Lipscomb University - Backlog Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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Y Backstage Expetling the unexpected is just part of working. . BACKS TAGE If you’ve never worked backstage on a play, then you've certainly missed a hair-raising time, and if it weren't for the “techies,” actors needn't bother stepping on stage. Imagine this: It’s five minutes before the curtain goes up. Actors are running hither and thither getting makeup finished, getting hand-props ready, finishing last-minute details, and generally getting psyched-up. The lights begin to dim in the auditorium, and a silence moves swiftly throughout the crowd. The curtain goes up and the play begins. But behind the set, a flurry and fury of cha- otic activity takes place. Stagehands scurry back and forth, setting props, flipping switches, hoping nothing goes wrong, and generally cleaning up. What would happen if something went awry? A crucial prop isn’t set, a light doesn’t work, something breaks, an actor forgets his entrance cue or forgets an entire passage of dialogue, or a crew member gets switch-happy and becomes an uncontrollable switch-flip- ping maniac. Usually the production will come screeching to an earth-shattering halt, but if the acting troupe is very good, as the cliche’ says, “the show will go on.” Brad Ward, senior, is the technical director for all shows on campus. According to him, the Photo by Jon Jacksor

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ipscomb isn’t situated on a one-way street. There are many ways to get there and many paths to take after you arrive. Which way is up? Or is it down? Or right? Darren Henrie, Jason Shelton, and Philip Hutcheson seem to be confused as to just where they are going as they try to intepret direc- tions written as an exercise for En- glish class. ey photos by Carmen Anderson oo . WHAT IS g = ? ce ° e e e e e ened : ° . Bee 2 pp 2S She 2 2 Ae. Our Success Cam pus Life

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backstage environment is usually “as close toa professional environment as possible.” “I always make it a point to have a good backstage crew and stage manager,” he said. One incident that was a complete nightmare for Ward and his crew took place during “Songs of the South” in 1986. “A girl was in the dressing room upstairs in Burton when she was supposed to be on stage. A stagehand went looking for her and found her upstairs wandering around the hall trying to find the stage, while onstage all was silent for several minutes. What was funny about this is that it happened two nights in a row!” Ward said. - Many times a backstage goof or even an onstage goof can be extremely funny to the audience but absolute horror for those on- stage and backstage. Take, for instance, the 1987 Alpha Psi Omega one-acts. Phones rang when they shouldn’t have and didn’t when they should have. Doors flew open, beds be- came airborne. According to Tony Miller, Al- pha Psi Omega president, “When you have a crowded space full of nervous people, a little chaos is inevitable, but that’s part of the fun.” Brandon Fredenburg, Alpha Psi Omega member, explains that one must be ready for just about anything to happen, and usually it will. “As an actor, you have to be prepared for anything. Missed lines are usually easy to take care of. Missed cues can be worked around. But props breaking on stage is never a pretty sight. Sam Wallace, former president of Alpha Psi Omega, and I were performing the third act of Neil Simon’s ‘The Odd Cou- ple’. This particular scene required him to throw a suitcase on the floor and plop in a chair. When he plopped, the front two legs of the chair broke, and he went sliding onto the floor. Many thought it was intentional, but it was one of the best ‘saves’ we’ve ever had,” said Fredenburg. But thankfully, Lipscomb theatre isn’t usu- ally prone to many problems. Buddy wouldn’t have it any other way. — Joel Meriwether Photos by Wayne Price Lincoln Hanks Brigadoon sound-man, knows when to turn the actors on and off and can do it, too! Craig McCarter shows Michelle McTeer the ropes — literally — during a rehearsal. Trey Allan descends from the cat walks behind Alumni stage during a rehearsal for Brigadoon. Backstage