See also ARENA, THRUST, END ON, TRAVERSE. JH: I do not know of any falls from theatre balconies. (ie Actors right when facing audience). I think we are experiencing a trickle down scenario. A fireproof "curtain" that can be dropped downstage of the house tabs in a proscenium theatre to separate the audience from the stage in the event of fire. The term is often loosely applied to a blue skycloth, or any flattage at the rear of the stage. JH: In the case of the contractor they are working in the area with a number of heavy objects, in a variety of situations. A less stout guard might permit a taller rail that is not as much of an obstruction. The Sightlines Theatre at Thomas Haney Secondary has been producing award-winning theatre for over a quarter century! This trap is also sometimes called a Ghost Glide. What are some alternatives that can reduce this perception while still maintaining good sightlines? See TOSCA. design is based on ‘isacoustic curve’. Built into the roof of some older theatres, but mostly now unused (for safety reasons). See also TAB WARMERS. The current requirements for guard strength (200lb point load and 50plf) requires a heavier construction; built to withstand “crowd crush”, not a single person losing balance in a balcony, which is a lower load. SAFETY CURTAIN Doesn’t that solve the problem? Usually stage left side of the stage, containing the prompt corner. BC: That clearly seems to be a case in stadia and arena. Many theatres with a 'stalls' seating area used to be built with raked stages as a matter of course. Known as GRAND CURTAIN in the US. And all this is quantified in terms of percentage of seats in the house with compromised or no sightlines. Sometimes the forestage doubles as the orchestra pit by use of a lift. LOGE(esp.US) Seating area in traditional proscenium arch venues. It’s unlikely to occur during this revisions cycle, which will be the 2018 Code, but it is certainly possible for 2021. PROSCENIUM ARCHThe opening in the wall which stands between stage and auditorium in some theatres; the picture frame through which the audience sees the play. Performers and technicians enter here. Theatre in the Round is a form of audience seating layout where the acting area is surrounded on all sides by seating. Though the seats against the rail and removing circulation from being directly adjacent, minimizes the hazard. Just like the 42-inches is measured diagonally in section at the foot of aisles. The executive director was in a position to mandate that cleaning staff will be harnessed which was a far better end result than if we had to raise the railing. A railing height might be agreed upon in early meetings and a concrete balcony slope might be poured that allows balcony patrons to see over that railing. Imaginary line running across the width of the stage, in line with the proscenium arch, which is marked on the groundplan and is used as a reference when planning set and furniture layouts etc. (US) The main house tabs in a venue. In the case of the patron they are walking into a row in a controlled manner with fixed seating on one side. However, this entirely depends on the nature of the show. Our new Sightline program is an industry first. (becoming obsolete term). BOX OFFICE(UK) Part of the theatre front of house area where audience members can buy tickets. The stage manager calling the cues is very often at the side of the stage (traditionally stage left) but in some venues he/she may be in the control room also. Often shortened to 'Shop'. The part of the theatre accommodating the audience during the performance. We have IBC and LSC protecting audience at 26-inches but OSHA requires a much higher rail for workers. Not every show will use the tabs, but it's often nice to save the audiences' first view of the set for a special moment as the show starts, not as 'wallpaper' while they're coming into the auditorium. Jim Hultquist (JH) is a consultant doing most of his work in Australia for Schuler Shook. ('Royal Door') The central entrance in the scaenae frons, the permanent architectural background to the stage of a Roman theatre. In Graham Vick’s 1994 production of Evgeny Onegin, Olga ends the letter scene by dousing herself with the contents of the washbasin — upstage, extreme stage right — a climactic moment lost to half the audience. 2) Abbreviation for Royal Opera House, London. A kind of flexible small studio theatre where the audience and actors are in the same room, surrounded by black tabs (curtains). Strategies such as training, requiring employees to stay where they are protected by the taller foot of aisle guard, clear aisle warnings, limiting visits, using a spotter, and finally strong anchorages for fall arrest (along with a rescue plan!) ORCHESTRA1) In Greek Theatres, the central performance area used by the Chorus or for dancing.2) Refers to the main seating area of the auditorium at floor level.3) Colloquially known as 'the band' the musicians who perform from the orchestra PIT. Seating Division. European organisation (since 1997) created to safeguard the architectural heritage of opera houses and the form of opera.TOSCA website, TRAPAn opening through the stage floor. Normally a variation of blue or red in colour, although a more neutral grey is often better for scenes played in front of it, or for taking colours and gobos as tab warmers. PROMPT SIDE (PS) Known as GRAND CURTAIN in the US. See the link below for some possible derivations of the term. Highly dramatic and stylised form where the text is completely sung. In a theatre, it refers to the balcony seating area (or the lowest of the balconies in a larger theatre). A rake is expressed as a ratio (eg a 1:25 rake rises by 1cm vertically over 25cm horizontally). The part of the theatre upstage of the proscenium arch, which contains the stage, wings, fly tower, fly floors, grid etc. An audience is in a performing arts venue for a specific reason and they are not worried about wearing hard hats or protective eye gear. There are standard defaults for dance, drama, opera and orchestra which take into account distance to stage, height of the viewer above stage, head evaluation, angle of view, rotation of head, and vertical inclination. In a theatre, it refers to the balcony seating area (or the lowest of the balconies in a larger theatre). Is there a problem with falls from balconies and similar situations where the sightline-constrained rail can be applied? PLAY. The International Building Code (IBC) has seven exceptions for guarding elevation changes greater than 30-inches, and fully five of those impact stages and performing arts venues. However, this entirely depends on the nature of the show. Some offer online (internet) bookings also. JH: In Australia, the Building Code of Australia (BCA) requirements are for a 1 meter (39.5inches) high guard or alternately a 700mm (27.5 inch) guard with a 1m extension outward. The assessment is subjective, and what may be considered acceptable to the design team might be entirely unacceptable to a venue manager, particularly with regards to ticket pricing. for example, sightlines are particularly important concideration in theater and stadium design, road junction layout and urban planning. This is historically how they have evolved and directors should recognise that. Box seats often need a code minimum railing to allow sightlines. Area, traditionally on the stage left side of the stage, from which the stage manager (or DSM) controls ('prompts') the performance, from the prompt desk. FORESTAGEThat part of the stage which projects from the proscenium into the auditorium. There are problems with sound reinforcement (feedback is much more likely due to being closer to the front of speakers) and video relays are often used as the conductor is no longer visible. are all possibilities for which management would be responsible. ACT NUMBER INDICATORAn indicator board visible to the audience on the proscenium arch of a theatre used for variety performances which showed the Act Number so the audience could tell who was on stage (after referring to their printed programme). Unlike a BRIDGE, not necessarily across a void. Number one in an occasional series about theatre design Sightlines – a basic understanding The most fundamental principal of “places of … See also TAB WARMERS. TH: I believe this approach has merit but will be difficult to implement. In most jurisdictions in the United States where an audience will view an event, these rails are permitted to be 26-inches tall. SETTING LINEImaginary line running across the width of the stage, in line with the proscenium arch, which is marked on the groundplan and is used as a reference when planning set and furniture layouts etc. TH: Most owners who express doubt about this railing are school officials. Built into the roof of some older theatres, but mostly now unused (for safety reasons). (From the French Loge). See also CENTRE LINE. PERCHA lighting position (often on a platform) at each side of the stage, immediately behind the proscenium. A mechanical device used in Greek classical and medieval drama to lower an actor playing God from the flies above the stage to resolve the conflict in a play.