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As the cast and crew got ready for the show I wandered around the different areas of the theatre. Everyone was busy making sure that everything would work properly during the show. Every detail was attended to, minor adjustments made to the lights and sound. Obviously, everyone intends that each show will be a great show. I was not sure what to expect about what the cast would be doing during the show. I had the idea that they would be busy doing "backstage" things. But that is the job of the crew. The cast members wait in the Green Room where they can hear the show over speakers, but they aren't listening extremely attentively. They are so familiar with the show that they know when their time is coming up. While waiting they chat, read, study, eat, talk on the phone, lie down, etc. When it is time to go onstage, they leave the room and return in a short time. If you didn't know that a show was going on in the next room you wouldn't realize they were performing. |
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Performers
doing warmup exercises.
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| During the show as I sit in the Green Room, I am struck by how familiar the students are with each other. They help each other if asked to do so, they offer each other food, they help each other with homework. No request for assistance is denied. | |||||
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10/17
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Performance for High School Students |
During this show I sit in the Control Booth with the Stgae Manger and one of the Lighting Operators. It is dark and quiet. At times the crew wears headsets to communicate with backstage crew and call cues for effects. Other times they have long breaks where the action onstage happens without lighting changes and they chat very quietly. I ask if they prefer being in the cast or crew, they like both but the lighting operator says that she gets depressed if she doesn't get to perform on a regular basis. I like the feeling of being where things are happening, it is difficult to watch the show from the wings in this theatre. But from here I can see almost everything. The Stage Manager is on top of things and knows exactly what cues to call and how much lead time to give the crew. I am struck by the idea that the thing that controls the show is invisible to the audience, more about this later. |
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10/20
- In the audience
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I come to the show as an audience member. There is a large crowd and it is fun to see the show from this side after seeing it from the other side. Everything works tonight and the show is very moving. When it ends I chat with some of the cast and they seem really glad that I came to see them. I think they are flattered to have someone pay attention to their work with an eye to describing what they do and how they do it. I have been given the chance to stay after the show for a photo shoot and take some pictures of them in costume and in action. | ||||
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| Cast of Death of a Salesman | |||||
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11/22
- in audience
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Having seen several rehearsals for this show I was anxious to see the whole performance. I felt like it would be a fun and lively show and I was right. It was non-stop action from the opening number. Since I didn't have a chance to stay backstage for this show it was really fun to see how it had all come together. I am constantly amazed at the energy and professionalism of these students. After all of the thought I had put into this project up until this performance I had not found a way to bring it all together. After this show I found the common element, freedom. | |||||||||||
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