A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, 2nd Edition

322

●

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO STAGE LIGHTING

to the location of the leg line, so the initial marks are

made to either stage left or stage right. The measuring

tape, attached to this T, is laid out to either side, par-

allel to the snap line chalk of the plaster line, offstage

into the wings. After being tightened, the measuring

tape is then used as the basis for the downstage quar-

ter line light lines (9′-0″), the portal leg lines (18′-0″),

the frontlight focus strips (7′-0″ and 14′-0″), and the

front of the sidelight boom lenses (26′-0″).

Define Up Center

In many theatres, several marks have been made

adjacent to or on the back wall denoting centerline.

When no one can agree on which mark is the one

and true centerline, all the existing marks are graffiti.

When it’s important to the show to have confidence

in the up center mark, re-define the upstage centerline

to your own satisfaction employing two (matching)

tape measures. Each tape is attached to a matching

point on each side of the proscenium arch, typically

at the corners of the proscenium. They are then laid

out diagonally, so that the two spools of the measur-

ing tapes cross over each other close to the upstage

wall. After the tapes are tightened, the two tapes are

adjusted until the distances of both tapes match.

Figure 11.7 shows the two matching distances

overlapping at 37′-1½″. Presuming that both tapes

are equal, the matching distance must be on center-

line. The new improved upstage centerline point is

marked, and then a second snap line is often applied

to define the entire upstage/downstage length of

centerline.

Once the snap line has been removed, one mea-

suring tape is then reattached to the downstage

taped reference cross, and laid out running straight

upstage on the snap line. Since the master system

groundplan has been drawn indicating distances

from plaster line, the taped cross will be used as

the downstage reference point. Once the measuring

tape has been laid out and tightened, the centerline

marks made on the master system groundplan will

be duplicated onto the stage. For visual clarity, the

three different zone marks are often made in differ-

ent colors. The frontlight zones may be marked first

(3′-0″, 10′-0″, and 16′-0″), followed by the down-

light zones (8′-6″ and 16′-0″), and finishing with the

backlight zones (5′-6″ and 18′0″). The center-center

“X”(13′-10″) is placed as an intermediate point of

reference. Finally, the upstage light line “T” (25′-2″)

is spiked.

The measuring tape can then be attached to the

upstage center T, and laid out to stage left or right,

parallel to the plaster line. After being tightened,

the upstage quarter line light line T’s can be spiked

(9′-0″), along with the onstage edge of the #4 leg

3 7

1

2

3

F

37

1

2

3

F

BACK WALL

MEASURING TAPE

MEASURING TAPE

UPSTAGE

CENTERLINE

TAPES CROSS

@ 37'-1 1/2"

Figure 11.7 Crossed-Over Measuring Tapes Defining Up Center