telón

Telón is a Spanish noun that denotes a large curtain used on stages to conceal the scenery from the audience and to signal the start and end of a performance. It is typically hung from a track and moved by rope-and-pulley systems or by electric motors, enabling gradual reveals or concealments of the stage.

In theatre practice, there are multiple curtains with specific roles. The front curtain, known as the telón de boca, is the main curtain located at the front of the stage. Behind it, additional curtains such as the telón de fondo may be used to mask the back wall or to create a neutral or colored background. Telones are often part of a broader system of stage drapery, which can also include borders and cyc curtains to control light and sightlines during productions.

Materials and construction vary, but telones are usually made of heavy fabrics such as velour, damask, or wool, with lining and weights to ensure a smooth hang. They are designed to withstand repeated opening and closing and to contribute to the visual and acoustic ambiance of the production.

Beyond its literal meaning, telón has idiomatic uses in Spanish. Phrases such as levantar el telón (to raise the curtain) and bajar el telón (to lower the curtain) are used to indicate the opening or closing of a performance, or more broadly, the end of an era or event.

Etymology: the term telón comes from the Spanish language, referring to a large piece of fabric used as a curtain in a theatre.