TUBU Fest Glossary
Theatre, Accessibility and Accommodation Terminology
Theatre Terminology
Apron the section of the stage floor that projects out in the front of the curtain line
Blocking the precise planning and choreography of where actors move, stand, and orient themselves on stage
Calling Lines saying or signing the word ‘line’ and asking the stage manager to give you the line you are on to help trigger your memory
Call Time the time everyone is supposed to be at rehearsal or tech
Cyclorama (Cyc) material in front of the back curtain that is used to project images and videos onto, not to be touched
General Wash basic illumination of the stage, evenly
Gobo screens that goes in front of lights to create a projection
Ghost Light single light that gets left on all the time to both assist those opening the theatre and to (in superstitions) give the theatre ghosts some light
Work Lights a heavy-duty, portable light source designed to provide bright, reliable illumination for tasks in areas with poor lighting
UpStage the area of the stage furthest away from the audience
DownStage the area of the stage that is closest to the audience
Center Stage the center of the stage
Off Book having your lines memorized
Off Book Date The scheduled rehearsal where actors must have their lines memorized and may no longer have their scripts in hand.
Last Day to Call For Line The scheduled rehearsal where actors will no longer be able to “call for line”
Proscenium the part of a modern stage in front of the curtain or the wall that separates the stage from the auditorium and provides the arch that frames it
Scrim a theater drop that appears opaque when a scene in front is lighted and transparent or translucent when a scene in back is lighted
Strike the command to disassemble the set, remove props, and clear the stage after a show’s run
Stage Right the actor’s right side of the stage, the audience’s left
Stage Left the actor’s left side of the stage, the audience’s right
House Right while facing the stage from audience, the right side of the stage
House Left while facing the stage from audience, the left side of the stage
Tech Week the final week of rehearsals before opening night when all technical elements such as lighting, sound, sets, costumes, and props are fully integrated
Theatre vs Theater Theatre is the subject, theater is a building
The Wings the offstage areas to the left and right sides of the main stage
Accessibility and Accommodation Terminology
Accommodation any change to the application or hiring process, to the job, to the way the job is done, or the work environment that allows a person with a disability who is qualified for the job to perform the essential functions of that job and enjoy equal employment opportunities
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act; federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities; ensures that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs
Alt-Text descriptive text that conveys the meaning of an image in digital content
ASL American Sign Language, often used for communication by and with deaf people and is the formal sign language of the U.S. and English-speaking Canada
Audio Description a narration of meaningful visual information in a video to provide context, clarify speakers, and articulate visual elements
Closed Captioning visual display of the audio portion of video programming; captioning provides access to individuals who are deaf or have hearing loss
Disability physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
Image Captions captions typically displayed underneath an image that identifies people, places, or events and may briefly explain what is happening in the photo
Interpreter someone or something that interprets, such as someone who translates for individuals or groups conversing in different languages
Large Font an increased font size to assist with vision impairment
Neurodivergent having or relating to a disorder or condition (such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder) that impacts the way the brain processes information
Neurodiverse having or relating to brain function that is not neurotypical
Neurospicy slangy, nontechnical adjective that has been used as a synonym of both neurodiverse and neurodivergent
Print on Palm (POP) communicator traces letters on the palm of the blind individual
Protactile Protactile is a language used by deafblind people using tactile channels. Unlike other sign languages, which are heavily reliant on visual information, Protactile is oriented towards touch and is practiced on the body
Screen Reader A system that speaks aloud information from a computer display, for users with impaired vision
Section 504 References Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 helps ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities and protects the rights not only of individuals with visible disabilities but also those with disabilities that may not be apparent
Speech-To-Speech (STS) A relay service available to any telephone callers with a speech disability and to those who wish to talk with them
Spoonie someone living with a chronic illness, disability, or mental health condition who uses the Spoon Theory
Spoon Theory concept used to represent how individuals manage limited energy
Transcript Basic transcripts are a text version of the speech and non-speech audio information needed to understand the content. Descriptive transcripts also include text description of the visual information needed to understand the content. Descriptive transcripts are required to provide video content to people who are both deaf and blind