Displaying 141 - 160 of 998
| Theatre Terms (A-Z) Sort descending | Definition |
|---|---|
| BOX BOOM | A front-of-house vertical lighting position (predominantly sidelight). |
| BOX OFFICE or BOX-OFFICE | An office in a theatre, commonly in the outer lobby, where tickets are sold. |
| BOX SET | Naturalistic setting of a complete room built from flats with only the side nearest the audience (the "fourth wall") missing. |
| BRACE | 1) Angled strengthening timber within a flat. 2) Support for scenery (flattage) on stage. An extendable brace hooks into a screw eye on the flat and is weighted to the floor (commonly known as a "Stage Brace") A French brace is a right-angled non-adjustable triangular frame, made from timber, and attached to the flat with pin hinges. Often swung flush to the flat for storage or flying. |
| BRACE WEIGHT | Cast iron weight placed on foot of extendible or French brace to prevent movement. Often referred to as a "Stage Weight" or "Pig" (as in pig iron). |
| BRAIL | A rope, wire or chain attached at either end of a piece of scenery or lighting bar pulling it upstage or downstage of its naturally hanging position to allow another flying item to pass, or to improve its position. |
| BRAVO | A shouted word of applause, meaning "Excellent!" The Italian forms "brava" (for an actress) and "bravi" (for two or more actors) are also used. |
| BREAK A LEG | A superstitious and widely accepted alternative to "Good Luck" (which is considered bad luck in the theatre). |
| BREAK CHARACTER | In acting, saying or doing something that is not in keeping with the character one is portraying. Most often this is accidental, as when an actor forgets a line or bit of business, or when distracted by an occurrence in the audience or offstage. |
| BREAK UP | Too play a joke on a fellow actor so as to interrupt the delivery of his/her lines. Hence, an interruption caused by such a joke. |
| BREAKAWAY | Prop or item of furniture designed to break/shatter with impact. Breakaway furniture and some props are usually capable of restoration to be "broken" again. |
| BRIDGE | A walkway, giving access to technical and service areas above the stage or auditorium, or linking fly-floors. |
| BRING UP THE LIGHTS | To increase the illumination. |
| BROADWAY | The principal avenue running through the theatre district of New York City near Times Square, and thus the district, and collectively the theatres on or near this avenue; by extension, the commercial theatre of New York. The British equivalent is the West End. |
| BUILD | 1) During lighting plotting, to construct a state from blackout, or to add to an existing state. 2) An increase in light or sound level. 3) The act of constructing a set or a costume. |
| BULLDOG | A U-shaped clip and saddle used for terminating wire rope. Also known as a Cable Grip, Dog Grip or Wire Rope Clip. |
| BUMP | To change the intensity of a lighting instrument or group of instruments instantaneously, usually for a short duration of time, and often to the beat of music as if to create a pulsing effect. Also, to turn up the lights, as in "Let's bump up the lights." |
| BURLESQUE | 1) Originally, a play parodying drama or other literature in the 17th and 18th centuries. Later, a lighter, less literary, more absurd satire, with song and dance, well into the 19th century. Now any comic entertainment or revue sketch that pokes fun at current manners and mores. 2) A low comedy show featuring women in scanty costumes, bawdy humor, well into the middle of the 20th century. |
| BURNT CORK | A makeup material used for blackening the skin. |
| BURNT OUT | A colored gel that has lost its color or melted through due to excessive heat in front of a instrument. Dark blues and greens etc. are most susceptible, and may need replacing during a long run. |