Tech TheatreSemester I, 2014

Exam Review

THEATRE PERSONNEL

• What is the technical director responsible for?• What does a stage manager do?• Know what the following people are responsible for• The different designers• The Master electrician• The vocal coach• The conductor• The director• The music director• The choreographer

Building and Construction

• How big is a 1x4? A 2x4?• What kind of plywood is used to top a platform?• What is used to make keystones and cornerblocks?• What is luan used for?• How many legs go on a 4x8 platform?• What should you add to tall platforms to secure their

stability?• What is the most common practical piece of scenery?• Wagons that move in multi directions use what kind of

casters?

Designing

• Mood: the dominant emotional quality of the play• Spirit: the production concept (the way the director and

designers want the play to be presented)• Theme: the overall message of the play• Elements of Composition: know specifics about all of these• Line• Form• Mass• Value• Color

Designing

• The design should support the production concept• What does the designer need to know about a play?• Historical information• Time period• Locale• Season• Socio economic level and personality of the characters

• Know the importance of research

More about design

• Know where to place furniture and the importance of angling walls

• What is the designer’s objective when creating an environment?• What is the purpose of a good set design?• What is practicality in design and what does the designer need

to consider when creating the setting for practicality?• Renderings• Full color drawings in scale

• Thumbnail sketches • Rough drawings

Tools

• Be able to identify and know what the following tools do• A jig saw• An adjustable (crescent) wrench• Claw hammer• Power drill/screwdriver• Staple gun• Pliers – regular and needle nose• Circlular saw

• Crosscut saw• Tape measure• Chalk line• Carpenter’s square• Level• Hack saw• Phillips head/slotted• Pry bar• Utility knife• Table saw• Chop saw• C-clamp

Identify the pieces of a flat

• Keystone• Cornerblock’• Rail• Style• Toggle

Stage areas

• Know the diagram for the following• Upstage right, up left and up

center• Downstage right, down left

and down center• Right center, left center and

center

GENERAL THEATRE SAFETY• Theatres usually have a FIRE CURTAIN that can close off the

performing area from the auditorium• Multi purpose ABC rated fire extinguishers should be in every

theatre• 3-types of fire extinquishers: A- burns to ash, paper, wood etc.; B-

combustable, spray paint, oil based paint etc…; C- current, or electrical. The ABC rated is a combination of all three

• Fabrics need to be treated with FLAMEPROOFING• Never block FIRE EXITS• Do not wear LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING, JEWELRY and tie

your LONG HAIR BACK• Wear OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

approved goggles or safety glasses when working with power tools

• Never wear SANDALS. Always wear hard soled, close toed shoes

• Always wear WORK GLOVES during LOAD INS, while TAKING OUT THE TRASH, and working the FLY SYSTEM (RAIL) DO NOT wear gloves when using power tools

• Never use PERSONAL STEREOS or play MUSIC at high volumes

• Only have ONE PERSON on a ladder at a time and do not stand above the SAFE LEVEL

• Never leave TOOL ON TOP of the ladder• HORSEPLAY will never be tolerated• Don’t stack things so they are UNSTABLE

• NO RUNNING OR PRACTICAL JOKES, throwing tools or materials, jumping from one level to another, or any other dangerous activity

• The shop and stage house should be CLEANED and left in a safe condition• All tools should be PUT AWAY; stored properly• Floors and table should be SWEPT AND CLEANED regularly• All lumber should be CLEARED OF HARDWARE and stored in

their proper place• Hardware should be SORTED after strike• Costumes should be CLEANED AND STORED properly

• When lifting heavy objects, USE YOUR KNEES and keep the body erect• Get help when lifting heavy objects

Tools and Machinery

• Keep areas CLEAR of clutter• If you don’t know how to use a tool or piece of

machinery ASK• USE SAFETY GLASSES whenever using power tools• Make sure GUARDS are in place and working properly

• Store lumber HORIZONTALLY whenever possible

• Store scenery VERTICALLY whenever possible• Use a DUST COLLECTION system after

EVERY job and make sure your area is CLEAN when you are finished working

• SAWDUST can be a FIRE HAZARD• If you have any questions ask your TECHNICAL

DIRECTOR • Use the RIGHT TOOL for the RIGHT JOB• Tools are divided into 3 categories• Cutting• Shaping • Joining

TOOL RECOGNITION

Wire StripperNeedle Nose Plier

Level

Drill (battery powered)

Jig or Saber Saw

Circular SawChalk Line Tri or Speed Square

TAPE MEASURE Pliers

Slotted Screw Driver

Phillips Screw Driver

Adjustable or Crescent Wrench

Claw Hammer

Framing Square Socket Wrench

TOOL

RECOGNITION

Seven Deadly Sins of Theatre Safety

• Insufficient knowledge• Improper use of tools and facilities• Faluire to safeguard hazardous equipment• Failure to remove faulty equipment• Carelessness• Taking unnecessary risks, including horseplay• Being in a hurry

Most dangerous

• The most dangerous time of any production is the strike (at the end of the production when the technical aspects are dismantled and stored)

• Extra vigilance should be given to safety during strike

Fire Safety

• Electric light bulbs must not be covered with paper or other combustible materials including paint

• Open flames should be avoided• When using open flame you must have a person with a fire

extinguisher on stage holding the fire extinguisher

In the Event of Fire

• Fight the fire if it is safe to do so• Evacuate everyone immediately • Sound the alarm on the way OUT• Make sure all personnel know where the fire

extinguishers are• Teach students how to use the fire extinguisher

Miscellaneous

• Anything on stage that looks moveable is considered what?• Anything that looks permanent on stage is considered what?• Anything an actor wears on stage is a what?• Practical units of scenery have to function like a what?• Who oversees the construction of a set?• Anything an actor carries on stage is a what?