What does raked seating mean?

'Raked seating'(sometimes called retractable seating, telescopic or bleacher seating) is simply when the seating is on an upwards slope away from the stage, in order to give those at the back a better view than if the seats were all of the same levels.

Subsequently, one may also ask, what is a raked auditorium?

RAKED AUDITORIUM. Audience seating area which is sloped, with it's lowest part nearest the stage. RAKED STAGE. A sloping stage which is raised at the back (upstage) end. Many theatres with a 'stalls' seating area used to be built with raked stages as a matter of course.

One may also ask, what is the maximum rise allowed for a raked stage? AEA says that any rake up to 3/4" per foot is acceptable. Over that you would have to add a rider to all the contracts and pay hazard pay. For ADA ramps (not exactly comparable to raked stages, but an acceptable analogy) "The maximum slope of a ramp in new construction shall be 1:12."

Likewise, what does raked stage mean?

On a raked stage an actor who is further from the audience is higher than an actor who is closer to the audience. This led to the theatre positions "upstage" and "downstage", meaning, respectively, further from or closer to the audience.

When was the raked stage invented?

Raked stages have been around since the 16th century, but have lost popularity in the past century, in favor of raking the audience seating area instead—think of the “stadium seating” you see at the movie theatre. To quote the New York Times, today “almost all American stages have flat floors.”

17 Related Question Answers Found

What does floor seating is not raked mean?

What are the 4 types of stages?

The most common types of stage arrangements are listed below.

Proscenium stages. Proscenium stages have an architectural frame, known as the proscenium arch, although not always arched in shape.
Thrust stages.
Theatres in-the-round.
Arena theatres.
Black-box or studio theatres.
Platform stages.
Hippodromes.
Open air theatres.

Why is upstage called Upstage?

So, Stage Right and Stage Left make sense. But why Upstage and Downstage? The terminology comes from the days in which the audience seats were on a flat floor and the stage was tilted (razed) toward the audience, so that everyone on the audience floor could see the performance.

What is a flat stage?

A flat (short for scenery flat) or coulisse is a flat piece of theatrical scenery which is painted and positioned on stage so as to give the appearance of buildings or other background. Flats can be soft covered (covered with cloth such as muslin) or hard covered (covered with decorative plywood such as luan).

What is up stage and down stage?

A director uses these words when “blocking” a scene, i.e., mapping out where each actor should stand or sit or move. “Upstage” means away from the audience, towards the back of the playing area. “Downstage” means close to the audience, near the front of the playing area. In other words, you literally go “upstage.”

What are sight lines in Theatre?

A sightline (also sight line) or visual axis is a normally unobstructed line of sight between an intended observer (or spectator) and a subject of interest, such as a stage, arena, or monument. Sightlines are a particularly important consideration in theatre and stadium design, road junction layout and urban planning.

What are the wings of the stage?

Wings: Areas that are part of a stage deck but offstage (out of sight of the audience). The wings are typically masked with legs. The wing space is used for performers preparing to enter, storage of sets for scenery changes and as a stagehand work area.

What is a thrust stage used for?

A thrust stage is a performance space in which the stage breaks through and extends well past the proscenium arch. It reaches out into the auditorium, so that it is surrounded on three sides by the audience. This makes a dynamic performance space that creates exciting visual opportunities.

What is in the round stage?

Theatre-in-the-round, also spelled theater-in-the-round, also called arena stage, central stage, or island stage, form of theatrical staging in which the acting area, which may be raised or at floor level, is completely surrounded by the audience.

What is a black box play?

In its most basic description, a Black Box Theatre is a simple, open space consisting of four walls, a floor, and a ceiling that are all painted black. The use of staging and lighting in Black Box Theatres can range from extremely minimal to very elaborate, depending on the performance.

What is blocking Theatre?

In theatre, blocking is the precise staging of actors to facilitate the performance of a play, ballet, film or opera.

What is proscenium arch in drama?

A proscenium (Greek: προσκήνιον) is the metaphorical vertical plane of space in a theatre, usually surrounded on the top and sides by a physical proscenium arch (whether or not truly "arched") and on the bottom by the stage floor itself, which serves as the frame into which the audience observes from a more or less

What does apron mean in theater?

The apron is any parts of the stage that extends past the proscenium arch and into the audience or seating area. The Elizabethan stage, which was a raised platform with the audience on three sides, is the outstanding example. Most stages edges are curved slightly outward providing a very small apron.