University of South Carolina Libraries
Unm* Koger Center By BRIAN GARLAND Assistant Carolina! Editor Some people think that there's only a phantom backstage at the opera. But only a peek behind the curtain and to the sides of the Koger Center stage recently reveals a cluttered, yet somewhat organized, distribution of props, ropes and pulleys, as well as i theater staff, actors and actresses, a bunch of USC and S.C. State students and kids. Pandemonium, maybe? Well, it could be, but in this case, it's the cast and crew of "Un Ballo di Maschera," or "A Masked Ball," showing at 7:30 p.m. today and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Koger Center. Set in colonial Boston but sung in T t O t i' 1 n tk i c r\ r* n f o nr<*< f tan Uir AimiAii, in ia uptia, wi tutu u y Giuseppe Verdi, focuses on a gover- " nor named Riccardo (David Bankston) and his forbidden love for his best friend's wife, Amelia (Ann Benson). Supertitles, subtitles located above the stage, translate the lyrics. Everything may seem glamorous onstage, but the scenery changes on j the other side of the curtain, and the , division between them should not j change, said Dorcas Bean, stage man- j ager for Opera at USC. s "There's a whole system back here t that no one ever sees," said Bean, an ( interdisciplinary studies senior. "It's s only when things mess up that people notice." t Bean's job is to keep everything f running smoothly backstage. Her job t is to be available in the immediate t backstage area in the dark, sitting and c looking at the opera's score by a flu- c orescent lieht. She uses a headset to c call the cast and crew and alert them f of their cues or of problems such as a missing prop or a difficulty in the set. r Bean used to sing with the opera I company, but wanted to expand her job options by working backstage. Tal- p mage Faunderoy, director of the com- c pany, asked her nearly two years ago a to stage manage a show, and they've 1 worked together ever since. "It's nev- x er the same," she said. "There's always t a new challenge every day." s m UN tin You ha1 fectly healt So dor with the A] even know as long as t the virus tc case of All still appear And be virus think careful whe their parteu doms. And spread. but it d If you have spermicide, start to finis facturers' di And do someone lo AIDS virus it is someth HELPSTO X\St,n \\fW RESEARCH ^kingt / (Of A _ A ( A 10 present a As the cast and crew know already, a lot of yelling is included in the job description, she said. "You don't want everyone to think you're on a power trip or you're naturally mean," she said. "But when there's a large group, things can go wrong." "There's a whole system back here that no one ever sees. It's only when things mess up that people notice." Dorcas Bean Stage managei There are more than 70 cast and crew members, and a lot of pressure is on the stage manager, though her job is frequendy misunderstood, she said. The backstage area leads into a ighted hallway holding the costume oom and the principal actors' dressng rooms. Nancy Underwood and Irpina Markarian, costume co-deiigners for the show, and their assisants station themselves there to take :are of costumes, wigs and accesories. Frequently, cast and chorus mem>ers bring up problems with an outit, such as a missing button or tights hat were too small. They also come o the costume room to pick up ac:essories, such as hats and masks. The :ostume crew is equipped with ewing materials to deal with small ixes in the outfits. Working with an opera set in cololial America has been interesting for Jnderwood, she said. For two months, she was able to irepare costumes. Fauntleroy pulled ostumes from all over the country nd rented them for this production, 'wo months, though normal for a iniversity production, is not a long ime to perform this task, she said, ince film and professional companies CYUU HEAD /e all the signa You lo py. You feel fine. nost people who are i IDS virus. In fact, the; they're infected. It ca en years for someone > actually develop a ful )S. Even then, some healthy. cause a lot of people \ Liity it ncaiuiy, uicy < ;n they have sex. Neit irs. They don't use co the AIDS virus conti oesn't have to spread sex, use a latex condc . Use them every tim sh, according to the n irections. it no matter how gocx oks. Because while tl isn't something you c ling you can get. PAIDS.USEACON clVTWI A PuMc Servm of l*f| I TNsPubkcMoni r|IV" I ThtAOwMngCound Caro be^ia/ l Masked Ball' take years to get ready. "The big problem for this show is that the period requires wigs for both men and women," she said, adding that wigs were expensive to rent. For the witch Ulrica in the opera, one of the assistants took about four wigs, stitched and sewed them together at the base and cut one more up and ferrogated it through the other wigs to form a massive wig, Underwood said. "She just needed volume," she said. The principal actors use the times they're not on stage to change costumes or accessorize them, touch up their makeup, socialize and study their lines. Dolr\K Pifr* nrKrv *%1o?re DaM/ifA Din luupii v^aiv, miv; piajo nwnaiu, mt" cardo's best friend, said he gets to the house, or theater, about an hour before the show begins to put on makeup and his costume and take care of any problems. "I can get ready for Renato in 15 minutes," he said of his makeup. He uses eyeliner, rouge and powder for his role. During the show, he has one full costume change, and he adds a cape for one of the scenes. "I've learned this role in four-and a-half weeks, and that's not easy," said Cato, who was flown in from New York to take the role. "I'm down to a couple of lines that are getting on my last nerve." Since there are only two performances of this opera, compared to some long runs he's been in before, focus is important, Cato said. "Even when I know (my lines), I tend to review the music and think about what I'm doing," Cato said. "The pressure is getting to the first show. After that, it's OK." An elevator and stairs lead down to the chorus dressing rooms and the floor for the orchestra, conducted by Donald Portnoy. USC's University Chorus as well as students from S.C. State and Benedict College form the opera's chorus. The chorus has minor parts in many of the scenes, but there is a lot of waiting involved. Some students ordered pizza and I VI s. ok per nfected y don't ntake : with 1-blown people viththe aren't her do mtiues to to vnn ? J >m with e, from lanud le an see, DOM. 88. The Ad Council. NETO1RK lina! [m Hi B I ^ Wf, " VsJB I L ^B B ' * Ralph Cato, John Wentz and Drew McMill Roger Center. The show will run Friday a ate supper Wednesday at dress rehearsal and got their costumes ready 1 to go on stage. Some were studying I and socializing, while a few were studying their lines. 1 y i/> it, ft111??i., .,>< y> 1 !> it. "So far, I've eaten a sub,* said I Jonathan Vaught, a computer engineering junior and member of the i chorus. "I wander around a lot." 1 I Greene Friday, April 2 2-5 p.m. Meet on Greei r r in ironi 01 the Russell He at 2 p.m. If you can clip 1" lampposts a R Call 77 Sponsored by the Depa W INROADS IN/? OA ArHIGAN-AMEl AMERICAN STI opportunities is th and Winston-Sal college studer interested in a CAREER, INROAi INROADS office 1 8:00 AM an ^ mSk . llMLjnH jheIB JnttiflHPw | jjf K|XI Bg ip ^ 4 'iii' tI an practice at the first dress rehearsal for "A Maskei t 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Though there is a lot of time in- "When ( rolved, Vaught enjoys being a part of ticed, it w< the opera. Tickets "I love it," he said. "It's just so dif- available a ferent than what I usually do. 1 stand (777-SCA1 here and be part of tne scenery." Students v It may sound chaotic backstage, but can get tic 10 one is supposed to know that, pending c 3ean said. prices are Street Clear ae Street )use ledges, rake leaves, take flie nd pick up trash; we need j Refreshments will be provided. 7-5780 for more infc tv*mf Cfn^ant T 1 fn T InnrAfPitir r\f Cah 1 UUCUl U1 OIUU^IK LiUL., VJi OUU Summer Interships Still Avails DS/Charlotte is seeking )ICAN, HISPANIC AND UDENTS for PAID INTEI e Greeneville, Charlotte, em areas. If you're an a it with a 2.8 GPA, and yc BUSINESS OR ENGINE DS wants to talk with you "ODAY at (704) 334-5006 id 5:00 PM for more detai < mm J^^HNL^ Emily Peterson/The Gamecc^ 1 Ball" Tuesday night at the the harkstape') pops linnn uv 0 ;nt well," she said, for "A Masked Ball" are t the Coliseum Box Office tj or at the Koger Center, fjih I.D. and senior citizens :kets for 55 or 57.50, d^ >n seating. Regular ticket 510, 515 and $25. l-Up I ;rs from /ou! ). th Carolina ible! NATIVE ) RNSHIP Columbia, mbitious du are ERING . Call the between Is.