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Theater drapes and stage curtains

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104: 243: 232: 84:(i.e., they are "flown," in theater terminology). When a drape is flown, the task of adjusting its height for best masking effect is simplified and, in the case of a drape that must be moved during a performance, this enables the drape to be quickly raised above the proscenium arch—thus positioning it out of view of spectators—or lowered to any desired height above the stage. In flying, instead of using the directions "down" and "up," drapes and curtains are flown "in" and "out," respectively. 965: 399:, also known as templates or patterns. With an ellipsoidal reflector, the light source is positioned at one focal point of the three-dimensional ellipse, then the pattern - cut metal or glass or other heat-resistant material - is positioned in reverse position so that the light escaping the instrument passes through the pattern first, then through the other focal point and the lenses, and is projected upon the cyc or scrim. 351:
the top and tied to the pipe with tie-line (usually drapery cord nowadays). A time-honored method of hanging a drop is the roll-drop, in which the bottom of the drop is attached to a round batten. The drop is rolled onto it from the back, and is deployed by rope rigged through blocks (pulleys) to be pulled from offstage to release the tension holding the batten up, thus unrolling it slowly until completely unfurled.
327:, is a curtain made of an open-weave fabric that appears opaque when lit from the front, but transparent when a person or object behind the curtain is lit. Scrims can be painted and used as both a backdrop and a scrim in some situations. Some scrims can also be used for projections but produce a lower quality and intensity of image than a projection screen. 166:, just behind the proscenium arch. It is typically opened and closed during performances to reveal or conceal the stage and scenery from the audience. There are several styles of front curtains. They can be pleated or flat; can part in the centre; can be drawn upwards, sideways, or diagonally; and can fly out, gather out, or roll out. 394:
With projected scenery, cycs and scrims may be used as drops, by employing either front or rear projection. This was done in a general sense in the 1910s and 1920s by means of painted glass plates in front of lighting instruments, which made sculptured shadows on the cyc to indicate such images as a
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are short drapes hung above the stage, spanning its width. They're used to mask equipment and hidden scenery above. Borders hung close to lights are backed with heat and flame-resistant material. Legs and borders are typically made from a heavy, light-absorbing material similar to that of other stage
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Drops may be hung by various means. Often made of canvas which has been sized and painted, the top may be pressed between two pieces of lumber (a batten) and clamped to a pipe, with a pipe or chain through a hem pocket at the bottom giving it weight to prevent flapping. Some may be grommeted along
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cloth. After several deadly theater fires in the early 1900s, safety systems were developed to isolate the stage, direct smoke away from the audience and limit the fire's oxygen supply. The safety curtain can be a major part of that system, physically separating the stage space with the curtain
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drapes. One border downstage of a pair of legs forms a complete masking frame around the stage. Dependent on venue size, three or more sets of legs & borders may be employed at varying upstage distances from the proscenium. More legs allow for more locations for actors to enter from.
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for short, is a large curtain, often concave, at the back of the stage that can be lit to represent the sky or other backgrounds. Traditionally white or natural colored cloth, cycloramas now come in various colors of white, grey, light blue and the green or blue curtains used in
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There is also a form of drop used in Vaudeville days, which may still be seen in older theaters, called an olio. "Olio" means conglomeration, and these drops were most often roll-drops covered with advertisements from various sponsors, for the audience to view between shows.
279:, are curtains that open and close horizontally. They're used to reveal or obscure everything upstage and sometimes create a portal. They can be rigged with an operating line, which is motorised or pulled manually. The rear stage wall may be obscured by a traveler, if a 119: 53:
from spectators. They are designed for a variety of specific purposes, moving in different ways (if at all) and constructed from various fabrics. Many are made from black or other darkly colored, light-absorbing material (In North America, for example, heavyweight
204:). These pieces can be made with drapery or hard materials. "Hard" teasers and tormentors are typically constructed with a wooden frame faced with thin plywood and dark colored, light-absorbing material like velour. The teaser is usually hung from a dedicated 395:
cityscape or a scary dungeon. (Focus was generalized in the early days; nowadays projectors have adjustable focus lenses.) Lighting instruments (generally ellipsoidals) may also be used to project scenic effects on cycs and scrims, by using
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is used in place of teaser and tormentors as a decorative frame for the stage, often designed with the current production in mind. It can be employed in front of or behind the front-of-house curtain, and it too serves to mask backstage areas.
347:. Before the advent of motion pictures, theaters would have 6-8 stock painted backdrops on canvas for use in live theatrical performances. Often these would include an urban scene, a nature or garden scene, and a domestic interior. 253:
are tall, narrow drapes hung parallel to the proscenium at the sides of the stage. They're used to frame the sides of the acting space as well as to mask the wings, where actors and set pieces may be preparing to enter the stage.
62:, a category comprising any non-wardrobe, cloth-based element of the stage or scenery. Theater curtains are often pocketed at the bottom to hold weighty chain or to accept pipes to remove their fullness and stretch them tight. 428:
running in a guide pocket on either side of the proscenium to form a better seal. They are often designed to descend automatically when a holding line is cut or a winch brake released with a minimum of operator effort.
297:, are drapes hung perpendicular to the proscenium and at the sides, used to more completely mask the wings than legs. Unlike most stage drapery, these run up to downstage (hence "up-and-downer"). Note that the name 308:
A theater may have a single U-shaped track around the sides and back of the stage instead of rear travelers and tabs. Gaps between sections of curtain on the track can be aligned with the legs to form entrances.
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is a short curtain that hangs between the proscenium and the grand drape. It may match in color and style or it may be more ornate. The valance can be used to create the top of the false proscenium.
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is used to separate the stage from the audience in case of a fire onstage. It may be made of heavy fireproofed fabric or solid steel sheet. Some were made of
498: 188:, if in place, creates a smaller frame for the stage within the proper theatre proscenium. It is formed at the top by a horizontal 242: 46: 508: 852: 591: 107: 524: 17: 481: 837: 867: 208:
so that its height can be independently adjusted to optimize the masking of the fly system and its loads.
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is the current industry standard). Theater drapes represent a portion of any production's
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Theatre side and top curtains (black, beige, pink) (Albert Hall stage, Canberra) (2016)
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Large piece of cloth designed to mask backstage areas of a theater from spectators
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is a similar curtain, but lowered at the front of the stage.
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curtains or even sometimes refer to the aforementioned legs.
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For diagonally opening front curtains known as "tabs", see
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are large pieces of cloth that are designed to mask
391:(greenscreen) work may also be called cycloramas. 979: 530:. Syracuse Scenery & Stage Lighting Co., Inc 87: 599: 585: 68:stages use a greater variety of drapes than 592: 578: 467: 465: 463: 496: 471: 241: 230: 196:in the UK) and at the sides by vertical 117: 102: 29: 490: 460: 14: 980: 283:or projection screen is not in place. 573: 853:Parabolic aluminized reflector light 500:Illustrated Theatre Production Guide 517: 179: 108:Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro 24: 220:Legs, borders, travelers, and tabs 25: 1009: 402: 963: 474:Theatrical Design and Production 964: 838:Ellipsoidal reflector spotlight 92: 542: 345:the scenery of the performance 13: 1: 453: 365: 330: 226:Front curtain § Tableau 88:Types of drapes and curtains 34:Different types of curtains. 7: 431: 80:and can be controlled by a 10: 1014: 472:Gillette, Michael (2000). 406: 369: 223: 96: 961: 920: 885: 823: 752: 726: 717: 667: 631: 620: 611: 525:"Guide to Stage Curtains" 312: 238:masking the theater wings 815:Theatrical smoke and fog 790:Lighting control console 497:Holloway, John (2010). 211:In some productions, a 247: 239: 123: 115: 35: 554:www.wordreference.com 245: 234: 121: 106: 33: 848:Intelligent lighting 805:Stage pin connector 739:Lighting technician 659:Technical direction 443:Theater (structure) 372:Cyclorama (theater) 277:guillotine curtains 744:Master electrician 248: 240: 152:proscenium curtain 124: 116: 36: 18:Backdrop (theater) 988:Stage terminology 975: 974: 948:Theatrical makeup 881: 880: 795:Socapex connector 713: 712: 510:978-0-240-81204-5 301:can be short for 271:and (when flown) 122:Austrian curtain. 16:(Redirected from 1005: 967: 966: 724: 723: 639:Set construction 629: 628: 594: 587: 580: 571: 570: 564: 563: 561: 560: 546: 540: 539: 537: 535: 529: 521: 515: 514: 494: 488: 487: 469: 289:, also known as 267:, also known as 186:false proscenium 180:False proscenium 21: 1013: 1012: 1008: 1007: 1006: 1004: 1003: 1002: 978: 977: 976: 971: 957: 916: 888: 877: 843:Fresnel lantern 819: 748: 734:Lighting design 709: 663: 644:Scenic painting 623: 616: 607: 598: 568: 567: 558: 556: 548: 547: 543: 533: 531: 527: 523: 522: 518: 511: 495: 491: 484: 470: 461: 456: 434: 411: 405: 374: 368: 333: 315: 229: 222: 182: 158:or, in the UK, 112:Eliseu Visconti 101: 95: 90: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1011: 1001: 1000: 995: 990: 973: 972: 962: 959: 958: 956: 955: 950: 945: 940: 935: 930: 928:Costume design 924: 922: 918: 917: 915: 914: 909: 904: 899: 893: 891: 883: 882: 879: 878: 876: 875: 870: 865: 860: 855: 850: 845: 840: 835: 833:Beam projector 829: 827: 821: 820: 818: 817: 812: 807: 802: 797: 792: 787: 782: 777: 775:Color scroller 772: 767: 762: 756: 754: 750: 749: 747: 746: 741: 736: 730: 728: 721: 719:Stage lighting 715: 714: 711: 710: 708: 707: 702: 700:Scenery wagons 697: 692: 687: 682: 677: 671: 669: 665: 664: 662: 661: 656: 651: 646: 641: 635: 633: 626: 618: 617: 612: 609: 608: 597: 596: 589: 582: 574: 566: 565: 541: 516: 509: 489: 482: 458: 457: 455: 452: 451: 450: 445: 440: 438:Flat (theatre) 433: 430: 416:safety curtain 409:Safety curtain 407:Main article: 404: 403:Safety curtain 401: 370:Main article: 367: 364: 332: 329: 314: 311: 291:up-and-downers 221: 218: 181: 178: 130:, also called 110:, painting by 97:Main article: 94: 91: 89: 86: 43:stage curtains 39:Theater drapes 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1010: 999: 996: 994: 993:Scenic design 991: 989: 986: 985: 983: 970: 960: 954: 951: 949: 946: 944: 941: 939: 936: 934: 931: 929: 926: 925: 923: 919: 913: 910: 908: 907:Prompt corner 905: 903: 900: 898: 895: 894: 892: 890: 884: 874: 871: 869: 866: 864: 861: 859: 856: 854: 851: 849: 846: 844: 841: 839: 836: 834: 831: 830: 828: 826: 822: 816: 813: 811: 808: 806: 803: 801: 798: 796: 793: 791: 788: 786: 783: 781: 778: 776: 773: 771: 768: 766: 763: 761: 758: 757: 755: 751: 745: 742: 740: 737: 735: 732: 731: 729: 725: 722: 720: 716: 706: 703: 701: 698: 696: 693: 691: 688: 686: 683: 681: 678: 676: 673: 672: 670: 666: 660: 657: 655: 652: 650: 649:Scenic design 647: 645: 642: 640: 637: 636: 634: 630: 627: 625: 619: 615: 610: 606: 602: 595: 590: 588: 583: 581: 576: 575: 572: 555: 551: 545: 526: 520: 512: 506: 502: 501: 493: 485: 483:0-7674-1191-9 479: 475: 468: 466: 464: 459: 449: 446: 444: 441: 439: 436: 435: 429: 426: 422: 418: 417: 410: 400: 398: 392: 390: 385: 381: 380: 373: 363: 361: 356: 352: 348: 346: 342: 338: 328: 326: 322: 321: 310: 306: 304: 300: 296: 292: 288: 284: 282: 278: 274: 270: 269:draw curtains 266: 262: 259: 255: 252: 244: 237: 233: 227: 217: 214: 209: 207: 203: 202:side maskings 199: 195: 191: 187: 177: 175: 174: 167: 165: 161: 157: 153: 149: 145: 141: 137: 133: 132:house curtain 129: 128:front curtain 120: 113: 109: 105: 100: 99:Front curtain 85: 83: 79: 75: 74:thrust stages 71: 67: 63: 61: 57: 52: 48: 44: 40: 32: 19: 953:Video design 938:Sound design 933:Running crew 921:Other fields 679: 557:. Retrieved 553: 544: 532:. Retrieved 519: 499: 492: 473: 421:fire curtain 420: 414: 412: 393: 383: 377: 375: 357: 353: 349: 340: 336: 334: 324: 323:, sometimes 318: 316: 307: 298: 294: 290: 286: 285: 276: 272: 268: 264: 263: 257: 256: 250: 249: 235: 212: 210: 201: 197: 194:house header 193: 189: 185: 183: 170: 168: 159: 155: 151: 148:main curtain 147: 143: 139: 135: 131: 127: 125: 93:Grand drapes 64: 59: 42: 38: 37: 912:Prompt book 873:Accessories 825:Instruments 605:scenography 534:15 November 213:show portal 140:grand drape 136:act curtain 49:areas of a 998:Fly system 982:Categories 889:management 863:Striplight 760:Barn doors 690:Fly system 622:Theatrical 614:Scene shop 601:Stagecraft 559:2024-06-04 454:References 389:Chroma key 366:Cycloramas 198:tormentors 144:main drape 82:fly system 66:Proscenium 60:soft goods 868:Spotlight 780:Cyclorama 770:Color gel 695:Platforms 379:cyclorama 360:olio drop 341:backcloth 331:Backdrops 281:cyclorama 265:Travelers 164:downstage 47:backstage 897:Blocking 753:Hardware 680:Curtains 668:Hardware 432:See also 425:asbestos 337:backdrop 293:(UK) or 162:, hangs 156:main rag 969:Outline 810:Top hat 765:C-clamp 705:Weights 654:Rigging 624:scenery 448:Curtain 303:tableau 295:Germans 258:Borders 173:valance 114:(1908). 78:battens 51:theater 727:Fields 675:Batten 632:Fields 507:  480:  313:Scrims 273:bounce 206:batten 190:teaser 171:grand 56:velour 887:Stage 858:Scoop 800:Snoot 685:Flats 528:(PDF) 397:gobos 382:, or 325:gauze 320:scrim 70:arena 943:Prop 785:Gobo 603:and 536:2019 505:ISBN 478:ISBN 413:The 339:(or 299:tabs 287:Tabs 251:Legs 236:Legs 200:(or 192:(or 169:The 160:tabs 126:The 41:and 902:Cue 419:or 384:cyc 358:An 275:or 72:or 984:: 552:. 462:^ 376:A 335:A 317:A 184:A 154:, 150:, 146:, 142:, 138:, 134:, 593:e 586:t 579:v 562:. 538:. 513:. 486:. 228:. 20:)

Index

Backdrop (theater)

backstage
theater
velour
Proscenium
arena
thrust stages
battens
fly system
Front curtain

Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
Eliseu Visconti

downstage
valance
batten
Front curtain § Tableau


cyclorama
tableau
scrim
the scenery of the performance
olio drop
Cyclorama (theater)
cyclorama
Chroma key
gobos

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