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A Look Back Stage

Many people don't know how much works goes into a show. Not only are there actors to practice lines, there are crews to make sure every little thing in the auditorium works the best it can. These kids back stage are just as important to the show as the actors, so we decided to give them a little credit.

Crews

Costumes	As surprising as it may be, the costumes have less to do with making actual costumes than they do with research. This group needs to make sure all the outfits the cast wears fit the time period, economic class, and style of that particular character. Then they place a call to the rental shops to rent the costumes for the play.
Lights	Those working on lights have the job of picking colors, setting levels, and adjusting angles of all the stage and spot lights in the auditorium. They keep track of all of the lights in the auditorium for all shows and concerts.
Props	The properties department (props for short) deals with everything on the stage that is not a set piece. If an actor touches it, mentions it, or simply is in a room with is, it’s a prop.
Publicity	This crew makes sure that people know about the shows. Publicity makes posters and other advertisements, orders and designs tickets, designs the program, sells adds for the program, and sells tickets in the box-office.
Running Crew	Here’s a group of kids that need to know how to run in the dark. The running crew moves set pieces and props on and off between scenes, as quickly as that can, and dressed in black.
Set	Our set crew builds background pieces and flats to signify where the play’s action is taking place. They have the job of designing, painting, and building backgrounds, as well as occasional furniture pieces for props.
Sound	These kids make up the rest of the balcony dwellers. They’re not only in charge of all the doorbell and telephone sounds that are referred to in the play, but also all the microphones the actors use, and are often called upon to help with band, orchestra and choir concerts as well.

Stage Dictionary

Do you have trouble telling your "Stage left" from your "Stage right?" Or ever wonder where the fourth wall is? Now you'll know with the look at our Stage Dictionary

Blocking: an actor's movement around a set or the notations regarding movement in an actor's script. Also, for one actor to get between another actor and the audience.
Cold Reading: a reading aloud from a script or other text without any rehearsal. Usually in the context of an audition or workshop.
Downstage : towards the front of the stage; the half of the stage that is nearest to the audience
Dress Rehearsal (or just 'Dress'): A final practice of the play before performance with all actors wearing full costumes and all final lighting, sound, props, set pieces are used
Exit : a stage direction which specifies where a person goes off stage
Fourth Wall : an imaginary surface at the edge of the stage through with the audience watches a performance
Intermission : a break between the first and second acts
Monologue : an extended speech by one person directly addressing the audience or another character.
Orchestra Pit : where the musicians play, usually directly in front of the stage often sunken below the seating sections
Property: an object used in the play. From the Middle English proppe, meaning a support not originally related to property as in ownership; does not include scenery or costumes
Stage left : the side of the stage on the left when facing the audience
Stage right : the side of the stage on the right when facing the audience
Upstage : towards the back of the stage; the half of the stage that is farthest from the audience.