The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 29, 1994, Page 6, Image 6
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
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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
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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
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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
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jheIB JnttiflHPw |
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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!
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th Carolina
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