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Scenery: Drapes, flats, ground rows, etc., arranged around or near an acting area to represent interior or exterior scenes.
Scenic Background: Non-essential, decorative scenery that represents what lies behind objects in the foreground
Scrim: Translucent open-weave fabric which may be used as a drop to create fantasy effects or to enhance a sky background.
Script: The written text of a stage play.
SEC: State Executive Committee.
Set additions: Scenery such as special drops, curtains, step units, flats, etc., which are not part of the Approved Unit Set or allowed under contest rules.
Set Up: Placing scenery, props and lights in the acting and offstage areas prior to or during a performance. Set up must be accomplished in 7 minutes or less.
Site Crew: Group of adults and students who help run the contest.
Special: A name given to a lighting instrument hung specifically for one show but made available to all companies as part of the basic set.
Spring Meet Director: Administrator in charge of each level’s academic and athletic spring contests.
Stage house: That section of the theatre or auditorium from the curtain line up to the ceiling or grid and back to the rear wall.
Stage manager: Adult or very experienced student who is in charge of companies backstage. If an adult is used, this can be your backstage timer. This is the person responsible for getting the contest started and kept on time. He or she is in charge of the stage crew.
Standard properties (props): General term referring to articles and materials used on stage by actors or to furnish the setting, usually interior or exterior furniture or substitutes for furniture. Commonly available furniture such as chairs, tables, settees, stools, benches, desks, etc.
State Theatre Director: Person at the UIL office who oversees the operation of the One-Act Play Contest.
Step units: Stairway containing two or more risers covered by treads.
Strike: Removing scenery, props and lights from the acting area during or after a performance. Strike shall be accomplished in 7 minutes or less.
Student Activities Conference: League-sponsored meetings for play directors and students held during September–December at host colleges, universities and schools to discuss and demonstrate methods of improving contests and the quality of educational theatre
Sweepstakes: Overall award given to the school accumulating the most points from the Spring Meet contests.
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Trim properties (props): All decorative elements related in use to standard or unusual stage properties and used to dress the stage, such as pictures, lamps, clocks, books, ornaments, dishes, etc. Trim properties may also be stage or hand properties if directly used by the actor.
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UIL: University Interscholastic League
Unit Set (League approved): Flexible and portable modular units described in the “Supplements” of this Handbook.
