Many people dream of being on a Broadway show. Some people realize that dream by dancing under those powerful lights on stage. Others find that their place on set has a little less glamour. They're the ones setting up everything that brings an actor's dream to life. The technicians, carpenters, and roadies who turn people singing to themselves in a room into an awe-striking theatrical event.
I am one of those people, and I'm writing right now to let the world know what it's like.
Spoiler alert! IT'S AWESOME!
My story begins with the local children's theatre during my freshman year of high school. My sister had gotten the lead role in Alice in Wonderland, and the production was short on techies. Somehow I had got roped into doing spotlight for the show.
I was a bit grumpy at first, but I didn't have anything else going on so I did it, if for anything, to make sure my little sister owed me something. But I fell in love. Standing 100 feet above the crowd, watching a show from an angle most people never see, being in control of something important, and being a part of such a successful event. I felt so happy during that show.
It got even better when, after the show had run its course, I learned that I had done so well that the technical director of the theatre (not to be confused with the children's theatre, which is mostly volunteer) was considering actually hiring me.
To me, it seemed as though nothing had come of that, though. I never heard about being hired again, almost ten more (AMAZING) children's shows came and went as I ran various parts of the tech. It was my senior year, finals week, end of the year. I was at lunch when I got a call. It was from one of the head employees of the theatre. I'll never forget how that call went:
"Hey it's James from the theatre! What are you doing tonight?"
"Uhh.... Nothing?"
"How would you like to make some money?"
"Uhh what do you have in mind?"
"What do you know about wardrobe?"
"Nothing, but I like to think I learn quickly."
"Great be at the theatre as soon as you can. The show is Camelot."
I don't have the words to describe just how excited I was. I skipped my last class of the day and rushed over. By the time I was there, though, most of the things were already set up. The only thing left to do until after the show was put inserts into all of the programs. I didn't mind it though, I was officially an employee at the theatre!
It's been several years since then and I've worked probably a dozen Broadway shows and countless smaller shows. I've learned a ton and I've become extremely close friends with the theatre crew. When I started I had thought that I had felt the epitome of satisfaction working in the children's theatre, but since I became an a paid theatre technician, it's gotten immeasurably better.
It hasn't all been good times; it's a ton of hard work. At one point we had to erect a 40 foot tall galvanized steel wall that was held up by pulleys and ropes. There were times while that wall went up that James and I were the only one's holding that thing up. On another show someone wasn't paying attention and ran my foot over with a half ton (and I'm not exaggerating) piece of truss beam.
Luckily I was able to still work till we were done. Later that night the same guy ran someone else's foot over with a similar piece of truss, but that guy wasn't as lucky; he ended up with several broken bones and went into shock.
Of course, despite this danger and strenuous work, I've helped bring in many shows that should have been impossible for our theatre to handle, yet by the skin of our teeth, we've made it happen, and the feeling that follows these impossible acts is just indescribable.
