As the stage manager of this year’s winter musical Hairspray, I have witnessed lots of hard work that others may not have the opportunity to see. Walking through the winding maze of corridors and spaces in Hoyt Hall, I come across all of the departments that contribute to making the show happen.
In my position, I provide assistance to Director Mark Howland. This often involves communicating with the various crews in backstage departments.
Behind the stage is the workshop, where the tech crew can be found. This student group, directed by Mr. Van Voris and Mrs. Kistler, splits stage time with the actors so that the set pieces and lights can be installed. This crew works to create elaborate designs that can create a realistic atmosphere for the production.
During the show, some of the crew controls the spotlights from the catwalk of the Fireman Performing Arts Center. All the communication is done with each other through headsets to cue the lighting during the performance.
Will Walker, this year’s lighting designer, says that one of his favorite parts of tech crew is watching the actors from the catwalk as they hang the lights.
“[The experience] is so cool because the best view in the house is only available to us,” said Walker. He also enjoys watching when the “techies” hang the curtain because they “have to climb off the catwalk onto unsteady boards to hang it,” which he calls “dangerous and terrifying, but funny, nonetheless.”
Occasionally, I head up to the costume room where five Tabor students work with costume designers Annemarie Fredericks and Ruth Finnieas they design the outfits for all cast members in the show. With a huge cast of 43 students, they have a lot of work to do.
At the beginning of rehearsals, the costume crew takes the measurements of all actors and develops a spreadsheet of all the roles that each person plays. After taking measurements and shopping for supplies, the costume crew creates the pieces and sorts them for each actor. On the night of each show, this group does the makeup for each actor to make them into their character.
The costume crew achieves impressive transformations. This year’s production involves the use of a padded body suit to add ‘bulk’ to the plus-size main character Tracy Turnblad, and making a male student into an adult female character.
The media arts classes are also a part of the preparation. They are working on a unique poster for the show with photos of some of the actors as their characters.
The public is welcome to come and see Hairspray on February 19, 20, or 21 in Hoyt Hall to admire all of the hard work from the technical crew, costume crew, and the actors.
By Julia O’Rourke
