KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010 / NEWS
5A
THEATER
Behind the curtain: 'Arms and the Man'
A look at the crucial moments before the production is ready for the stage
PHOTOS AND WORDS BY RYAN WAGGONER
rwaggoner@kansan.com
ewaggoner@kansan.com
Experiencing a production of the University Theatre as an audience member is one thing, but the action behind the curtain is a completely different atmosphere.
The cast and crew arrive long before the doors open and the audience members pour in. First to arrive is the stage manager, Sara Aurtin Finney, at 5:30 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. performance.
From that point on everyone is hard at work as the stage crew
gets the set ready and the cast gets into costume and makeup. Minutes before the curtain raises, the eight member cast gathers for warm-ups and they share a few moments in total darkness.
Once the performance begins the mood backstage is hectic, and this energy carries throughout the two hour show. As the curtain falls, the cast unceremoniously returns to the dressing rooms and they change back into normal attire.
Family members gather in the green room, and after meeting with friends and family, the cast and crew head home, only to come back tomorrow and do it over again.
Maggie Parker, a sophomore from Bentonville, Ark., rests her eyes just off stage in between scenes. The eight member cast spent most of its time off stage resting, consulting their scripts and rushing to change costumes.
Ed Schubel, a sophomore from Williamsport, Md., Cassidy Kirch, a senior from Olathe and Spencer Lott, a senior from Lawrence participate in a warmup exercise. The eight member cast gathered just minutes before the performance began to warm their voices up, and concluded in darkness, counting to 40 before taking the stage.
The door to room 321 features a sign reminding people that a show is in progress. The door leads directly to the stage from the dressing rooms.
Spencer Lott, a senior from Lawrence, combs his hair back in the dressing room before the performance. The mood in the men's dressing room was relaxed as the cast cracked jokes and listened to music before taking the stage.
Professor of theatre and director of Arms and the Man John Gronbeck-Tedesco gives a few tips to Cassidy Kirch, a senior from Olathe, on stage before the start of the performance. Gronbeck-Tedesco called several cast members to the stage to give them notes on their performance from the previous show.
Tall Bett Friedman, a senior from Solon, Ohio, waits behind a door for her cue to enter a scene. Friedman played the role of Raima Petroff in the production.