1. 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

2. 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.

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

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

5. 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

6. Back Wall
Opposite the proscenium opening

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

8. Flat
A canvas covered wooden frame used for scenery

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

10. 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

11. Flies
Area above stage where scenery is hung out of view

12. 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.

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

14. Ground Cloth
Canvas to cover floor of acting area

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

16. Trap
Opening in the stage floor

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

18. Parts of the Stage / Acting Areas
Adapted from textbook pages (“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)

19. 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!