Term of the Day: dead man walking

dead man walking: a stagehand who has been fired or let go doing cues on his/her last day. (stolen from the death-penalty movie "Dead Man Walking.")

Term of the Day: smile

smile: the bending of steel in a poorly constructed storage pallet that is suspended on motors. Because of the weight in the pallet of props or scenic pieces, the steel in a badly designed pallet may start to bend, giving the steel a bend or a curved "smile." Such pallets need to be reinforced before they become a hazard. "The carpenter pointed out the smile in the steel tubing in the pallet over our heads."

Vaudeville Term of the Day: face plant

face plant: an old-school pratfall where an actor will land on his face, usually on something soft, like a pillow or an armrest.

Another orchestra term: calling out

calling out: when a musician calls  the in-house contractor at the last minute and tells him/her that they can't come in. There may be a scramble to find a sub.

Term of the Day: blue hairs

blue hairs (n.): elderly women theatergoers who often come in roups, who traditionally have formed the backbone of the Wednesday matinee. This may be changing, as Wednesday matinees are selling less well. Also: blue-hair matinee, meaning a Wednesday matinee.

Term of the Day: (the) actor projects

(the) actor projects: slang for Manhattan Plaza, the subsidized housing for actors, stagehands and other theater professionals on 43rd Street and 9th Avenue. The building has a waiting list that can last up to 15 years and is reminiscent in appearance to public housing built in the 1970s. The goal was to provide affordable housing for theater professionals.

Wardrobe Term of the Moment: rigged (costume)

rigged (costume): a costume that has been rigged for a quick change, with buttons or zippers being replaced with Velcro or snaps.