Theatre is very animistic - which only makes sense, considering we’re in the occupation of bringing things to life. During the run of a show, set pieces and props each have a designated location where they are said to “live.” You’ll often hear people asking, in regards to anything from a rapier to a pocket watch to a chicken sandwich, “Where does this live?” These designated areas for each object used in a show are extremely important because so many people work on any given show. Consistent locations where things return to when not in use – where they live - for needed components guarantees that those things will be available and ready to go when they are needed. You absolutely don’t want to be hunting around in a panic backstage for a piece of scenery or a prop when you are waiting for your cue to go out on stage.
Similarly, when a set piece or prop is no longer in use during the run of the show (that is, it’s used in Act I and not in Act II, and we’re now in Act II), it can be considered to be “dead.” Backstage, you might hear someone asking about a table, for example, “Is this dead?” That question is usually asked because if a set piece something is dead, that means we can move it out of the way and open up precious backstage real estate for other changes or transitions which may be upcoming.
I’ve also heard the “Where does this live?” question applied to tools in the scene shop. Most well-run shops have designated locations where specific implements or types of implements (like fasteners, for example) live. So when you need them, you can know immediately where to go to grab them and not waste a lot of time hunting around for something of vital importance.
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ASSOCIATED CONTENT @TMBCHR (Auto-Generated)
- Let the Dead Bury the Dead!
- Heraclitus and the common
- Legal procedures for coming back from the dead
- Dead man walking
- Saddam’s dead sons
