Acoustical Reflector Panels

Acoustical panels hung in the auditorium for the purpose of sound enhancement. May also be known as Clouds or Front of House Reflector Panels.

Apron

The stage floor area located downstage of the proscenium opening.

Arbor

A carriage or frame designed to contain counterweights used in a manual rigging systems.

Back Stage

A place off the acting area of a stage.

Batten (pipe)

Length of steel pipe suspended above the acting area by the rigging system.

Belaying Pin

Hardwood or steel pins that insert into the pin rail used to tie off the control line (rope) of a hemp rigging system.

Black Box

A multi-purpose performance space, without permanent seating or staging.

Border

A short drop or curtain used to mask the line of sight over a setting and to hide the flys and lighting battens.

Bridge

A catwalk crossing the stage or auditorium used to support lighting equipment.

Bridle

A short length of cable or chain fastened to a batten and rigging lift line. Distributing the support of the lift line across the batten.

Bumper Angle

Mounted to the T-Bar or J-Bar guide system the bumper angle limits the travel length of an arbor.

Cable Cradle

A device used to take hanging tension off of the electrical cable from the junction box at the grid to the wireways on the pipe, an integral component of the strain relief system. Typically these are cast aluminum, formed steel, or flexible PVC.

Capstan Winch

A winch used in an entertainment venues to raise a loaded batten to a point where the arbor can be safely loaded.

Clew

A steel bracket used to terminate a number of lift lines in a single support line, usually tied to a winch drum.

Counterweights

Weights placed on an arbor to balance the weight of scenery or lighting. Counterweights are made from flame-cut steel, cast iron, or lead.

Crossovers

A passageway behind the scenery or stage, permitting actors or technicians to cross from one side of the stage to the other.

Curtain Track

A channel from which drapery is hung and along which carriers travel, when the curtains are moved. May be fixed (dead hung or ceiling mounted) or flown.

Cyclorama

A flat or curved stretched cloth or rigid structure, used as a background to a setting. A cyclorama is used to give the illusion of infinity or to simulate a sky.

Dead Hung

A scenic piece or other equipment hung from chain, rope or cable at a fixed height.

Double Purchase

A type of manual rigging that uses blocks and suspension cables to reduce counterweight arbor travel to half of the batten supported.

Downstage

The portion of the stage nearest the audience. Going "downstage" means moving toward the audience. Going :below: a person or object means moving on the side nearest the audience.

Draperies

Any unspecific fabric hung in folds as masking or part of a scene, typically finished panels hung from curtain tracks.

Electric

A batten from which lighting equipment is mounted, usually with a connector strip attached.

Flown

Suspended on lines, as distinct from standing on stage floor or hanging from fixed equipment.

Floor Block (Tension Blocks)

Floor blocks complete the control line loop from the headblock back to the bottom of the arbor. They also compensate for normal expansion/ contraction of the purchase line caused by humidity and temperature.

Fly

Lift something above the level of the stage floor, by means of rigging or lines run from the grid.

Fly Gallery

The portion of the backstage encompassing the rigging system and specifically the locking rail and loading gallery.

Forestage

Portion of the stage floor in front of the main curtain line.

Fire (Safety) Curtain

A curtain of non-flammable material, mounted immediately behind the proscenium opening. The curtain is fitted with a release mechanism for clear of the proscenium opening and with a quick-release device allowing it to descend automatically. Use to protect the audience in case of the fire.

Front Curtain

Typically located in one of the first two rigging sets behind the proscenium arch, and runs the full width and height of the stage. Front curtains may be standard 2 section bi-parting, Austrian, Venetian, or Tableau curtains. They are usually made from Velour, available in many colors including custom dye lots, and also available with multiple fabric weights and fullness to suit the end user. Front curtains may also contain additional decorative elements, and trim.

Grid

Framework of steel beams over the stage, used to support the sets of lines employed flying scenery. Also known as a gridiron.

Head Block

A large sheave, grooved for support lines and hauling lines and attached to the support steel directly above the fly rail.

Hemp Rigging

A system for flying scenery where hemp suspension lines are taken over loft blocks to a head block and straight down to the pin rail. Sandbags are often used to offset the weight of flown scenery.

House Left

The audience’s left as they are facing the stage.

House Right

The audience’s right as they are facing the stage.

Index Strip Light

A group of lamps in a steel trough used to illuminate a fly gallery.

J-Bar

Aluminum guide system used to guide counterweight arbors. Used as an alternative to a steel t-bar guide system.

Lattice Track

A guide system used for an individual lineset, typically mounted on the upstage side of the proscenium wall, used to guide arbors for specialty rigging sets.

Lift

A section of stage floor that may be raised or lowered to different levels. Most common form is an orchestra lift.

Loading Bridge

Narrow catwalk above the locking rail, used to store counterweight and to facilitate the loading and off-loading of weight from the counterweight arbor.

Locking Rail

The attachment point for rope locks in the rigging system, typically also the control location for a counterweight rigging system. The locking rail may be at stage level, or at a loading gallery level.

Loft Block

Sheave which is bolted to the grid and used to pass a suspension line. One loft block is used for each lift line in a lineset.

Masking

Drapery or scenery used to restrict the spectators view of any part of the stage space which should not be seen.

Motorized Rigging

A stage rigging system utilizing electrical winches to raise and lower pipe battens.

Mule Block

A pulley used to change the horizontal direction of a moving line.

Off-Stage

Any position on the stage floor that is out of the sight of the audience.

On-Stage

Any position on the stage floor within the acting area and in sight of the audience.

Orchestra Pit

A recessed area, immediately downstage of the apron used to house the orchestra.

Orchestra Pit Filler

Removable panels used to close off the orchestra pit area. May be used to extend the performance area of the stage closer to the audience.

Orchestra Shell

An acoustically reflective enclosure, consisting of wall towers and ceiling panels. A shell is intended to reflect sound into the audience.

Paint Frame

A wooden frame to which drops and flats are attached vertically for painting. Typically located in the scene shop a paint frame may be motorized or counterweighted allowing movement up and down.

Pin Rail

The control location for a hemp rigging system. The control line of the hemp system is secured to the pin rail via use of belaying pins.

Proscenium Opening

The opening through which the audience view the stage. Also known as the proscenium arch, or simply the proscenium.

Purchase Line (Hand Line)

The control line (rope) used to operate the arbor, thus moving the lineset in or out. Currently, the most popular ropes for purchase lines are ¾" Multi Line 2 and ¾" Stage Set X. Also known as the operating line.

Rope Lock

Ropelocks are a positioning device that prevent movement of a rigging set by the use of a cam action jaws pinching the purchase line. When the ropelock is closed a balanced lineset will not move.

Scrim Drops

Often used in much the same way as a cyclorama. Commonly referred to as simply "scrims". Can be used for special effects, (i.e. to reveal scenes, soften cyclorama lighting, etc.) Scrims appear opaque when lit from the front and virtually transparent when backlit.

Sheave

A grooved wheel (pulley) over which a line are passed, part of loftblock or headblock assembly. Sheaves are commonly manufactured from cast iron, steel, and nylon.

Single Purchase

A manual rigging system where the pipe battens travels the same distance as the counterweight arbor. In a single purchase system the counterweight should be equal to the weight supported on the pipe batten. Every foot of travel in the counterweight arbor and control line equals a foot of travel at the pipe batten.

Spot Block

Spotblocks, blocks similar to loftblocks, are used for temporary linesets (rigged with rope) required for specific productions.

Stage Left

Actors left as they are facing the audience.

Stage Right

Actors right as they are facing the audience.

T-Bar

Steel guides, used to guide the arbor in counterweight rigging systems.

Teaser

A border curtain, hung downstage of the tormentors used to mask the top of the tormentor, or may be used to mask lighting and equipment.

Tormentor

Substantial wing, adjustable vertical frame, or drapery placed immediately behind the proscenium openings to mask the offstage edges of the setting.

Trim

To level off a piece of suspended scenery, at the correct height for use during a performance.

Trim Chain

A chain used to fasten the end of a lift line to the pipe batten. Typically constructed of proof coil chain, a thimble, and screw pin anchor shackle.

Truss Batten

Used in place of a single pipe batten, a truss batten is made up of 2 or more pipes connected with stringers creating a more rigid support structure. Truss battens may be I trusses, tri trusses, or box trusses.

Upstage

The portion of the stage farthest from the audience. To move upstage means to move away from the audience.

Valance

Hung downstage of the main drape it masks the top of the main drape. Adjusting the valance curtain trim height can be used to control the height of the proscenium opening.

Winch

Mechanism, either hand-operated or motorized, for opening and closing curtains, moving scenery, etc.

Wire Rope

Wire rope (galvanized aircraft cable) is made from cold-drawn wires that are wrapped into strands.