KNOWING YOUR WAY AROUND Parts of a Stage KNOWING YOUR WAY AROUND Print slides #2-19 without titles in black & white - handouts (6 per page). Have kids fill in the term and color the part of the stage

Front Curtain Curtain that masks the acting area from the Audience. The front curtain is opened at the beginning of the play and closed between acts or scenes. It is usually a drawn curtain that parts in the middle. Sometimes called the Main Curtain or Grand Drape, it is usually a very nice, attractive material.

Apron Narrow acting area between the front edge of the stage and the front curtain. (Curtain Line) (Curtain Line) (Audience)

Proscenium Arch “Picture frame” for the opening of the stage

Teaser Heavy curtain or canvas-covered wooden frame hung above the proscenium opening to adjust the height of the opening Helps mask (hide) lighting instruments

Back Wall Opposite the proscenium opening

Battens Long pipes from which curtains, lights, or flats are hung

Flat A canvas covered wooden frame used for scenery

Borders Short curtains hung at intervals above the acting area to mask (hide) lights and scenery from the audience

Cyclorama (Cyc) Background curtain covering stage back and sides. Usually, it curves around the sides a little. It is often used for special lighting effects

Flies Area above stage where scenery is hung out of view

Fly Gallery Narrow platform about halfway up the backstage or side wall from which the lines for flying scenery are worked Some schools don’t have a fly gallery, but work their fly lines from the backstage floor.

Gridiron (Grid) Framework of beams above the stage; supports riggings for flying scenery

Ground Cloth Canvas to cover floor of acting area

Legs Drapes hung in pairs, stage right and left, behind the tormentors to mask (hide) the backstage

Trap Opening in the stage floor

Right-Hand vs. Left-Hand Stage Right-Hand Stage: Curtain pulled at stage right Left-hand stage: Curtain is pulled at stage left

Parts of the Stage / Acting Areas Adapted from textbook pages 154-156 (“Acting Areas”), Figures 9-6 & 9-7 BACKSTAGE (Curtain) UR (Upstage Right) UC (Upstage Center) UL (Upstage Left) OFFSTAGE OFFSTAGE R (Stage Right Center) C (Center Stage) L (Stage Left Center) DR (Downstage Right) DC (Downstage Center) DL (Downstage Left) Play “Simon Says” Apron (Proscenium Line) (Curtain Line) (Audience)

Assignment Go on a Scavenger Hunt in your teams to see what our stage at CPMS has! Be prepared to SHOW me the items you find!