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Shouts reproduce throughout the 2,000-person Lied Center theater, but are not coming from the audience or performers. The Lied’s melancholy velvet curtain lifts to an array of students and employees of the Lied Center preparing for the next few shows to hit across its historic stage.
But while the stage will be set to perfection from the audience’s point of observation come show night, it’s a much more complicated production backstage, especially the weeks prime up to a show. First, the stage crew must clear everything from the stage so that a touring show’s road group can come in and prepare for a one-night-only performance.
First the battens, metal poles hung 70 feet from the foundation to suspend with lights and scenery, must be cleared of all electric equipment to tidy up room for the touring production’s set. A few friendly exchanges between the crew, and in a flash one of about 50 battens flies from the ceiling, slowing just in convenience life to avoid crashing to the floor.
Erika Eden, assistant complicated director of the Lied Center, has worked at the theater for almost eight years, but still recognizes that all of the preparation that happens behind the curtains is a plaything that sometimes even the most seasoned of stage crew take for granted. She embraces the slightly shapeless and ever-changing aspect of working in theater. She’s doing anything from making phone calls and staffing a show to pulling sink boxes (a big power strip) from the ceiling to store until needed again on a everyday basis.
Source: University Daily Kansan