Lipscomb University - Backlog Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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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

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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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Days of Our Lives begins the weekend Laundry. Jennifer Galloway is returning safely back to school with enough laun- dry to last all week. for many students such as Kathy Arm- strong who dozes during a commercial. @ What are we racing for’? As Friday draws near, the minds of DLC students begin to wander as they anxiously await the closing remarks of their Friday afternoon instructor. It’s as if a time bomb begins to tick as they count down the minutes —109...8... 7. Then suddenly they hear the remark, “OK, I'll let you go a little early today. Have a good weekend.” Backpacks are stuffed, zipped, and flung over shoulders in a matter of seconds as they race to the door. What are they racing for? For many it’s a race home, whether 10 minutes or 12 hours away. For others, it’s a mad dash to their dorm room where they hope to sleep all weekend, or maybe it’s to confirm that last minute date. Whatever the reason, it’s the same every Friday. That thought, “weekend,” just seems to excite DLC students. Now let’s see just what that time called “weekend” has in store for Lipscomb students. Well, since everyone’s mind works as an outline by the end of Fresh- man Composition, students begin listing things in categories. They begin their list: “things I need to do; things I want to do; and things I will do.” Under the first, students begin thinking of that speech due first thing Monday morning; then they glance across the room. “Where's the floor? Well, there’s the next two items on my list: cleaning my room and washing that two-week-old laundry. “Enough of that, now what I really photo by Pam Harper want to do!” If I had my choice I’d start out with a romantic date at the Spaghetti Factory and then maybe iceskating at Ice Cen- tennial, a stroll through the Conserva- tory, or maybe paddleboating at Foun- tain Square. Then they go on and list parks they would like to go to and swing or play frisbee, or maybe a special place they could go to see the view of Nashville and just relax. They list all of these and then they come to reality. Their list begins of things they will do: “Well, if I want to go all out, maybe I'll go to the Bison room, or hey, how about Subway’s buy-one-get-one free and then go next door to TCBY for dessert? Next, maybe a 99¢ movie and a few hours of Night Court. To top off the night, who knows, maybe a visit from Pizza Perfect? Oh yeah, that speech can wait until after curfew Sunday night, and who needs clean jeans Monday? These have only been worn four times. (They're not dirty until after the fifth wear.)’” The list goes on and on, but one thing is always true. No matter how tired or behind they are by Monday, the thought is always there: “If I can just make it until Friday ... 4y — Pam Harper