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. LeftHand 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 96 & 9-7
BACKSTAGE
UR
(Upstage Right)
(Curtain)
UC
(Upstage Center)
UL
(Upstage Left)
OFFSTAGE
OFFSTAGE
R
(Stage Right Center)
DR
(Downstage Right)
C
(Center Stage)
DC
(Downstage Center)
(Curtain Line)
Apron
(Audience)
L
(Stage Left Center)
DL
(Downstage Left)
(Proscenium
Line)
Assignment
 Each group must create a poster for TWO of the
stage parts we just learned about. We will draw
for parts. BE PREPARED TO SHARE AT
THE END OF THE PERIOD!