SIGHTS
External: a bright marquee with the name of the show or its famous performers, posters advertising the production being given, a box office where tickets are bought, scalpers on the sidewalk, rope lines indicating where people waiting should stand, lines of people waiting to get in, patrons smoking last-minute cigarettes before a show
Internal: a lobby with people milling about, attendants selling programs and merchandise, a coat check counter, a bar or concession counter with snacks and beverages for purchase (candy, water, sodas, alcoholic drinks), a set of restrooms, stairways leading up to the balcony seating areas and private boxes, multiple sets of doors that open into the seating area, rows of cushioned seats, viewers reading programs and chatting with neighbors, children sitting on booster seats, carpeted aisles with dim lights, balconies and boxes overhead, ushers with flashlights directing guests to their seats, an orchestra pit, a stage that is partially-hidden by a heavy curtain, a control booth for lighting and audio mixing, catwalks at the ceiling level, lights hanging from the ceiling, members of the stage crew dressed in black, lights flickering to indicate when the show is about to start, the lights dimming as the show begins, curtains opening or closing, backdrops and scenery on the stage, props being used, the stars of the show (singing, dancing, delivering lines, acting), show-appropriate costumes, spotlights highlighting various parts of the stage, flashlights bobbing down the aisles as ushers make their way in the darkness, the glow of a patron’s cell phone
SOUNDS
People speaking in quiet voices, muffled footsteps on the carpeted stairs, murmured apologies as patrons step past those already seated to get to their own spots, the crackle of snack bags being opened, creaky seats, announcements being made over the loudspeaker, the cessation of voices as the show begins, the whir of curtains being drawn open, music from the orchestra, laughter and gasps from the audience, applause, people shifting in their seats, actors speaking and moving around the stage, sound effects, patrons getting up to go to the restroom, a cell phone ringing and then quickly being silenced
SMELLS
Perfume and cologne, alcohol on someone’s breath, mouthwash or mints
TASTES
Candy concessions, water, pop, wine and beer (if alcohol is served), chewing gum
TEXTURES AND SENSATIONS
Huddling into a jacket or shawl for warmth when air-conditioning is set too high, the slick pages of a playbill or program in one’s hands, the soft cushion and gentle rock of an auditorium seat, an elbow brushing against a neighbor’s on the arm rest, carpeted stairs, taking careful steps up or down the stairs in the dim lighting, brimming tears at an emotional moment on the stage, the reverberation of drums deep in one’s chest, startling from unexpected music or sound effects, a thrill of anticipation as the show is about to start
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF CONFLICT
Tripping on the stairs
Falling from a box or balcony
The house collapsing
Sitting next to someone who causes trouble (through intoxication, constant talking, being confrontational or argumentative)
Nearsightedness that impairs one’s view of the stage
Having naturally heightened senses and being overwhelmed by the sights and sounds
Having a seat with an obstructed view (sitting behind a tall guest, being seated behind a pole or pillar)
Frequent interruptions during the show (via a crying child, technical difficulties, having to repeatedly get up to use the restroom)
Paying a steep price for the tickets and being disappointed by the performance
PEOPLE COMMONLY FOUND HERE
Actors, box office attendants, coat check attendants, dancers, directors, merchandise vendors, musicians, patrons, scalpers, singers, stage crew, talent scouts, the orchestra conductor, ushers
RELATED SETTINGS THAT MAY TIE IN WITH THIS ONE
Art gallery, black-tie event, green room, movie theater, Vegas stage show
SETTING NOTES AND TIPS
Theaters can be used for a variety of artistic performances: musicals, operas, ballets, concerts, plays, stand-up comedy routines, etc. These venues can be upscale and grandiose or intimate and casual. They can be located in popular places like Broadway or hidden away in isolated spots. Some theaters do not allow food and drink during the performance; to compensate, they will often have intermissions where patrons can visit the lobby bar for refreshments or a snack.
SETTING DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
My heels clacked a frantic rhythm against the sidewalk while the wind snatched at my hair. The marquee blazed against the night sky, easily three blocks away. I knotted my scarf and broke into a run. Snagging tickets had been about as easy as corralling an endangered animal, and there was no way I was going to miss this play.
Techniques and Devices Used: Light and shadow, multisensory descriptions, simile
Resulting Effects: Tension and conflict