Performing Arts Industry Terminology

Above-the-line (ATL)

Budget category covering creative leadership and principal talent (e.g., producers, director, writers, lead performers). Contrasts with below-the-line (BTL) technical and operational costs.

- We blew past our ATL when we signed that film star to headline the musical. - Keep ATL and BTL in separate budget tabs for clarity. - The ATL contingency was set at 10% to cover creative changes.

Actors' Equity Association (AEA)

The U.S. labor union representing stage actors and stage managers, governing wages, work rules, safety, and benefits on union productions.

- This tour is Equity; make sure we follow AEA break rules. - We’re negotiating under an AEA Production Contract. - Is that role Equity or Non-Equity?

Advance sales

Tickets sold prior to performance dates; a key indicator of demand and revenue pacing used for forecasting and marketing decisions.

- The two-week advance is at 68%—marketing is working. - Our advance is soft; let’s push a targeted email drop. - The advance dictates cash flow before opening.

Angel (theatre investor)

A private investor who provides risk capital to mount a production, typically in exchange for a share of recoupment and profits.

- We secured two angels to complete our capitalization. - The angel wants a priority recoupment position. - Angels are common in commercial Off-Broadway deals.

Assistant Stage Manager (ASM)

A stage management team member who supports the Stage Manager with rehearsals and runs the backstage deck, cueing performers and crew.

- The ASM will run deck cues and manage props tracking. - Ask the ASM for the updated run sheet. - We’re hiring two ASMs for this large cast.

Backstage

All offstage areas not visible to the audience (e.g., wings, dressing rooms, fly floor), and by extension, the behind-the-scenes operations.

- No photos backstage during half hour. - Quiet backstage—scene change in progress. - The backstage traffic pattern is tight; watch the wagons.

Blocking

The planned movement and positioning of performers on stage, set by the director and recorded by stage management.

- We’ll set the blocking for Scene 2 today. - Note that new blocking in your scripts. - The fight captain will review blocking safety.

Box office

The ticketing operation and its revenue; includes walk-up sales, phone/online sales, and audience services related to tickets.

- Call the box office to release house seats. - Box office revenue is trending above forecast. - Reduce box office fees to improve conversion.

Break-even point

The attendance or revenue level at which a production’s income covers its total costs (fixed and variable), after which it profits.

- Our break-even is 62% capacity at current pricing. - We’ll hit break-even by Week 5 if the reviews pop. - Raising the ad spend shifts the break-even upward.

Broadway

The New York commercial theatre sector defined partly by venue size and union agreements; shorthand for top-tier, high-budget productions.

- We’re aiming for a Broadway transfer next season. - Broadway contracts carry higher minimums. - Tony eligibility requires a Broadway venue.

Call time

The time performers and crew are required to report for work (rehearsal, performance, or specific calls such as fight or vocal warm-ups).

- Half-hour call time is 7:30 PM. - Crew call time for load-in is 8:00 AM. - Please confirm your fight call time.

Casting

The process of selecting performers for roles, often led by a casting director in collaboration with producers and the creative team.

- Casting notices go out Monday. - We’re holding EPA and ECC calls under Equity rules. - The casting director wants fresh tape for the cover.

Choreography

The designed movement vocabulary for a production, including dance combinations, staging patterns, and stylistic motifs.

- The choreography will be set during the dance call. - We’ve added a lift—safety spotters required. - Choreography notes go to the dance captain.

Copyright

Legal protection granting creators exclusive rights to reproduce, adapt, distribute, and perform their work; central to licensing and royalties.

- We can’t alter lyrics without copyright holder approval. - Check the grand rights license for this musical. - Copyright clearance delayed our rehearsal start.

Cue

A signal (verbal, visual, musical, or timing) that triggers a specific action by performers, crew, or systems (lights, sound, automation).

- Standby LX 23… go. - The ASM will give you the entrance cue. - Add a musical cue for the scene change.

Curtain call

The sequence at the end of a performance where cast and sometimes musicians return to the stage to receive applause.

- We’ll restage the curtain call for bows. - Keep the band vamp going through the curtain call. - Add company curtain call after the finale.

Dance captain

A cast member responsible for maintaining choreography, teaching replacements/understudies, and leading dance clean-up rehearsals.

- The dance captain will run brush-up rehearsals. - Note that DC update on counts in the tap break. - Report spacing issues to the dance captain.

Devised theatre

A collaborative creation method where the ensemble develops text, movement, and structure collectively rather than from a fixed script.

- This piece is devised; we’ll generate text in the room. - The devised process requires flexible scheduling. - We’ll credit the ensemble as co-creators.

Dimmer

An electrical device that regulates lighting intensity; part of a lighting system controlled via DMX or networked protocols.

- That circuit needs a higher-capacity dimmer. - We’re patching the LEDs straight to the dimmer rack. - The dimmer curve feels too snappy—adjust it.

Dress rehearsal

A full run that includes costumes, makeup, wigs, and often final technical elements to simulate performance conditions.

- Tonight is our first full dress rehearsal. - We’ll fix notes after the dress. - No stopping unless there’s a safety issue during dress.

Dry tech

A technical rehearsal focused on integrating cues and systems without performers on stage, to streamline subsequent runs.

- Dry tech at 10:00 AM without cast. - Use dry tech to build the cue stack. - We solved the automation timings in dry tech.

Earned media

Publicity gained through press coverage, reviews, or social shares rather than paid advertising; a key driver of awareness and sales.

- Strong reviews drove a surge in earned media. - Pitch feature stories to grow earned reach. - Earned media lowered our CAC this week.

Electronic Press Kit (EPK)

A curated package of marketing and media assets—bios, photos, video clips, press quotes—used for publicity and presenter outreach.

- Send the EPK to regional presenters. - The EPK needs updated b-roll and bios. - Press asked for downloadable key art from the EPK.

Encore

An additional number performed after the scheduled program in response to audience applause; sometimes pre-planned.

- The encore is baked into the set list. - Audience demanded an extra encore tonight. - We’ll trim the encore to make the train curfew.

Equity minimum (union)

The baseline wages and benefits set by Actors’ Equity Association for covered roles under specific contract categories.

- Budget the Equity minimum plus health and pension. - Equity minimums differ by contract type. - We can’t cut below the minimum without a concession.

Fly system

A counterweight or automated rigging system used to raise and lower scenery, curtains, and lighting over the stage.

- Only trained crew may operate the fly system. - We added two line sets for the drop and traveler. - Weight the arbor correctly before flying the piece.

Force majeure

A contract provision that addresses obligations when extraordinary events (e.g., natural disasters, government orders) prevent performance.

- The cancellation triggered the force majeure clause. - Add pandemic language to force majeure. - Insurance dovetails with force majeure remedies.

Fourth wall

The metaphorical barrier between performers and audience in realist theatre; breaking it involves direct address or acknowledgment.

- The actor breaks the fourth wall in Scene 1. - Keep the fourth wall intact during the drama. - The director wants a subtle fourth-wall nod.

Front of House (FOH)

Audience-facing operations including ushers, concessions, house management, and sometimes the audience-side audio mix position.

- FOH opens the doors at half hour. - Coordinate FOH announcements with stage management. - FOH mix position needs a better speaker line.

Gobo

A metal or glass stencil inserted in a lighting fixture to project patterns or images onto the stage or scenery.

- Swap in a cityscape gobo for the skyline look. - The rotating gobo adds movement to the wash. - We’ll print a custom logo gobo for preshow.

Green room

A backstage lounge where performers wait before and during a performance.

- Quiet in the green room; mic check in progress. - We’ll post call times in the green room. - Guests aren’t allowed in the green room tonight.

Gross potential (GP)

The maximum possible ticket revenue if all seats are sold at listed prices; used for forecasting and royalty/recoupment calculations.

- At full price, GP for the week is $1.2M. - Dynamic pricing raised GP by 8%. - Royalty pool is pegged to a percent of GP.

Headliner

The principal act or star on a program, usually receiving top billing and marketing emphasis.

- The headliner goes on at 9 PM. - Add two local openers before the headliner. - Billing gives the headliner 100% of top line.

Hold (rehearsal/house)

A pause called by stage management: in rehearsal to stop work, or at performance to delay curtain or pause for safety/technical reasons.

- Hold, please—line notes. - We’ll hold the house five minutes for late seating. - Call a safety hold if sightlines are blocked.

Hospitality rider

The contract attachment specifying food, beverages, dressing room amenities, and related artist comfort requirements.

- Hospitality rider requests vegan options. - Add buyouts in lieu of catering per the rider. - The promoter must meet hospitality minimums.

IATSE

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the union representing stagehands, technicians, and craft specialists in live entertainment.

- IATSE crew call is four hours minimum. - This venue is IATSE; plan for union labor rules. - We need an IATSE head carpenter and electricians.

Immersive theatre

A form of performance that places audiences within the playing environment, often allowing free movement and interaction with the world of the piece.

- Audience will roam through the immersive set. - We need additional safety stewards for immersive staging. - The insurance underwriter reviewed the immersive plan.

Intellectual property (IP)

Legally protectable creations such as scripts, scores, designs, and trademarks; central to licensing, royalties, and adaptations.

- We secured the IP for a stage adaptation. - IP ownership determines downstream rights. - Protect brand IP in the merch license.

Joint venture (co-production)

A partnership structure where two or more parties share production costs, risks, decision-making, and revenues.

- The tour is a joint venture between two presenters. - Cost and risk are split 50/50 in the co-pro. - We’ll share subsidiary rights under the JV.

Jukebox musical

A musical that uses pre-existing popular songs as its score, often centered on an artist’s catalog or an era.

- It’s a jukebox musical built around 80s hits. - Sync rights cleared, now structure the song stack. - Critics praised the inventive jukebox book.

Key art

The primary visual identity (poster image, typography, color palette) used across marketing materials.

- Finalize key art before the season brochure goes to print. - The digital ads must match the key art system. - Swap key art for the holiday run.

Kill fee

A contractually defined payment due when a project or engagement is canceled after work has begun, compensating for time and opportunity cost.

- If we cancel after design delivery, a kill fee applies. - The artist requires a 50% kill fee inside 30 days. - Add a kill fee clause to protect the vendor.

Libretto

The text of an opera or musical, comprising lyrics and spoken dialogue (often called the book and lyrics).

- The libretto revisions lock on Friday. - Translate the libretto for surtitles. - Libretto rights are licensed separately.

Licensing

Obtaining legal permission to perform a work; in stage, grand rights cover dramatized music and scripts from rights holders.

- We licensed the grand rights from MTI. - Licensing terms restrict cuts and changes. - The school edition has separate licensing.

Lighting plot

A technical drawing that shows lighting instrument types, positions, circuits, and channels, used for hang and focus.

- Upload the lighting plot to the shared folder. - We added electrics over the thrust per the plot. - Match channel numbers to the plot notation.

Load-in/Load-out

The process of moving sets, equipment, and props into (load-in) and out of (load-out) a venue; often governed by union calls and safety rules.

- Load-in starts Monday at 8 AM; street closure approved. - Budget extra labor for load-out overtime. - Protect the marley during load-in.

Matinee

A daytime performance, typically in the afternoon, often scheduled on weekends or weekday school performances.

- Saturday has a two-show day—matinee and evening. - The family matinee uses relaxed performance guidelines. - Matinee pricing differs from prime nights.

Merchandising (Merch)

Designing, producing, and selling branded goods (programs, apparel, recordings) as an ancillary revenue stream.

- Venue takes a 20% merch cut plus sales tax. - Add a VIP merch bundle to raise AOV. - Inventory the merch road cases nightly.

Minimum Guarantee (MG)

A guaranteed minimum payment from a presenter or promoter to a producer/artist, often structured as an advance against a percentage split.

- The presenter offers a $50k MG against 85% of net. - We recouped the MG at the second performance. - Negotiate the split point above the MG.

Musical Director (MD)

The music supervisor for a production who leads rehearsals, coordinates the band/orchestra, sets tempos, and maintains musical quality.

- The MD will run the sitzprobe. - Check with the MD on new vocal harmonies. - The MD conducts from the pit and gives cues.