Stage Productions

Using confetti can add excitement to a stage show. It's beautiful, visual and kinetic, and it comes in many varieties of colors, shapes and material. The user has options for different effects,...

There are eight basic types of lighting instruments for the stage: follow spots, "intelligent" lights, three types of "broad-brush" lights (cyc, scoop and border lights), general "wash" PAR...

While it is unclear precisely when in theater history the followspot instrument first appeared on the scene, tracking the actors or performers as they move, with light, has long been a critical...

Mexico has a long and rich history of theatre dating back to the pre-Columbian period.

Many plays and musicals call for a pioneer's cabin as a background set piece. For theatre groups on a budget there is a relatively inexpensive way to create a really good looking background...

Storage space for theatrical equipment and materials is always a challenge, especially in crowded conditions backstage or in the shop. But failing to properly store expensive stock items is a...

Always dream of dressing up like a classic Cigar, cigarette or candy girl for Halloween? well I am here to help. See my step by step instructions to be on your way to step back in time to hollar...

Stage lighting is a vital component of any performance. Music concerts, theatrical productions and presentations all rely on effective lighting to enhance the experience. Various fixtures,...

Finding auditions for your child actor or actress is not as hard as it seems. Maybe you are doing this on your own and don't know where to start, or maybe you have an agent but just aren't getting...

When it comes to building a performance space, one thing is certain: You'll need lights. Whether you are creating the light plot for a dance club, a small black-box theater or a large-scale music...

Until you are actually sitting in the theater watching a production, you can never be a hundred percent certain about how good your seats are. But do a little preliminary research and book early...

Choosing the right colors can make a tremendous impact on the mood and ambiance of a stage area. Through a proper selection of the various "warm" and "cool" gel colors, a lighting designer can...

Theatrical lighting gels are sheets of colored plastic that are placed over the front of a lighting instrument to change the color of the light being cast. Since the heat of the lights eventually...

Every stage manager needs a prompt book for the show. Here are a few basic steps in creating a successful prompt book for that show you are working on. Also making it easy for anyone else to read.

If you are an avid theatergoer, odds are you have witnessed some amazing scenes that are set with the use of different-colored light. The way that a light designer makes the light a different...

Everyone knows that clean-up is an important step in any creative project. Spend a few minutes taking care of your tools as soon as you finish using them, and you can make sure they'll still...

Theater properties, or props, date back to the Greek plays in which actors wore large exaggerated masks on their faces to represent their characters. They evolved in the Renaissance with the...

With lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and music score by Jerome Kern (and not Hammerstein's usual partner, Richard Rodgers), "Show Boat" is a much-recognized classic that is considered one of the...

One of the most popular programmable lighting effects utilized in large-scale productions is that of the 'shimmer effect'. Providing both an ambiance and aura of magic to a given scene, the effect...

The Arlington Theatre is an historic theater built in 1931. It is located at 1317 State Street in Santa Barbara, California. The theater seats 2,000.

Special effects lighting is fun and easy to do, and can be used at events large and small to give the show a little extra excitement. Special effects lights come in many shapes, sizes and special...

Though it may appear simple, stage lighting design is a complicated process that requires a crew of people to generate. From conception to the show's opening, lighting design requires a precise...

Effective theater lighting does not just involve the lighting effects, colors and shapes you may see during a stage production. Theater lighting also involves lighting the audience and making fine...

The word "upstage" can be defined in several ways, but most have to do with a physical stage in a live theater or the attitudes associated with the dramatists that populate them.

A woodgrain is an often-used treatment on theatrical scenery. These steps are for a simple paint treatment that has the warm tones and linear quality of finished wood. Useful for stage floors,...

Theater lighting is a dangerous profession. Working with suspended, heavy lights in a dark atmosphere with high-voltage electricity poses a number of hazards to your health and safety. Through the...

A Preval Spray Gun consists of two parts, a disposable aerosol canister with a spray tip, and a small glass jar to hold liquid. You can mix any kind of paint in any color, and use a Preval to...

Scenic painting takes years to master. The best scenic artists never stop experimenting and looking for ways to improve their work. Try some of these tips to get your scenery looking better and...

Lighting is one of the most powerful special effects at work in modern theater. It is not only necessary for the audience to see the actors, but shapes how they feel about the entire play. Through...

Stage lighting is an integral part of any performance. Whether it's a music concert, play, comedy show, or presentation, lighting enhances the experience. In situations where stage lighting is not...

Theater lighting is not merely a functional technical aspect, but an artistic statement used to enhance the visual and dramatic elements of a stage show. It is designed by experienced artists who...

By starting a theatre company, you can bring a group of people interested in theatre together. Your theatre company can be a large group with its own venue, employing actors, directors, producers...

Scumbling is a method of applying two or more colors of paint together with multi-directional brush strokes, to create a basecoat with variation and depth. A scumble is an excellent first step...

Drybrushing is a method of creating a linear, striated effect by dragging an almost-dry paintbrush across a surface. It is commonly used in scenic painting as part of a woodgrain process, or to...

Harlequins are associated with bright diamond shapes and with ballet and pantomime characters from the Commedia dell'Arte tradition. With stylish half-masks and tight-fitting costumes, harlequins...

The art of building theater properties (or "props") is one that changes with every show and every new prop a designer makes. As a props builder, you must develop ever-changing design techniques to...

Spattering (not 'splattering') is a method of applying drops of paint to a surface. It is commonly used in scenic painting to create texture, depth, and variety in a treatment. A two-handed...

Spattering (not 'splattering') is a method of applying drops of paint to a surface. It is commonly used in scenic painting to create texture, depth, and variety in a treatment. These...

"Riverdance" uses traditional Irish step dancing and rapid lower body movements to create a rhythmic theatrical routine. Dancers keep their upper body and arms still as they move their feet in...

Chicago is renowned for its vibrant theatre scene. Visitors to the Windy City can survey one of the city's 100 plus theatre venues and see some of Broadway's biggest hits or pick from numerous...

Lighting is a vital part of almost any live performance. In most shows, lighting has four basic functions: to make the important parts of the scene visible; to establish a sense of time and...

Since ancient times, patrons have been enjoying the delights of theatre and plays enacted and carried out on stage. The history of lighting for the theater is interesting and innovative. As...

The Blue Man Group is a popular theatrical attraction in a growing number of cities in the United States and around the world. Combining comedy, performance art, music, pantomime and old-fashioned...

Stage curtains are an essential part of theater. Each stage has at least two or three sets of curtains --- the main curtain, or grand drape, several sets of side or border curtains and a back...

During a stage production audience members only see the actors, but the skilled professionals behind the scenes are just as responsible for the standing ovation. How poignant would a stellar...

It's a dark, eerie night on the streets of London as the killer stalks his prey. Just as he is about to strike, police searchlights turn night into day and reveal him to his victim. Stage lighting...

Many of us are at a loss when it comes to thinking of something unique that will entertain the kids during summer vacation. Usually we take them to a theme park, a museum; a visit to the...

In the theatrical world, technical directors are responsible for creating and designing the sound effects, sets and lighting effects for a production. Lighting, especially special effects...

PAR lights are parabolic aluminum reflector lights. PARs, known as "cans," are an industry standard for live performance theatrical lighting and on film production sets. A permanently focused...

Stage lighting can be very expensive. Fortunately, there are inexpensive options at your local hardware or department store that can be easily retrofitted for stage use.