When the lights go down, the audience quiets, and the music begins, all eyes are drawn to the stage and all focus is set on the actors as they begin to tell their story. When the Theatre Department puts on a show, there is no doubt that the audience will feel the magic emanating from the talented actors on stage.
The stage, however, is not where all the magic happens. In fact, most of the work that goes into creating that magic happens backstage. The work that actors and backstage crew put in behind the scenes is the true driving force behind the success of theatre, but it often goes unrecognized.
Preparing for a show begins weeks, and sometimes months, before the show is performed in front of an audience. During this time, actors learn dances, memorize their lines, and work with crew to figure out where to stand on the stage when lights and props are accounted for. The crew, too, puts in a lot of work to prepare for the show.
“I do Costumes Crew mainly, and for most of the production, we plan out the costumes,” junior crew member June Monaco said. “With Costumes, generally we meet everyone, get measurements, figure out who’s getting what costumes, try it on, and then fix it during Tech Week, because it’s never all properly together.”
Once the show begins to come together, rehearsal becomes much more structured, and everyone backstage takes on new responsibilities. Rehearsals are treated as an official performance days before there is an audience, creating strict new rules and important new tasks for actors and crew members alike.
“Backstage, the protocol is to be quiet. Usually, we line up in formations for dance numbers backstage,” senior actor Hope Rison said. “The big thing is being aware of what’s coming next and acting accordingly to get what you need, like costumes or props. It can be a little chaotic backstage, which is why actors especially need to be aware of what’s coming and know the structure of the show.”
“For a regular rehearsal, I have to make sure everyone has eaten recently, check my script, check with directors to see if they want anything changed or if they have any notes, take attendance, and make sure dressing rooms are cleared out. Once the show starts, it’s just taking notes and observing,” junior Stage Manager Savannah Chamtcheu said.
Backstage work can get difficult, especially as Production Week gets closer. The crew especially puts in a lot of unseen work during this time that deserves recognition.
“The costume crew helps me every show with costume changes. They help me put my clothes back on racks when I have to throw them off to get to the next scene. Props crew moves my props for me or helps me get a prop quickly. Sound crew mics me up and does mic checks, adjusting the program to match my voice. Light crew puts down tape for where I’m supposed to stand for certain lighting cues,” Rison said.
“It’s quite difficult. You put in a lot of hours, but I feel like the mental aspect is the part of it that makes it more difficult. You put all this work in, and only your family is gonna really recognize you. But at the same time, if you’re having fun it doesn’t really matter,” Monaco said. “I think for Crew, the amount of time you have to put into fixing all the problems and making sure everything goes straight, it’s very difficult on that end. For actors, it’s the same thing. Everyone’s gotta do their part, or it’s all a massive mess.”
Despite the stress and the responsibilities that everyone backstage faces, the energy of it all makes it worth the troubles. Actors and crew members alike are able to find true enjoyment amidst the chaos.
“One of my favorite parts is when I’m not in a scene and watching my peers on stage who are in the scene, and kind of getting to be an audience member backstage, like watching the show unfold,” Rison said.
“The energy is pretty goofy. We’re usually making jokes or referencing some musical,” Monaco said.
“You have to be there to experience it, there’s not a lot of words I can put it into,” Chamtcheu said. “I get to see the actors and watch their faces as someone is doing their thing and having their big moment, and I get to watch all the background people do their dance moves. You know when someone does something and they’re like ‘Did anyone see that’? We see it. We got you.”
There is no doubt that theatre is magical for everyone involved, but the audience sees only a fraction of the work that creates that magic. Backstage work is unfairly unrecognized; it’s important that we begin to appreciate the students backstage, because it is their hard work that makes every show unforgettable.
