assignment 7

1.    Describe the difference between a thrust stage and proscenium stage.

A thrust stage is more of a modern stage.   It is also known as a platform or open stage.  The stage extends out to the audience on three sides, so that the audience may view the stage from at least three sides.  The proscenium stage is more of an old fashion stage.  Its main feature it the big arch that is located near the front of the stage.  This arch is known as the proscenium arch and proscenium is a Latin word meaning in front of the scenery.  Rather than the audience being able to view the stage from three sides, the audience is directly facing the stage.  The space in proscenium theatre that holds the audience is called the house.  This type of stage and theatre is decorated much more elaborately than a thrust style.  I have seen shows on both types of stages and it is a totally different type of experience.  At the thrust stage a saw a country concert.  I actually had my seats on one of the sides and the country singer Keith Urban made sure that he walked on all runways of the stage so all of his audience could see him!  I saw the musical The Sound of Musical on a thrust stage.  I got all dressed up to go the theatre.  The play was very elegant and was definitely fit for this performance.  I liked being able to see all of the play head on, so that I did not miss anything that was going on.  I enjoyed seeing both different types of stages!     

Thrust Stage

proscenium stage

2. What is the fly gallery?

A fly gallery is an area directly above the stage, equipped with machinery that lowers or raises scenery onto the stage (scenery is flown in and out).  Fly galleries can be on both right and left sides of the stage or can just be on one.  If they are on both sides of the stage they may be connected by a catwalk at the upstage.  I have never been in plays, but I use to be a dancer and I remember people working on the side of the stage raising the ropes to open the curtains of the stage.  I never knew that it was called a fly gallery though!     

 

3. How does a scrim work?

Scrim is a curtain of thinly woven fabric that is opaque when lit from the front and transparent when lit from behind.  This curtain is used so that when light is shined on the curtain you cannot see what is behind the curtain.  In the beginning of the show the curtain is always shut and the lights go out and the first light that is shown is on the closed curtain.  But, the audience cannot see who or what lies behind the curtain!  This does not give away what is coming up for and makes the audience be in suspense until the curtain opens!

 In this video you can see how the light is shinning on the curtain and you could not see the man that was behind the curtain.  This shows how scrim works!