Backstage Pt. 2

Last night was the final dress rehearsal with an invited student audience - it was very exciting to FINALLY be able to just sit back and watch it all happen. My job during the orchestra rehearsals is to take notes for the conductor and listen for balance between the stage and the pit. All was well last night - we are ready to open on Saturday!

At the first intermission last night we presented the kids with a special "half-time show" entitled "HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE AN OPERA?" Opera is definitely a team sport - and this team is especially large:

65 orchestral musicians, 1 conductor, 8 principal singers, 75 chorus members, 1 chorus master, 2 rehearsal pianists (including me!), 12 dancers, 2 choreographers, 4 stage managers, 32 performance crew including electricians/carpenters/flymen, 35 wardrobe and laundry crew, 14 wig and makeup crew, 45 opera staff members, 62 theater staff and ushers, plus countless other crew who repaired and painted the set, altered the costumes, auditioned the singers, printed the programs, raised the funds, sold the tickets.... all told over 545 people had a hand in putting on last night's performance.

Here's some more pictures of behind the scenes:

The carpenter's box including all the materials necessary for set changes, pyrotechnic effects, cleanup, and safety.

These are used to draw chalk lines to assist the crew in matching the set pieces correctly in the limited lighting. They also mark where the curtains hit the stage the performances can correctly position themselves when the curtains fly in.

This is known as the "upstage gazinta".... because is "goes into" the main stage "upstage of center".