I have some questions about theater, is anybody a theater major?

Question

Hey there.
So I am taking Theater 101 in college and  I am reading over my study guide before my test tomorrow and I got caught up on a few questions.
First of call, just so you know, the test is on 3 chapters that in depth about Scenery, Stage Costumes, lighting and sound on stage. 
Okay, I know pretty much all I need to know for the Scenery and Stage Costume sections, but I need some help with the lighting and sound on stage section! 

My first question is:
Fill in the blank:
When lighting follows an actor from one side of the stage to another, it is referred to as ........?
What is it referred to as? I was thinking spot light, but that's not what is mentioned in the book.

My second question is also a fill in the blank question.
Lighting designers use ...... and ...... to create special effects on stage?
What do lighting designers use? I know they obviously work the lights and set up where the lights need to go, but what else do they handle that helps create the special effects? Is it a computer? I don't know.

My next question is, True or False? Sound reinforcement was not used in the theater until the 1960's?
My guess would be true because in my textbook it mentions that musicians from the 1950's did not have sound reinforcement. So my guess would be true, how about yours?

My last question is another fill in the blank:
A ........ is used by the sound designer to control and combine all the sounds coming from the actors and the sound effects into the loudspeakers.

At first, I was thinking something along the lines of a computer, but when I reread the question, I started thinking about microphones.
Three different microphones are mentioned in the book.
Which microphone would the correct answer to the last question?
a Shotgun mic? a General mic? or a Body Mic? 

Someone please help! I literally read these chapters from front to back and still can't think of the answers. I really hope this was enough information for you guys to help me with! I really appreciate it!

? · Accepted Answer

1) Follow Spot, or just follow

2) That's a weird question.. could be light and fog (haze, smoke), gobos, rotators, color changers, etc... There's a lot of lighting effects that lighting designers work with. Unless it's supposed to be less technical and be something like "emotion and timing"  May be worth asking your professor about

3) Modern reinforcement? Probably T, over all, not really since buildings were designed to amplify sound.

4) Sound Board.  You're kind of right with the computer, but the mix goes through a board. Sound cues (pre-recorded) often go through a computer into the board and out to the speakers.

Shot gun - not really used in theatre, it's more of a TV/film thing
General mics do not exist, forget that term. It's likely a cardiod or uni direction hand held
Body mic = lavalier. In theatre theyre usually mounted on the face. Body mic would likely be your answer, since that's what most theatres use with the exception of shows where you need to  use a hand held (IE: talent shows or Spring Awakening)

Trending News

I have some questions about theater, is anybody a theater major?

1 Answer