March 17, 1999

'Tekkies' love applause, too

      Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a five part series following the Old Town Playhouse's production of "A Chorus Line" from casting to final curtain call.
     
By Garret Leiva
Herald staff writer
     
      There are those in the theater that never recite a line, dance a step or sing a single note. Instead, their work - if done right- goes virtually undetectable from lights up to final curtain call.
      They are known in the world of theater as technical crew, tech, or even tekkies. Working behind the scenes running lights or constructing scenery, they give their best performances off-stage. While they never take a bow, they are one of the reasons why the show can go on in the first place.
      Technically speaking, Kris Hains knows what it takes to stage a production. As director of Old Town Playhouse's "A Chorus Line," she works closely with the show's lighting designer, stage manager, production manager and other technical crew members as they prepare for this Friday's opening night performance.
      "You never know what is going to happen when you start adding elements like lighting to the production," said Hains, as she geared up for an all-day technical rehearsal Sunday in the auditorium at West Senior High School.
      "The way you picture things in your head isn't always how it comes out on stage ... you just hope the cast is in a good mood when they come in for rehearsal."
      With only a few days before the curtain opens on this OTP musical production, it is time for those that work behind the scenes to take center stage. Dozens of lights have to be focused, 32 feet of mirrors hung and assorted costumes sewn before one single actor can take the stage Friday evening.
      For stage manager, Steve Morse, the last days of rehearsal are just the beginning of things. Using a headset to communicate with the lighting and orchestra director, Morse makes sure that everyone is in place before the curtain goes up.
      "I'm like the guy at Kennedy Space Center you never see that counts down the rocket launch," noted Morse, who has been involved in getting numerous Playhouse productions off the ground over the past 20 years.
      While "A Chorus Line" does not require extensive scene changes or elaborate costuming, Morse said that the production does have its difficulties; the greatest being a shortened technical rehearsal schedule. With the OTP theater closed for renovations, the actual performance will take place in the 500 seat auditorium at West Senior High School.
      "It has added pressure of a shortened technical rehearsal schedule," Morse said. "But that's all part of community theater. There have been times when we have literally had actors on stage with wet paint. Fortunately, the paint has dried by the second-half of the production."
      Wet paint, however, was not a chief concern Sunday afternoon for production manager Larry Hains. Mounting a wall of mirrors 32 feet long by 8 feet high - now that was another story. Not wanting to endure countless years of bad luck, crew members carefully situate the mirrors, which were donated to the Playhouse, into metal tracks that had been screwed into several large vertical wooden boxes.
      "Technical aspects once the set is up "shouldn't be" - and I say that with a quote/unquote on it - that much of a challenge," said Hains, who also serves as house manager to help out the director, his daughter Kris.
      Of course working suspended 20 feet off the ground can prove a challenge in itself. Lighting designer, Marty Phillips, spent Sunday focusing Fresnel and leko lights on a grid high above the West Senior High stage. As part of her work, Phillips attempted to set 96 different lighting cues, including 17 individual spotlights for the chorus line using a state-of-the-art computerized light board.
      Despite all this high-tech help, some things are still done the old-fashioned way.
      "It is trial and error. You never get it right the first time, there are always adjustments that have to be made," said Phillips, as she shouted out the grid number of lights she wanted lit to an assistant down below in the light booth.
      Constantly working behind the scenes, or at times above, it would be easy for those on technical crew to feel unappreciated. For most tekkies, however, applause sounds just as sweet off stage as it does in the center.
      "Gratification is seeing the work that started out with an idea develop and grow on stage," Phillips said. "You hear that applause and you know that it is for you too."