Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

theater

521

Actors enter and

leave the theater

by the stage door.

Sound effectS

Sound effects must happen at

exactly the right moment. If

an actor falls down before the

sound of a gunshot, the whole

scene is ruined. the sound

operator listens and watches

carefully for each cue.

The wardrobe

department makes

the costumes and

stores them until

needed.

Actors who play the

leading roles may have

a dressing room

to themselves.

Loudspeaker announcements

warn the actors to get ready

to make their entrance.

The busy carpentry

department builds the

sets. Props, such as

furniture, are stored

here when not in use.

Find out more

composers

dance

Literature

Music

Shakespeare, william

The elevator can lift an

actor or prop on to the

stage in a split second.

Most traditional theaters

have a “picture frame”

stage—the play takes

place under a

proscenium arch.

up In the fLIeS

high above the stage there is

“fly” space in which scenery

and equipment hang. A system

of pulleys makes it possible to

lower scenery.

the pIcture frAMe

clever use of scenery

and a sloping stage

helps change the

audience’s view through

the proscenium arch

(the frame of the stage)

and makes the stage

look deeper.

From the lighting

control board or

console, the

operator can dim

or brighten any light

in the theater. A

lighting change can

alter the mood of

a play in seconds.

The flameproof safety curtain

seals off the stage from the

auditorium if fire breaks out.

Some of the actors share a

dressing room where they put on

makeup and change into costume.

Musicians may sit

in an orchestra pit

below the front of

the stage.

By raising or angling

the stage slightly, the

designer can change

the audience’s view.

Scenery and

props wait in

the wings for

rapid scene

changes.

Lowering the curtain, or

tabs, hides the stage while

stagehands change scenery.

Fly ropes raise

and lower the

lights as they are

needed.

profILe-Spot

Stagehands control this

light from the rear of

the upper circle. they

use the strong beam to

pick out and follow an

actor in a pool of

brilliant light.

US_521_Theater_2.indd 521 27/01/16 2:39 pm