Sections of the Theater
The Orchestra. The main floor of the theater is called the Orchestra. This can get
confusing if you’re going to an orchestra concert and your seat is in the Orchestra. That
doesn’t mean that you’ll be seated onstage with an instrument in your hands! In some venues this area is called the Stalls.
Balconies. In some theaters the balconies have special names like Loge, or Founders’
Circle, or Dress Circle. Sometimes the front part of a balcony has one name and the back
part of the same balcony has another name. These names, and what they mean, are
different in every theater.
Boxes. Boxes are small booths for a few people, usually located in one of the lower
balconies. Some outdoor amphitheaters have boxes close to the stage. Boxes may have
extra privacy. Not all theaters have them.
Standing room. In some theaters, you can buy a cheaper ticket that entitles you to
stand in the back, behind the last row of seats. If you’re hardy, this can be a great way to
see operas.
Special seating. Occasionally, when the performing group is small and the audience
is big, extra chairs are set up on the stage, surrounding the musicians. If you like to watch
performers up close, this can be a great place to sit.
Some concert halls are designed for this kind of wraparound audience; they have
permanent seating behind the musicians.
Some theaters provide spaces for wheelchairs. Call the box office or the theater to
arrange access; space may be limited.
Visual obstructions. Some theaters have a
few seats with only a partial view of the stage.
Maybe there’s a handrail or a pillar in the way,
or maybe the architect was a nut case. These
obstructed seats are sometimes extra cheap.
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