ABSTRACT
Stage machinery systems generally fall into two categories, though the line between the two can, of course, be blurry. Systems in the first category, often called “stage equipment,” are usually permanently built into a performance space, and include machines such as orchestra lifts, automated rigging systems, permanent turntables, and elevators. The second category is typically installed on a per-show basis, to move scenic pieces across a show deck on a track, “fly” them above the stage, or move them up and down across the stage itself. Each moving piece in a system is typically known as an “axis”2 or “effect.”
