Expression of the Night: quick to push the HR button

quick to push the HR button--when a stagehand is quick to claim harassment or a hostile work environment, real and imagined. "Don't get left alone with that young propwoman...she's very quick to push the HR button. You'll be up in the office  before you know it."

Term of the Night: to be on the fritz, to fritz out

to be on the fritz--malfunctioning or broken machinery. "The automation lift is on the fritz." to fritz out--to throw a tantrum, to have a volatile response. "The old head fritzed out over the late coffee delivery."

Term of the Day--a dog show

a dog show--a doomed show put in a Broadway theater by ambitious producers. Dog shows are usually put in dog houses, which are Broadway theaters east of 7th Avenue.

Term of the Day: Cl-opening

Cl-opening--when a show opens and then posts notice on or around opening night.  "In 2008, at the Circle in the Square Theatre, the show 'Glory Days' posted notice on its Opening Night that they were closing. It was the rare Broadway phenomenon of the Cl-opening."

Term of the Day: Performative rage

performative rage-- when a tech or head can turn on rage and  a torrent of verbal abuse to cow an underling. Often, they turn this rage off, like flipping a switch, without any visible effect to themselves.

Expression of the Day: "If you don't have anything..."

 "If you don't have anything nice to say, sit next to me during break"--regarding the average stagehand's love of gossip.

Expression of the Day: the screwing is inevitable

the screwing is inevitable--when a stagehand has a reputation of always screwing people over. "I am glad you got a job on that show, but watch that head. The screwing is inevitable."