Stage Directions: How do you label your stage?

CrazyTechie

CrazyTechie

Well-Known Member
I am curious to see how everyone labels their stage. Here is a diagram of a stage broken down into five sections from SL to SR. How would you fill it out?

align="left" class="cms_table_grid" style="width: 500px"
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .
|-








Audience is located here.

In a week I'll post what my TD says is the most common way.
 
align="left" class="cms_table_grid" style="width: 500px"
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .UR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .UCR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .UC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .UCL
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .UCL
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .CR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .CCR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .CC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .CCL
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .CL
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .DR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .DCR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .DC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .DCL
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .DL
|-
 
I expect the Technicians to know the parts of the stage I don't label it for them.......

No, I actually use the same format as damjamkato. I place the side before c modifier. But then I don't typically break things down into twelve sections, six usually works for me. I think the 12 section system is more for Acting.
 
My preference:
align="left" width="500" class="cms_table_grid" style="width: 500px"
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | USRR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | USR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | USC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | USL
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | USLL
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | MSRR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | MSR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | MSC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | MSL
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | MSLL
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | DSRR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | DSR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | DSC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | DSL
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | DSLL
|-









Thus CC/CSC becomes MSC, but highly unlikely it will be mistaken for Midi Show Control.


See also the wiki entry stage directions.
-----
Related question (more applicable to dance than theatre):
A stage has one center line,
SL and SR quarter line s,
and four remaining eighth line s.

|---1/8---1/4---1/8---C.L.---1/8---1/4---1/8---|

How should the four 1/8 lines be identified?
 
Last edited:
derekleffew said:
-----
Related question (more applicable to dance than theatre):
A stage has one center line,
SL and SR quarter line s,
and four remaining eighth line s.

|---1/8---1/4---1/8---C.L.---1/8---1/4---1/8---|

How should the four 1/8 lines be identified?
Click to expand...

Inside 1/8th and outside 1/8th followed or preceded by the side of the stage
Inside 1/8th SR as an example.
 
Can someone write out the acronyms? I recognize most of the (IE SR = Stage Right) but not all of them. Though I think I could probably figure it out, better to ask and be correct.
 
Morte615 said:
Can someone write out the acronyms? I recognize most of the (IE SR = Stage Right) but not all of them. Though I think I could probably figure it out, better to ask and be correct.
Click to expand...

USR - Up Stage Right
USRC - Up Stage Right Center
USC - Up Stage Center
USLC - Up Stage Left Center
USL - Up Stage Left
SR - Stage Right
SRC - Stage Right Center
CS - Center Stage
SLC - Stage Left Center
SL - Stage Left
DSR - Down Stage Right
DSRC - Down Stage Right Center
DSC - Down Stage Center
DSLC - Down Stage Left Center
DSL - Down Stage Left

Or Dereks...
USRR - Up Stage Right Right
USR - Up Stage Right
USC - Up Stage Center
USL - Up Stage Left
USLL - Up Stage Left Left
MSRR - Mid Stage Right Right
MSR - Mid Stage Right
MSC - Mid Stage Center
MSL - Mid Stage Left
MSLL - Mid Stage Left Left
DSRR - Down Stage Right Right
DSR - Down Stage Right
DSC - Down Stage Center
DSL - Down Stage Left
DSLL - Down Stage Left Left

CrazyTechie said:
I am curious to see how everyone labels their stage. Here is a diagram of a stage broken down into five sections from SL to SR. How would you fill it out?
Click to expand...
Here's how I've always written it.


align="left" width="500" class="cms_table_grid" style="width: 500px"
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | UR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | URC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | USC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | ULC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | UL
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | SR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | SRC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | ¢
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | SLC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | SL
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | DR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | DSR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | DC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | DSL
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | DL
|-









UR - Up right
URC - Up Right Center
USC - Up Stage Center
ULC - Up Left Center
UL - Up Left
SR - Stage Right
SRC - Stage Right Center
¢ - Center
SLC - Stage Left Center
SL - Stage Left
DR - Down Right
DSR - Down Stage Right
DC - Down Center
DSL - Down Stage Left
DL - Down Left
 
Last edited:
Thanks! :grin:
 
I don't really know what way I "usually" do it. Looking back at lightwrights from past shows, I've done it a bunch of different ways without any discernible rhyme or reason. However, this is one way that I like to see it.

align="left" class="cms_table_grid" style="width: 500px"
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .UR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .URoC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .UC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .ULoC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .UL
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .MR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .MRoC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .MC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .MLoC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .ML
|- class="cms_table_grid_tr"
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .DR
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .DRoC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .DC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .DLoC
| class="cms_table_grid_td" | .DL
|-
 
I find it funny that no one has referred to center as center center.
 
Grog12 said:
I find it funny that no one has referred to center as center center.
Click to expand...

I find it redundant. If its upstage, then it's "up center" or "UC". If it's downstairs, then it's "down center or "DC"
 
chausman said:
Do I need to do Rochem's method as well? I think it's the same, just "o" stands for "off".
Click to expand...

Didn't even see that request. In my example, the small "o" stands for "of" (not off). The directions would be read as "Upstage Right," "Upstage Right of Center," "Upstage Center," and so on.
 
chausman said:
Do I need to do Rochem's method as well? I think it's the same, just "o" stands for "off".
Click to expand...
Of. As in URoC = Up(stage), Right of Center. Else, "o" could just as easily stand for "on" as "off."
-----
Grog12 said:
I find it funny that no one has referred to center as center center.
Click to expand...
Post #3, and
derekleffew said:
Thus CC/CSC becomes MSC, ...
Click to expand...
But CC means "Color Changer" or "Changes Color".
-----
Grog12 said:
Inside 1/8th and outside 1/8th followed or preceded by the side of the stage
Inside 1/8th SR as an example.
Click to expand...
I think I call your "inside 1/8" as 3/8.
"SR 3/8 line" for example.
SR |---1/8---1/4---3/8---C.L.---3/8---1/4---1/8---| SL
 
Last edited:
derekleffew said:
-----
I think I call your "inside 1/8" as 3/8.
"SR 3/8 line" for example.
SR |---1/8---1/4---3/8---C.L.---3/8---1/4---1/8---| SL
Click to expand...

Yep my inside 1/8 is your 3/8. Both get the job done. Both will get you looked at funny by a stage hand who hasn't worked dance.

chausman said:
I find it redundant. If its upstage, then it's "up center" or "UC". If it's downstairs, then it's "down center or "DC"
Click to expand...
But if you have a line of people from USC to DSC they are all on center. Center isnt one point, it's the line that divides the stage in half. I can be on center for nearly 45' in my theatre.
ruinexplorer said:
Duckjordan did in post 3.
Click to expand...
Well color me blind.
 
Grog12 said:
But if you have a line of people from USC to DSC they are all on center. Center isnt one point, it's the line that divides the stage in half. I can be on center for nearly 45' in my theatre.
Click to expand...

When I'm talking about center, I mean center center, I just don't write it out or say it twice.

Oh, and for the record, center for most places I'm at, is about 5' wide.
 
Reason for cc is because of a crew that decided center was any where center(up, down, middle, left, right) and I got specific and got results.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
 
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