Situated on a beautiful 55-acre property, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art is truly one of Tennessee’s treasures. Mrs. Mabel Cheek, formerly Wood, was the daughter of a prominent Tennessee family. Her name and her husband’s were combined to form the name of their new home, Cheekwood. Mr. Leslie Cheek was the son of [...]

Toward the back of the stage. Years ago, stages were sloped (or raked) to allow the audience to see better, making the front of the stage, or downstage, actually lower than the back of the stage, or upstage.

Any revolving disk or platform, usually built into a stage floor, capable of turning three hundred and sixty degrees.

Removable or movable sections of the floor, or sometimes of the set, used for scenic effects such as sunken stairs and scenery, or disappearing actors. These can floor sections can be moved by hand, but today, many theaters have mechanical and even computerized traps.

A masking drape or flat used on each side of the stage. Often used with the teaser to form an inner frame or inner proscenium.

Name of the first overhead border or drapery, used to adjust proscenium height. Also known as the grand valance.

The person in complete charge of performances after final dress rehearsal. The stage manager will “call” or direct all lighting, sound, set, fly and crew cues; schedule special and clean-up rehearsals; and keeps the show tight.

Opposite prompter, who was usually seated stage right.

To mark a spot where a particular prop or set piece will be placed. A spike is usually done temporarily with tape, and then is often painted in.

Lines of vision from seats in extreme positions in the auditorium to the stage. Used to determine visibility of the stage from extreme seats and to determine what areas of the stage need to be covered with masking flats.