Term of the Day: the hero

the hero: (Local 52 term) a prop, usually a table, in a TV or movie shoot where the main action of the scene takes place, where the actor  or actress who is the hero of the scene has his/her lines." "Make sure that tablecloth on the right-hand table has been steamed...that table is the hero  and is the focus of the shot."

Term of the Night: Mean Girls, the Middle-Aged Edition

 Mean Girls, the Middle-Aged Edition--difficult people in the theater from one department turning on other departments. "The wardrobe supervisor suddenly became hostile to the prop department and hired like-minded dressers. It quickly became a case of "Mean Girls, the Middle-Aged Edition."

In Memory: RIP Pete Wright

The brothers and sisters of Local #1 IATSE experienced a horrible tragedy on November 12, 2020. Pete Wright, the incredibly talented flyman of the August Wilson Theatre, was fatally injured in an accident while doing restore work at the Wintergarden Theatre. He died at the hospital a short time later.

Pete Wright was one of four stagehand brothers who were known for their great work in the Local and all were legendary mechanics. Pete was a force of nature, often doing the work of three men when he ran load ins and load outs. He had a dry wit and an unstoppable work ethic. If you asked for something from Pete, his line was, "For you, the grid's the limit." He was completely fearless in how he lived his life as a stagehand. Pete was 54.

Pete leaves behind his beloved wife Marcie, who had also worked as a stagehand. They worked together on the 1990's revival of "Grease," at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. Pete and Marcie lived in Connecticut, where they raised their two sons, Kenny and Matt.

Pete and I worked on "Jersey Boys" together. A few years ago, Pete bought an old industrial building in his town. He told me with a gleeful look on his face how he had converted the small building into the ultimate "man cave"... half woodworking shop, half metal shop. It sounded like a stagehand's dream.

--Dylan Foley

Term of the Day: to break character

 break character—when an actor becomes distracted or laughs, losing focus on what his/her character is supposed to be doing.

Term of the Day: on application

 on application--a stagehand trying to break into Local 52 will be on application, gaining qualifying hours and getting ready for the test

Term of the Night: Orange crush

 Orange crush: five-pound plastic sledgehammer good for pounding scenery or decking into place, which does not leave a mark like a metal sledge. Also called  clown hammer, for its orange color.

Term of the Day: the key, key

 the key, key-- key carpenter responsible for laying out projects. A Local 52 term. Highly skilled carpenter who translates designer plans into shop drawings so TV or film shop craftspeople can build flats, headers and other scenic pieces. Theater shop equivalent is a layout person.