Shakespeare Ensemble Lexicon
BOT/EOT
Two mandatory meetings of the ensemble membership. One at the beginning of term and one at the end.
Blank Verse
A bunch of iambic pentameter that does not rhyme.
Blocking
The process in rehearsal of determining who does what, when and where. Why and How are the subjects of other rehearsals.
Box Office Hours
The hours during which, starting production week, all Ensemble members help to sell tickets to the show. Four hours over two weeks.
Calling "Line"
What an actor calls when s/he is Off Book but can not remember a line. An actor should call "line" only if s/he is completely unsure of what to say next, and s/he should do so in character (without apologizing or breaking the energy of the scene). The stage manager running the rehearsal feeds the actor his/her line and the scene continues.
Campus Activities Complex (CAC)
The folks you call to reserve space and to lock and unlock the performance area. The CAC office is located on the fifth floor of the students center. They can be reached during normal business hours (9-5) or by having operations (x3-1500) page a CAC manager to whatever location is desired. Paging of managers should only be done in the case of having spaces locked or unlocked or for similar reasons.
Cheat Out
Turn your body slightly so that the audience can see you better.
Cold Reading
The reading of a scene or a play without any rehearsal.
Cue-to-Cue (Q2Q)
The rehearsal during which the stage manager integrates lighting and sound into the production. This is the technical equivalent of a blocking rehearsal; actors should be patient, and stop and go according to the stage manager's needs. Q2Q is usually the first technical rehearsal of production week.
Drop Posters
Those long, hanging posters in Lobby 7. We have a space reserved for each major show.
Faculty Meeting
Monthly meeting of the Theatre Arts faculty, attended by the Shakespeare Ensemble president.
Final Dress
The last dress rehearsal before opening night; done in performance conditions.
La Sala de Puerto Rico (La Sala)
The big room on the second floor of the student center where we perform our shows.
Little Kresge
The theater in the basement of Kresge Auditorium, where we perform our summer show.
Off Book
The state of being denied the use of one's script ("book") during a rehearsal.
Papertech / Dry Tech
A meeting during which the stage manager, lights designer, sound designer, and video or other applicable designers add cues to the script. Usually occurs on the Friday or Saturday before tech week begins.
Production Meeting
Weekly meeting of the producer, stage manager, director and designers of a production. The opportunity for everyone involved in the technical aspects of the show to coordinate with one another.
Put-In
The process of moving sets and lights (and props, and costumes, etc.) into the performance space, usually the weekend before opening. Starting with Put-In, the stage manager is in charge of the production. All active members are required to participate.
Rinaldi
Building E33. Home of the professional technical design staff, the set shop and the costume shop.
Pre-Put-In Hours
All ensemble members assist the set and costume designers in building the show. Default hours: Set - 2 hrs/wk Costume - 2 hrs/wk
Spring Break
The final performance of the spring show is always the Saturday night of MIT's spring break. Do not buy plane tickets that leave before the final performance!
Strike
The process of moving everything (sets, lights, costumes, props etc.) out of the performance space and into Rinaldi or storage. Strike begins immediately after the final performance. All active members are required to participate.
Tech Week (Prod Week, Hell Week)
The period between Put-In and the first performance.