Theatre Terms
As a service to the theatre community, AACT provides over 1000 definitions of theatrical terms. Fully searchable, our glossary is helpful for technical staff, directors, actors, producers, or anyone wanting to better understand the inner workings of theatre.
HOW TO SEARCH:
Click on a letter (A-Z) below to find terms beginning with the specified letter, OR enter a word in "Search for Term" OR search by entering a word in "Words in Definition." For example, entering the word "curtain" would display all words whose definition includes that word. (Note: If the A-Z or word search has been activated, it must be reset before using "Search for Term" or "Words in Definition." To reset the A-Z search: Click Here)
| Term | Definition | Link |
|---|---|---|
| DISCHARGE LAMP | A high-powered source of light produced by means of a discharge between two electrodes. An arc light, for example uses a discharge between two carbon rods which are manually or automatically fed together as they are burnt up. The use of this type of lighting is restricted to non-dimming applications such as followspots and projection, where dimming is achieved by mechanical means. Many of the new generation of moving lights use discharge lamps and diachronic filters. | |
| DISCOVER | To reveal a scene, a person, etc., to the audience, often by the opening of a curtain or bringing up stage lighting. Thus, "Barnes is discovered upstage left, smoking." | |
| DISSOLVE UNIT | Interface connected between two or more slide projectors and a tape player. Synchronization signals recorded onto the tape are detected by the dissolve unit and fade up the lamp in one slide projector while changing the slide in the other, and then vice versa, producing a dipless crossfade between the two images. | |
| DISTORTION | Noisy and unpleasant sound reproduction, usually the result of overloading sound equipment. Reducing the levels can remedy the situation. | |
| DISTRIBUTION BOARD | System of interconnected fuse carriers and cabling that routes an incoming power supply to a number of different outputs. | |
| DMX/SMX/RDM |
MULTIPLEXED (MUX) SIGNAL |
DMX/SMX/RDM |
| DOCK | A place (often a raised platform) for the loading or unloading of materials. | Loading Dock/Scene Dock |
| DOG GRIP | Cable Grip | |
| DOLBY | Trade name for a series of noise reduction systems that have become standard on many tape playback machines. Many film soundtracks are produced using this process. Different varieties are found from Dolby B on most personal cassette players, to Dolby SR and Digital, the current state of the art for films. | |
| DOLLY | A small wheeled platform used to move heavy items. (E.g. a piano dolly). | |
| DOMINATE A SCENE | 1) In acting, to occupy an outstanding position on the stage, as the position farthest upstate, or on the highest plane of several levels. 2) A particularly strong actor who, intentionally or not, is the prime focus of a scene. | |
| DONUT | A metal plate with a hole in the middle inserted in the color runners of a lamp to sharpen focus (in the case of a profile) or reduce spill. | |
| DOOR FLAT | A flat with an opening for a door unit. | |
| DOORSKIN | A flexible thin plywood used for covering flats, also known as luaun or Philippine mahogany. Use is declining due to the fact that it is sourced from environmentally unsustainable resources in the Brazilian Rainforest. | Luaun or Luan |
| DOUBLE | To play two parts in one production; an actor who does so. Thus, doubling. | |
| DOUBLE PURCHASE | Counterweighted flying system where the cradle travels half the distance of the fly bar, leaving the side wall of the stage under the fly floors clear of flying equipment. The cradle of a double purchase system needs twice as many counterweights as that of a single purchase system balancing the same weight. | |
| DOUBLE TAKE | An actor's comic response to a surprising event or action: one expression, followed after a pause by another, as he pretends to recognize the significance belatedly. | |
| DOUBLE-CAST | To cast two actors in each part, either to provide an understudy, or to permit their appearance in alternate performances. Thus, double-casting. | |
| DOUBLING | ||
| DOWN | Short for down stage. |
