University Daily Kansan, November 8, 1984
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IN CONGRESS. JULY 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
In a scene from "1776," members of the Continental Congress fight among themselves over the question of independence.
In the spotlight and running it, too
"Who is responsible for this work of development on which so much depends? To whom must the praise be given? To who the boys in the limelight do not sit in the limelight. But they are the men who do the work."
William Maxwell Aitken
AROMAS OF SAWDUST and painted filled the backstage air Light filtered through the shutters of the staircase back in history to the year 1776.
The rest of the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall was dark except for a ring of light in the middle of the stage room where three students sat discussing lighting for the upcoming production of "1776." Two more students sat patiently on the stage, sometimes pacing back and forth on command.
"Take 200," said David McGreeye, who designed the lights for the production. "It's going to be hard for me to see this change." John, could you go stand by the back door? Yeah. Stop I've got a dead spot."
McGreevy also designed the set for the production of "1776," a lively musical which follows the trials and tribulations of U.S. founding fathers as they struggle to write the Declaration of Independence
"ACTUALLY DAVID proposed the production to the committee because he wanted to design the sets," said Jim Peterson, technical director of theatre and in charge of backstage production for "1776."
The show, directed by Jack Wright, starts at 8 p.m. tonight and will run through Saturday it will also run Nov. 15-17. Tickets are $3 and $4 on Thursday nights and $4, $6 and $8 on Friday and Saturday nights. Student tickets are half price with a current KUID.
At least 60 students are involved in the backstage activities, Peterson said.
"They sign up in crews," he said. "They are usually in classes such as Theatre 201 or 301, one hour classes that don't meet the requirements, but they have to be the running crew for some of the shows."
PETERSON SAID he started
scheduling students to work on this semester's six theatre productions in early September.
Running crews have to be backstage during rehearsals and performances. For the "1776" production, there are 19 crew hand for sets and props, lighting, sound costumes and makeup.
"A designer on our staff designed the costumes." Peterson said. "Then we have a costume shop like the scene shop where they build costumes and wigs. They also help with any emergency repairs and help actors change costumes during shows."
A makeup crew is in charge of the actors' hair and makeup. The makeup designer, Martha Priest, Topeka senior, shows students how to turn their 20-year-old faces into those of wrinkled, 20-year-old men.
"There isn't a big turnover of students in charge of crews," he said. "They're getting a degree in scenography."
NO EXPERIENCE IS needed to be a member of the crews, Peterson said, but anyone in charge of a crew must have experience. He son chooses those people himself.
Even though his students are getting scenography degrees, Peterson was an art major at Northeast Missouri State University
"They needed help painting sets one day," he said. "And I kind of fell in love with it."
Peterson said there is a good healthy respect among students performing in the spotlight and those running the spotlight because "obviously our job is to support the actors technically."
MARK NASH, Charlotte, Vt. senior, who played the lead in "Deathtrap" last month and is the stage manager of "1776," said the crew's job is to make the actors look the best they can.
"It it weren't for the technical crew, you'd see a lot of people walking around in street clothes on a black stage." Nash said.
Nash said he prefers acting, but he's glad that KU's BGS degree in theatre requires both acting and technical experience
"That's essential for making it in the real world," Nash said. "The smaller repertory companies don't hire just actors. They want someone who can build a set too."
David Neville, Wichita junior, adjusts a light above the stage in the Crafton Preyor Theatre at Murphy Hall.
Don Appert, Lawrence graduate student, and George Lawner, professor of fine arts, discuss the musical score during a dress rehearsal. Lawner is the conductor for the production, and Appert is the assistant director.
Story by Chris Cleary Photos by Chris Magerl
Jack Wright, artistic director of theatre, and David McGreevy, Wichita graduate student, check the stage lighting at a technical rehearsal of "1776." McGreevy designed the lighting and set for the production.
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