Almost every night, seats were filled to the brim for the performance of “Wizard Of Oz.” It was a show that spread smiles and caused roars of laughter. The goal was to put on a beautiful show for the audience, and that goal was reached. However, behind stage was a wind storm of chaos and stressful moments for the tech crew. In the end though, the crew was smiling with confidence at how well this show went.
Opening night was not only stressful for the cast of the show, but also for the crew. The first act of the show went off without a hitch. The cast sang tunes that made the audience clap the second the song ended. There was one hiccup in this night and that was towards the very end.
When Dorthy laid in bed back home, the projector suffered a malfunction that led to it turning off. There was no background for the closing scene.
Many members of the tech crew were either confused or anxious. The projector was not able to be turned back on, but it was only for a short scene, so it was a small matter in the grand scheme of things.
The second night though, the projector was back at it again. There were many more moments where it glitched on and off.
Then there were also the big props: the house was the most unsteady set piece in the show.
It is hard to pretend to not hear how the door cried when someone entered from the back. When a cast member walked around in the house, the thin wood creaked under. Before the show even started, two wheels broke from under the house, so much needed strength was used to pull the house on and off.
During Saturday, two shows were performed without an actual dog. It was a last minute call that Copper, who played Toto, would not be able to come that night. It did not affect the show too much, but an element was lost through the show.
The final night felt perfect. Set pieces glided off the stage with ease, no mic issues could be heard, and it was a bittersweet moment for the tech crew. Cherished seniors were leaving, and for the people who wer new to theater, it was their exposure to behind the work on such a performance and the effort it takes to make magic appear real.