prop table.

What is the act curtain (also known as the grand drape)?

Generally hung directly behind the fire curtain. It is traditionally made of 24oz Velour and is used to begin and end each act.

Wardrobe Master

Makes costumes

Should you ware dangling necklaces, large rings, and loose scarves while working in the shop?

NO - as they may become entangled in the machinery.

Who can work in the shops while under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

No person - Any student using prescribed drugs which can cause drowsiness, lightheadedness, or disorientation should notify Mr. Denevan.

What does "raked" mean?

Original stages were slanted so the audience could see actors at the back of the stage.

What should you do to keep your work area clean and organized?

Periodically sweep up excessive waste and return unnecessary tools to the toolbox.

What are the three basic components of scene paint?

Pigment -- which gives the paint color Binder -- which holds the pigment on the surface Vehicle (or medium) -- the suspension which holds both the binder and the pigment

Technical Director

Primarily responsible for the coordination of the technical aspects (scenery, lights, sound, props, and rigging) of a production. He establishes the production calendar, oversees the technical (scenery and lighting) budget, coordinates the scene shop and on-stage activities and oversees the load-in, load-out, and running crews. In a small academic program, he may also be both the scenic and lighting designer.

What are blocks and what types are there?

Pulleys which hold the lines of the rigging system are clamped to these beams of the grid. Loft Block, Head Block, and Tension Block.

The best saws for cross cutting?

Radial arm saw - Used for only dimensional material or sheet pieces under 10" (depending on your machine) Compound Miter Saw - It is fast and accurate and can be also used to make miter cuts in molding. The miter saw has replaced the radial arm saw in many small scene shops.

The three primary colors of paint

Red, Blue, Yellow.

Producer

Responsible for financial and management aspects

What are the responsibilities of a Theatrical Technician?

Responsible for some or all of the backstage work necessary to put on staged entertainment. The duties of theatrical technicians often include work with the construction and movement of scenery and props, costumes, the installation of lighting and to monitor or operate sound equipment, lighting, and other effects or technical systems.

Which, a colored rendering or a scale model, best reflects a set's spacial arrangement?

Scale model. 3D models

Designers

Scenic/props, Lighting, Sound & Costume. Each in charge of the concept, drawings/paperwork needed to mount the production.

What is a cyc?

Short for cyclorama; a curved white backdrop used to project onto it or change color to show time of day. Concave

The hand tool that has the highest disappearance rate

Steel tape

What are the two types of casters normally used on a platform-wagon and the number of casters needed for one 4x8 wagon?

Swivel (smart) casters and Straight casters Six. The traditional spacing between casters is 4'.

The best saw for ripping and cross-cutting lumber?

Table saw (stationary and portable) - rips 1x material and cross and rips sheet material.

Working drawings

The "blueprints" used by the crew to build, paint, and assemble the set. Ground Plans, Elevations, Details, Perspectives. Uncolored drawings

What is the grid or gridiron?

The I-beams which form the "ceiling" of the stage house.

What are other elevation drawings?

The Rear Elevation which shows the rear view (flats) as to how the structure is to be built and Painter's Elevations, which shows exactly how the designer wants the pieces painted.

Proscenium House

The actor is on a raised platform in front of the audience. Scenery typically fills the space behind and upstage of the actor. Entrances to the playing space are made through the scenery. "Picture Frame"

Thrust Stage

The actor is surrounded on three sides by the audience-- the fourth side contains the scenery. Entrances to the acting area are made through the scenery upstage and through the audience at the two front corners of the stage.

Arena Theatre

The actor is totally surrounded by the audience. Entrances to the acting area are normally made through the audience at the four corners of the stage.

Who were the first to use a thrust stage?

The ancient Greeks.

How are the flats secured to the floor?

The bottom of the flat is secured to a block of wood, often a 2x4, which, in turn, is secured to the stage floor.

Shift Crew

The carpenters (members of the "set crew") who change the scenery in a multi-set show. They are part of the running crew and fall under the jurisdiction of the Stage Manager.

Presentational materials

The drawings (rendering or model) a designer uses to sell his ideas to the director and producer.

What is the base coat?

The first "show coat." It establishes the basic color of the set.

Grand Teaser

The first curtain facing the audience

Master Electrician

The head of the "light crew." He is responsible for hanging, coloring and focusing the lights. He is often the light board operator which makes him part of the running crew under the jurisdiction of the Stage Manager.

Property Master

The head of the "prop crew." He is responsible for finding or building the necessary furniture, hand props and set dressing. He is guided by the prop list generated by the Director and/or Stage Manager and by the drawings developed by the Scene Designer.

Master Carpenter

The head of the "set crew." He is responsible for taking the Scene Designer's drawings and turning them into scenery on stage. Carpenters and Welders are under him.

What is the apron?

The narrow stage space in front of the act curtain or proscenium.

What are escape steps?

The off-stage step unit which leads up to (or down from) a platform.

Where is the plaster line?

The second reference line. It extends from the upstage corner of the stage left proscenium arch to the upstage corner of the stage right proscenium arch. Each point on stage is located by its distance upstage (or downstage) from the plaster line and its distance left or right of the center line.

Where is the fly loft?

The space above the acting area.

What is meant by the term "floating" a flat?

The stagehand "foots" the bottom rail and permits the flat to fall forward, floating gently to the floor. The wind resistance of the unit keeps the structure from crashing.

Where are the wings?

They are backstage space on either side of the acting area.

Why should doors, on a conventional box set, open off stage?

They are traditionally hinged on the upstage side and open off stage. Otherwise, they become self-masking -- blocking the audience's view of backstage. Also, only one side is seen by the audience.

What does "properly attired" include?

This includes long pants, close-toe shoes, hair tied back or tucked under a hat and short sleeved shirt (or rolled up) to avoid any chance of it getting anything caught in the machinery.

What is a router used for?

To trim excess or to route edges to create trim.

What is a backing flat?

Two or more flats representing the adjoining room, placed behind a door or arch unit. These are normally 8 feet tall.

scumbling

Used as the base coat for plaster, wood, stone, and dirt -- is the wet blending of two (or more) similar colors on the surface of the scenic unit.

What is the prime coat?

Used to give pre-painted scenic units a common tonality. Many shops prime their sets with inexpensive white (or off-white) interior latex wall or ceiling paint available at Wal-Mart.

What is the size coat?

Used to prepare unbleached muslin (or canvas) for the base coat. Originally sizing was a mixture of one part glue to sixteen parts water. Today flats are usually sized with paint mixed from the leftovers from previous productions.

How and why should the prop table be "mapped"?

Using masking tape, the prop master will divide (or "map") the table into a number of blocks -- one block per prop. Each prop is assigned a unique position on the table. The actor picks up the prop from the table, takes it on stage, and when the scene is over, places the prop back into its assigned square. At the beginning and end of each night, the prop master can glance at the table and quickly tell exactly what props, if any, are missing.

The three secondary colors of paint

Violet, Green, Orange.

The standard glue used in the theatre?

White casein glue, better known as Elmer's® glue

Eye protection must be worn when operating any of the power tools. What about ear protection?

Yes, hearing protection is necessary.

(a.) The type of flooring that should be used on a stage and (b.) The color/finish of the stage floor?

a. The stage floor should be made of a soft wood (perhaps plywood) covered with tempered Masonite®. Typically the top layer of the stage floor will need to be replaced every two or three years. b. The floor should be painted black with a semi-gloss or satin finish. The traditional "flat" black appears dull grey, not black.

value

the amount of black or white in the color.

hue

the name of the color