Expert: Phil Nemy - 2/12/2004

Question
In 8 shows a week of highly active musical  how do actors  wind down between shows to create opening night enthusiasm for next show? How can they not be bored? How about crew?
Have seen fireplaces on stage (obviously electric fakes) far more real than I can buy for home? Where?In period pieces and huge dresses how keep them clean? Or how many copies are needed?Is it possible to get pass to hang around backstage quietly to see the marvels that happen?
Bill Kiewel


Answer
Bill,

Thanks for writing. I haven't worked as an actor in over 15 years, so I'm not up currently on what an actor does. But when I was working as an actor, what I did was a couple of things. First, I often imagined that a relative was in the audience seeing me in the role for the first time and so I played to them. trying to impress them. That kept me at my peak performance level. It helped that I had A LOT of relatives.

Actors often play practical jokes on one another to keep the show fresh, and some actors, and I don't recommend this, occassionally restage the show so that it presents them in a more positive light, meaning, that upstage other actors. If the Stage Manager is doing his job, he will notice this and speak to the actor after the show, reminding them to stick to the blocking. If the actor continues to upstage, the stage manager has the right to call a rehearsal and rehearse the scenes in which the actor is changing the blocking so that everyone involved is reminded of the director's original blocking.

Even with these events, actors can get bored. A stage manager can often help by rehearsing scenes, dance sequences, etc. as a way of reminding people of the show. Rewards and competitions can be created as well, for example, telling the cast prior to a show that the cast member who shows the most enthusiasm and performance level of the evening will receive a prize.

As far as the crew, they can communicate backstage by headphones without interferring with the Stage Manager calling cues. So they can tell jokes, have conversations, read a book, etc. Provided that they are ready to go when their next cue is called.

Special Effects created for stage productions are not intended to be sold for home use. They are created only as a stage effect and not reused after the show closes.

Actor's Equity, the union that represents professional stage actors, has contractual requirments with stage producers that wardrobe is cleaned on a regular basis. All under garments are washed daily so that an actor has a fresh pair of undergarments every day. Wardrobe that can only be dry-cleaned is sent to the cleaners once a week and returned promptly so as to be available for the next evenings show. Professional theaters are generally dark on Mondays allowing for this cleaning time. This aside, for ornate costume piecese, or delicate items, there is usually a back-up available in case of emergency. Also, a costume seamstress is part of the production staff, so when things rip, buttons fall off, etc., he/she is backstage to do a quick repair job.

To my knowledge, know professional theater or production will allow anyone backstage to watch the production from the wings DURING a performance. However, once a performance is over, it is usually not a problem. For example, when the National Tour of MISS SAIGON came to Los Angeles and played the Ahmanson Theatre, subscription holders were given the chance to take a backstage tour following a performance. You may wish to check with your local theater to inquire about similar opportunities.

Hope this helps.

Phil