Stage Mechanics & Special Effects & How to Work With Them

If you plan on acting for the stage, you should be familiar with the most common stage mechanics and mechanisms. In this video learn all about the rigs and ropes, winches and rakes, revolves and rails.
You'll also get some advice on how to perform and rehearse with these different theater mechanics.
12 Different Kinds of Stages Video: • 12 Different Types of ...
CHAPTERS:
Intro: 0:00
Raked Stage: 0:43
Stage Revolve: 1:35
Revolving Set: 3:01
Elevated Stage Floor: 4:22
Rail System: 5:19
Spotlight: 6:41
Automated Lighting: 7:12
Flying System: 7:46
Track System: 8:45
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CREDITS:
Chess photos by Michael Brunk
KZbin VIDEOS REFERENCED:
The Hobbit at The Grand Theatre - time lapse of set build: • The Hobbit at The Gran...
"Narnia" crew pulls out the stops: • "Narnia" crew pulls ou...
Rotating Stage by Scene Idea: • Rotating Stage by Scen...
Life's a Dream Stage Elevator: • Life's a Dream Stage E...
Making Mary fly: • Making Mary fly
Theater Fly System: • Theater Fly System
Stage Automation Presentation: • Stage Automation Prese...
Classic Clips: Stage Automation: • Classic Clips: Stage A...
Denver Center Theatre Co Automation Demo: • Denver Center Theatre ...
Into the Woods - Stage Automation: • Into the Woods - Stage...
Anne of Green Gables-The Musical™ Stage Revolve: • Anne of Green Gables-T...
Othello rotating stage: • othello rotating stage
Rotating Stage FWC MAY 2016: • Rotating Stage FWC MAY...
Strollers Theatre "Noises Off" Rotating Set: • Strollers Theatre "Noi...
Hamilton: Disney+
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[@AugmentedActor]

What's your favorite theater special effect? If you want to learn about different kinds of theater stages, check this video out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4vIpYOjhN6SZ5o

[@MariaLopez-mw6ts]

I’m looking to build the lifting/flying system from ride the cyclone the ballad of Jane Doe scene for our showing and I can’t seem to find any diagrams or picture on how to build it. Do you have any idea on where I can start. If not I understand thank you.

[@AugmentedActor]

@@MariaLopez-mw6ts I don't have any diagrams of that setup. In fact, I still haven't seen Ride the Cyclone. Sorry I can't be more help. I would suggest writing to ACT Theater in Seattle. They put on one of the first productions of RTC and they might be able to point you in the right direction.

[@teaandoranges1]

Don’t wait until after tech to voice your concerns over the look of the show. That’s what tech is for. Also, this is excellent content. Very concise, perfect for students. Thank you.

[@AugmentedActor]

Thanks, Emma. Good to hear this feedback.

[@SpiritOfTheSeasons]

This depends on the situation! Maybe it is acceptable in high school theatre, but unless it is a safety issue, the designers and director do not care what you think about their design, and for you to come up and insult their work could mean the end of your career in that area. Nobody wants to work with someone who talks about stuff outside their realm of expertise. It’s very much the same way a lighting designer won’t come up to tell you an acting note (besides where to stand for a moment maybe)

[@AugmentedActor]

100% agree. It’s only an actor’s business to say something if they notice a safety issue. It’s possible Emma was commenting from the director or producer’s point of view. If a show isn’t looking as you expected it, tech is the time to work out the kinks with your designers. However most of those issues in professional theater are well thought out in advance of tech.

[@PrestonBircher]

Excellent Intro to Tech 101 !!! As a professional lighting designer... dealing with moving lights generally also means more "specials" and marks that the actor needs to hit. This also allows the pool of light to be smaller - more precise. Many actors are not as used to being that precise with the blocking. But mixing pre-programmed automated lighting... now the actor has to know their marks down to the millimeter! Or they're performing in the dark. Not to mention that most LED lights don't have the classic incandescent "hot spot" allowing an actor to know when they are in middle of the pool of light. It can be very deceiving. Just thought I'd add my 2-cents into the convo. Keep the videos coming!

[@AugmentedActor]

Those are great pieces of advice. Things have certainly advanced in the world of lighting the last several years so always good to be mindful of the new requirements to be seen on stage.

[@larrymackie9276]

Most enjoyable and informative!

[@AugmentedActor]

Why thank you Larry. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@iunguoivn]

Wonderful 😮 Thanks for sharing

[@AugmentedActor]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@breannac4841]

I showed this video to my middle school theater classes and they found it very fascinating. Thank for all the great descriptions and fun visuals.

[@AugmentedActor]

That's great. I'm glad they enjoyed it and thanks for showing it to your class.

[@samuelhodges3119]

I thank you for sharing this. This is cool and good to know.

[@AugmentedActor]

You’re welcome. I’m glad you found it useful.

[@MsCasati]

Very helpful thank you!

[@AugmentedActor]

You’re welcome.

[@siel.castillo]

Thanks for the timestamps!

[@AugmentedActor]

Sure, you’re welcome.

[@jesusrendon7872]

this really helps me. I never knew there were so many different stages

[@AugmentedActor]

Oh I’m so glad the video helped. Yes there are so many different kinds. It’s hard to keep track of them all

[@chavlichek1]

thank you sir!

[@AugmentedActor]

You are welcome!

[@Arlofan]

Am I in a show with any of these? No. Am I in a show at all? No. Am I watching this entire thing? Of course.

[@AugmentedActor]

Ha. Sorry that you’re not currently in a show. But at least now you will know all about these mechanics when you are in a show. Thanks for watching!

[@Arlofan]

@@AugmentedActor I'm helping out with one now, nothing like this, very basic stage but I LOVE getting to learn about stuff like the rails and turntables. Edit: Just found out there is moving towers for actors to stand on or something along those lines. Now THAT is interesting.

[@armandoalejos3155]

Nice!

[@AugmentedActor]

Thanks

[@JessieJussMessy]

Very nice content

[@AugmentedActor]

Thanks, Jessie!

[@creativevlogs101]

Great work

[@AugmentedActor]

Thank you

[@MichaelPetersenprideboy]

What about pyro and water effects

[@davidleavitt835]

When doing a touring bus and truck show, how much rehearsal is needed at each new theatre? Dressing rooms stage left at one, vs stage right at another? Flys, rigging, lights, stage abnormalities if any (size and such)?

[@AugmentedActor]

That’s a good question and I have limited knowledge of touring shows as I’ve never done a tour. I have worked on several productions that move to a different theater during a run and in those cases the set is designed to be flexible in size. Designers build flexibility into their sets and they often have stage specs for the theaters they tour to in advance as well. As for rehearsals, it usually takes one to two run throughs in a new space for actors and crew to figure out their pathways on and off stage and where quick changes and pit signing will take place. So I imagine in most scenarios you’d have a staging rehearsal out of costume to address any issues and then a run through of the show with all the tech. And probably room built in for an addition run if needed. Again the shows are often rehearsed and staged to allow for backstage inconsistencies with game plans in place for dressing room locations and what not.

[@davidleavitt835]

@@AugmentedActor thanks mate. Much appreciated. ❤❤

[@grollboll5827]

Do you have any examples of what practitioners use the revolving stage??

[@AugmentedActor]

Do you mean theater companies that use a revolving stage? Or examples of a revolving stage used in certain productions? Question 1: most larger union houses have the capability of using a revolve but it has to be built into the design for the show (It's not a permanent fixture of the stage). Some smaller theaters will build mini revolving sets, but usually don't have the means to have an electronically controlled revolve. If you mean question 2: There are many examples of shows that use a revolve. I mentioned Hamilton and come from away as examples, but I've seen Our Town, Inherit the Wind, Tommy and many other shows staged using a revolve. Any show could conceivably use a revolve with a little imagination, but it works particularly well when characters are walking from one place to another in or between scenes or when lots of different scenery needs to be introduced over the course of the show.

[@pedpedpedped5182]

Have you ever seen Adele at Las Vegas show?, at the end of the show she disappear I think it’s elevated stage floor but It’s so fast. It’s very impressed stage mechanic

[@AugmentedActor]

I haven’t seen that show but that does sound like one of the ways to make someone disappear on stage. There are also trap doors that can open up and drop the person to a padded surface.

[@houlaperes]

Hi fantastic. I don’t speak English very well, I’m going to try explain that I would like to do in our theatre play. I like the effect track system or winch or travelator, and how do it do?, we need a doble floor?, are there a guide inside the floor, or is only a cable those do it the action?, if you have more information about that effect, please send me some link to watch how do they do it. Fantastic video and I’m sorry for my English.

[@AugmentedActor]

Track systems are fairly complex systems that require winches, pulleys, computerization, chains/cables, etc. Usually to bring a set on and off stage you would build a layer of flooring on top of the stage floor and leave thin ridges for the cables. Then you build small platforms and attach them to the cables, these platforms may have wheels or ball bearings to make them easier to roll. The cables are attached offstage to a winch system that cranks them on and off. And all of that is hooked up to a computerized software system that automates the process. I don't have the technical expertise to tell you how to build one and I can't find any videos on youtube that show you how to build one. But most any regional sized theater should have a technical director who would be able to give advice. Here are a few videos that I included in my video that show how the systems work better: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4iwaKCmrtdqhbMsi=49P1GHboFmbYmoEp and kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3TKc3R-a8dkm7Msi=MO-b09ehttvTg0ID

[@houlaperes]

Thank you very mucha. You help me a lot. It’s nice to know there is people like you. Thank you very much again

[@AugmentedActor]

@@houlaperes You're welcome!

[@theCranesUS]

How would one get into set building? I enjoy building things large and small using various materials. Set building seems right in line with what I like doing; build it, admire it for 30 minutes then move on to the next project.

[@AugmentedActor]

If you’ve never done it before I’d recommend reading up on they’re set design so you have the basics of what it involves. Here’s a few books I found on Amazon: amzn.to/3QFeCp8, amzn.to/3sj9ldr, amzn.to/47k9AE9 set design is quite a bit different than construction of homes or buildings. It involves tricks. Making the illusion that something is solid and heavy while still being light and mobile. Sets are often versatile. They rotate or fold up or fade into the sky. You’ll also want to decide whether you’re more into design or construction or both. Designers need to be able to draw/paint their concepts and also create blueprints or schematics. So art and design classes can come in handy. Construction people need to know all the tools and types of fabrics woods metals and other materials often used to build sets. Learn the basics like building platforms that are safe and stable. Adding casters to platforms and building basic flats which are lightweight frames covered with stretched muslin to create walls. You can try taking a course at a community college on set design if there’s one in your area. But the best way to learn is to start building sets. Volunteer at local community theaters to work on the strike crews (the ones who tear a set down) this will help you learn how sets are constructed. Then help assist a set constructor or designer with building sets and finally offer to build a set yourself. Start small with small theaters. Black box theaters. High school and community college sets. And go see a lot of theater to see what others create. Take a backstage tour when you can of bigger shows to see how their sets are created. KZbin is also a great resource. Hope this helps. It’s really just about getting out there and learning the basics and getting involved wherever you can.

[@theCranesUS]

@@AugmentedActor thank you for your thorough response and advice. I called my local theatre and have organized a day to follow the set folks for an afternoon. They also have volunteer internship positions.

[@AugmentedActor]

@@theCranesUS That's awesome! Glad you took action!

[@jackcope5484]

if you want to voice tech or artistic concerns, do not wait till after tech, and go to the director first, they will then talk to the crew if they care

[@AugmentedActor]

Yes, early communication is important. They can't make tech changes as easily once they are implemented. However, sometimes an actor doesn't know about concerns until they get on a fully realized stage and may still feel unsafe about something. It's important to address those concerns immediately and hopefully the tech director and director can work out a solution so that you do feel safe on set.

[@jackcope5484]

@@AugmentedActoras a tech I feel any safety issues can bypass that process

[@yuezhongdigital3561]

Nowadays, the stage mechanics technology is updating, if anyone want to know more about the technology and the applying, welcome to contact with us.

[@AugmentedActor]

Thanks for offering to share your knowledge!

[@2009blades]

Shout heads up

[@AugmentedActor]

Yes

[@jackcope5484]

I have been working in production shops for a while and am going to school for theater tech; whenever he says not to touch something, DO NOT TOUCH IT. Do not touch other people's props, other people's costumes, and absolutely do not touch tech, we are protective of our gear, and many techs do not have the human skills to be nice about it.

[@AugmentedActor]

Absolutely!

[@FILMFRAT]

Awesome tutorial! Really appreciate it! I make filmmaking related tutorials also. Any support would mean alot! Thanks again

[@AugmentedActor]

Hey thanks for the comment. I just subscribed to your channel. I'll check out some videos of yours when I get a moment.

[@FILMFRAT]

@@AugmentedActor Awesome man really appreciate it!

[@jessicacarlson1398]

What about the girl who was killed by the rotating stage in Disney in 1974?

[@AugmentedActor]

I hadn’t heard about that. Unfortunate accident but obviously the technology is still used today and perhaps there haven’t been any deaths from rotation since? I imagine people could be killed from a lot of this mechanical tech if they aren’t paying attention or in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[@jessicacarlson1398]

@@AugmentedActor it was on the America Sing’s show

[@AugmentedActor]

@@jessicacarlson1398 oh wow that's crazy

[@johnclapshoe8059]

Spotlight, American? Followspot, British? Dome, Australian? Different words, same thing.

[@AugmentedActor]

Yes I believe so. I’ve heard follow spot and spotlight interchangeably in the states.

[@jimc5096]

Just a quick note for those who want to work in the professional world concerning an actor giving their opion of how the show looks - set, costume, sound, lighting, etc.etc., etc., The Producers, Directors, Deparetment Heads, Designers and Technicians could care less if you like the tech or not. Unless you notice a safety concern, keep you opion to yourself. Failure to do so will ensure you wait more tables than act in shows because you will find youself back in the wanna be world of acting called non-professional theater.

[@AugmentedActor]

Good advice, never complain about the set, props, costume, etc.