While watching a play, have you ever wondered how an actor changes their costume in the blink of an eye or how the broken glass on stage suddenly disappeared? It is all because of the cast of characters you don’t see — the backstage crew. Typically, these folks are dressed from head to toe in black, occasionally running around like chickens with their heads cut off, but always striving to put on a seamless production.
The tasks required backstage are critical to a successful theater production as a whole. Some of these tasks include setting up the stage before the house opens, assuring that all props are ready for use, costume changes, and being ready for any mishaps that can occur before, during, and after a performance. The crew’s work doesn’t just end there, the crew for a production also consists of lighting, sound, construction, management, and media.
MCC alumnus Cody Klimek, currently attending FGCU (Florida Gulf Coast University) for theater, shares his insight into the world behind the stage.
“Life backstage as a crew member during a production depends on what your role is,” Klimek said. “The jobs of stage managers and ASMs [assistant stage manager] differ greatly from light board operators, spotlight operators, or props masters if you need one during a show. However, based on my experience as an ASM, being backstage during a show is both fun and serious. You have to have a level of discipline and responsibility to follow the show along and make sure everything goes smoothly. This could be making costume changes quicker or setting furniture in a blackout. But it’s also fun. You find your moments to enjoy what you’re doing with your fellow team members backstage.”
Theater can be quite unpredictable at times, you never know when a ceramic mug filled with toxic drain cleaner might break on stage. This happened during a live performance, not with any real toxic drain cleaner, of course. During the production of Heather’s: The Musical at the MCC’s Black Box Theatre in the Fall of 2022, Heather Chandler (portrayed by Grace Corwine) was given a mug filled with a deadly concoction and when she “went to sleep” the mug accidently fell off the bed and shattered. Totally not a planned part of the show, but it provided for some cool imagery and realistic sound effects. Within no time a few crew members rushed on stage with a broom and dustpan and by the time the lights came back up, the broken mug had vanished.
Given that theater can have some unforeseeable circumstances, especially because it consists of live performances, it would be somewhat difficult without a crew. “I don’t think that a production would be able to function without the crew,” Klimek said. “It would be quite impossible. Without the backstage crew and technical production team you would be left with no director, technical director, ATD [assistant technical director], SM [stage manager], ASMs, light master, sound engineer, props master, scenic charge, costume designer, etc. There is so much that goes into a show beyond the actors on the stage. The tech crew is the lifeblood of making shows run, and without them you wouldn’t have a show. Or you’d have something that wasn’t really great.”
In some productions there are the unfortunate circumstances of having very small or no backstage crew at all. This happened during the Black Box production of Juliet and Romeo (a Black Box Original) and my very first onstage production in the Spring of 2023. With no backstage crew, the actors became the crew members during the show on their down time. I portrayed the character Gretchen, and while it wasn’t greatly difficult during that show, it was rather strange to do both.
It is difficult to be in two places at once and it can cause the actors stress. The crew has many roles that make it possible for a show to run smoothly. Some of those roles could be, opening and closing doors, assisting with quick changes, setting up the stage during blackouts, cleaning up messes, occasionally improvising, sewing a costume together, and even being there for some emotional support at times. You never know what can happen during a show.
The onstage actors benefit from having backstage crew. “As an onstage actor, I benefit from having a backstage crew in so many ways,” Klimek said. “But the thing that comes to mind is having someone to assist me with costume quick changes, like an ASM. The current production I’m working on, Radium Girls, requires me to make multiple changes into my different characters and I’d be late to the stage without them.”
A lot goes on behind those curtains. It’s an exciting and busy place.
The Black Box will be opening their Spring Musical, Legally Blonde, on Friday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. The play also runs on March 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23. Evening performances are at 7 p.m., and Sunday performances are at 2 p.m. There will also be an evening performance on Sunday, March 16, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for students, MCC employees, seniors, alumni, and veterans; $20 for the general public. Call (815) 455-8746 or email [email protected] to reserve seats.
As Elle Woods would say, “Don’t judge a book by its hair color” — come check it out.
