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The navigation blocks above mimic the steps you might encounter for your shifts here. The following establishes some basic concepts.
Parts of a Theater
Stage
The area where the performance takes place is referred to as the stage. We refer to the stage from the perspectives of the performers.
The area of the stage furthest from the audience is upstage, and the closest is downstage. The area of the stage to the performer’s left is stage left, and to the performer’s right is stage right. The area surrounding the playing space not visible to the audience is backstage or offstage.
House
The house is any area that is not backstage or onstage. Typically, this refers to anywhere the audience is seated. Therefore, the house positions are in the perspectives of the audience. House Left is the audience’s left, and House Right is the audience’s right. (For a typical proscenium stage, House Left is in front of Stage Right.)
Front of House
This is a broad category that can contain multiple positions:
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Control Booth: The section of the theater designated for the operation of live lighting/audio/video equipment, and is sometimes the location of the stage manager’s station.
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Lobby / Box Office: The public entry to the building from the outside.