Backstage Pass

Today had a stressful start. . .I am the stage manager for a new children's theater company in the Portland area (CYT) and we are in the midst of our first opening weekend!  The first thing I woke up to today was "we don't have the mics anymore".  This began a huge run around trying to find mics for the leads and making sure we can have them by 1pm.  The kids have worked so hard for the last 8 weeks in order to open, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, last night.  They had a wonderful performance and are determine to do it again today, with or without the mics they need.

I decided this week to take a break from following Marilyn's story and talk a little bit about my live theater experience.  I myself have only been involved in one theater production, Footloose, a couple years ago.  While I didn't exactly know what I was getting myself into when I agreed to be stage manager, I have been pleasantly surprised.  The excitement you have right before the show starts, and the nerves that are running through all the performers is such a fun, exciting, experience.

Last night as we were about to start our opening show, I just looked around at all of the kids I have seen working so hard to get to the spots they are at.  The leads have grown so much in their characters from the very first rehearsal to opening night.  It was so cool to see the way the cast performed the best they ever had with a full, live, audience.

This week I was able to explore the spotlight in an aspect I hadn't thought about before, from backstage.  From my table were I call, lights, places, show time!  When I watch the kids step out into the spotlight I can see them transform into their characters and become a whole new person while they are acting.  Being backstage you get to see all the ins and outs of a performance, it's exciting and stressful, but most of all it gives you an appreciation for the theater that will never go away!