Term of the Night: a park and bark

a park and bark--when a Broadway diva is given a showstopping number but no choreography to go with it, literally standing in one spot and belting out her number.  From the New York Times review of "Chess," November 16, 2025.

Overheard Stagehand Line #65: "making nasty comments in a folksy upstate accent"

Stagehand: "Why don't you hire that guy anymore?"

Head: "I got sick of him making nasty comments in a folksy upstate accent." 

Term of the Night: "Say anything, tell them nothing"

"Say anything, tell them nothing"--old Irish saying, good for dealing with shit-stirrers. Do not give any information that is useful. Give them blarney.

Overheard Stagehand Dialogue #32: "business or personal?"

Young Stagehand: "When you threw that violent carpenter under the bus, was it business or personal?"

Older Stagehand: (taking a contemplative moment) "'Twas business and personal, the best of both worlds." 

Legendary Stagehands #3: Tommy A-Flat

Tommy A-Flat-a stagehand who once fell into an orchestra pit, I believe at the State Theatre, crushed a cello and survived with minor injuries. The nickname "Tommy A-Flat" stayed with him for the rest of his career.

Stagehand Dialogue #31: "...make sure he's dead..."

Young Stagehand: "When that tech dies, are you going to his wake?"

Old Stagehand: "Of course. I have to make sure he's dead." 

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.