Term of the Day: second-acting, second-actors

second-acting--the time-honored tradition of poor actors, students and others of going into a Broadway show without a ticket at intermission to see the second act. The actor John Leguizamo talked about second-acting with his deaf uncle in his youth as a theater rat from Queens. The Village Voice published a "how-to" piece on second-acting in the 1970's. The New York Times published a feature on the practice on September 25, 2016. Sadly, because of high theater prices and security concerns in the Age of Terror, ushers are better at checking tickets, so the practice has mostly died out. The people who do second-acting are called second-actors.

Term of the Day: stagehand years

stagehand years--the age that a stagehand's body may feel like could be different from his or her actual age, from years of pushing cable boxes onto trucks, carrying tech tables and building steel deck. "I just turned 50, but in stagehand years, I don't feel a day under 60."

Term of the Day: first sweep

first sweep--prop man's #1, the first assistant. "Bill is the first sweep at that theater." See also: first broom.

Overheard Stagehand Conversation #10: "You're welcome as a guest..."

"You're welcome as a guest, but I don't need a roommate"--a crusty old house carpenter said this to a roadman who was trying to move into his office for the run-of-show. The roadman then built a primitive office for himself in the basement.

Term of the Day: ride it down the bottom

ride it down to the bottom--when you sty on a show 'til the bitter end. "A friend stayed on Spamalot 'til the end of the run, riding it down to the bottom."