[SML] [EXTERNAL] Re: OISTAT theater words

[Jeffrey Kanyuck]

These are cool to see. I will try to remember if I ever get some free lance work in the UK and I hear "hang this on the number one spot bar" to NOT head out to the local pub.

Jeffrey Kanyuck
Technical Director
Harford Community College
401 Thomas Run Road
Bel Air, MD  21015
Office: 443-412-2369
Cellphone: 410-322-5905

-----Original Message-----
From: Stagecraft <stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net> On Behalf Of Kurt Harriman via Stagecraft
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2026 7:19 AM
To: Matthew Breton <theatricalmatt at hotmail.com>
Cc: Kurt Harriman <harriman at acm.org>; Stagecraft Mailing List <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [SML] OISTAT theater words

Please use caution: This email was sent from outside of HCC.


Some of the entries are US/UK bilingual or include synonyms, such as

     stage left (US) / prompt side (UK)
     stage right (US) / opposite prompt (UK)
     prompt corner (UK), stage manager's position (US)
     curtain call list, bows list
     curtain: tab (US), tripping (UK)
     curtain warmer / tab dressing (UK)
     fly curtain / guillotine
     apron, forestage
     deck (US) / green omit (UK) / stage floor
     man lift / cherry picker
     setting line / masonry line / plaster line (US)
     rostrum (UK) / platform (US)
     fit up / get in (UK) / load in (US)
     strike / get out (UK) / load out (US)
     scrim / gauze
     wrench (US) / spanner (UK)
     spotted (UK) / dead hang (US)
     turn buckle (US) / strainer / bottle screw (UK)
     electric, first (US) / number one spot bar
     dips (UK) (elec.) / floor pocket (US)
     footlights (US) (portable) / floats (UK)
     profile spotlight (UK) / ellipsoidal spotlight (US)
     snoot / funnel (UK) / high hat / top hat (US)
     sound check / voice test
     headset (US) / cans (UK)
     press stud (UK) / snaps (US)
     wardrobe dummy (UK) / judy / dress form (or form) (US)
     balcony (US) / circle (UK)
     reef knot (UK) / square knot (US)

"Starters!", however, is missing.


On 2026-03-14 08:16, Matthew Breton wrote:
> Does either resource differentiate between American English, British English, and other forms of English?
>
> IIRC, where Americans use "Places, please!", folks in Britain use "Starters!"  Similarly, stage right / prompt side, etc.
>
>
> Matthew Breton  |   he, him, his
> Design for Theater and Dance
> ________________________________
> From: Stagecraft <stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net> on behalf of Kurt
> Harriman via Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2026 1:59 AM
> To: Kristi R-C <misswisc at aol.com>
> Cc: Kurt Harriman <harriman at acm.org>; stagecraft at theatrical.net
> <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Subject: Re: [SML] OISTAT theater words
>
> A paid version is available at https://theatrewords.com/ for€38 (pdf, instant download).
>
> It could be worth the money if you'll be working with a non English
> speaking crew.
> There are 255 page images (not searchable text). It is not
> conveniently navigable.
>
> At page 140 you'll find the index of English words. Scroll down to
> this
> entry:
>
>       places (please) 3.5.14
>
> Then find section 3, "Electric, Lighting, and Audio" on page 70, and
> flip ahead to section 3.5 on page 92. It has entries for these 22 terms:
>
>       3.5      intercom
>       3.5.1*   beltpack (sound)
>       3.5.2    call
>       3.5.3    call board
>       3.5.4    closed circuit TV
>       3.5.5    communication system
>       3.5.6    cue
>       3.5.7    cue button
>       3.5.8    cue light
>       3.5.9    cue light panel
>       3.5.10   cue line
>       3.5.11   cue microphone
>       3.5.12*  earphones
>       3.5.13*  headset (US) / cans (UK)
>       3.5.14   places (please)
>       3.5.15*  projection image
>       3.5.16*  radio microphone / wireless microphone
>       3.5.17   signal (sign)
>       3.5.18   stage manager's desk
>       3.5.19   stand-by cue
>       3.5.20   stand-by!
>       3.5.21*  transmitter
>       3.5.22   warning (cue)
>
> Starred (*) terms are depicted in 35 pages of nice clear drawings
> beginning at page 221. For example, there's a drawing of a bowline
> knot, labeled 8.4.2 so you can look up what it's called in 8 languages.
>
> Now you have found the entry for "places" on page 93. This is it:
>
>    3.5.14
>         D    Auf die Plätze!
>        EN    places (please)
>         F    en place, svp!
>         E    ¡a sus puestos!
>         S    På plats!
>        NL    op uw plaatsen, a.u.b.!
>         I    ognuno al suo posto!
>        RU    По местам!
>               Po miestam!
>
> And that's all. No explanations, just the equivalent term in 8 languages.
> (Other versions of the PDF are available with other languages.)
>

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