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Home > Blogs > Arts and Entertainment > Archives > 2010 > February > 17 > Entry
Stagehands big fans of “Wicked”
It took 13 semi-trailer trucks to haul the musical “Wicked” from Greenville, S.C., to Dayton this week. When the loads started arriving at the Schuster Performing Arts Center on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 15 and 16, members of the 111-year-old Local 66 of the stagehands union were waiting with open arms.
“We’ve lost $70,000 in wages due to weather cancellations the past two weeks,” Local 66 business manager Ken Rice said. “We lost Blues Fest at the Nutter Center, the Rascal Flatts concert at the Nutter and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly at Hara Arena. We are really glad to see ‘Wicked’ come to town.”
Rice had a crew of more than 70 working to install the sets, flooring, lighting and special effects equipment on Tuesday. A dozen theater management and technology students from Wright State University were among the workers.
“We were working from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday. We’ll work from 8 to 11 p.m. today and 8 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday,” Rice said. “This is a great job for us.”
The crew will be back to dismantle the show when “Wicked” closes here March 7 and load it up for the next tour stop, March 10, in Richmond, Va. Another tour of the same musical opens March 3 in Miami.
“Wicked” opens today, Feb. 17, at the Schuster, Second and Main streets. Tickets are $46-$125 at (937) 228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: Theater
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By Pharrell
February 17, 2010 10:58 AM | Link to this
I usually find myself defending newspapers, but wow, could you cover “Wicked” any more if you tried? Is it really that big a deal? I know they had a big ‘ol ad on the website’s front page, but seriously.
By Retired Warlock
February 17, 2010 1:22 PM | Link to this
At $46.00 I can’t afford it. Maybe after attendance drops off in a week or so and tickets are $9.95 I’ll go.
By drew
February 17, 2010 1:27 PM | Link to this
Yes it is that big of a deal…and attendance isn’t going to drop off, All of the show are almost sold out already..its huge for Dayton and I can’t wait to see it!!!
By Craig
February 17, 2010 5:45 PM | Link to this
actually wicked has always had a full house at each performance! not one open seat.
By Lisa
February 17, 2010 6:00 PM | Link to this
not really excited about wicked but the story about the stage hands fascinated me. I wondered if they were from NY and traveled from city to city before I read the article. How would stagehands here know how to put the stuff together ONE time? Are there directions? And if the actors/actresses remain the same in every stage on the tour why wouldn’t the stage hands? How would one become a stage hand anyway?
By anonymous stagehand
February 17, 2010 7:39 PM | Link to this
To the poster who was fascinated by the stagehands conundrum. Here is how it works and yes I just got done loading in this show. That’s what we call it load in load out. Every city has local stagehands who get hooked up usually through the local IATSE union. There are also independent stage employers as well but we won’t discuss them. You usually have to know someone who will vouch for you and you may get a call one day to come work. Or you can always look up your local towns IATSE office and attempt to apply. You better have something besides Burger King on your resume though or your not getting in. So for a show like Wicked they travel with there own crew who are also union they can be from all over the world but the show itself is coming from New York typically. They get in touch with the local union before the show sets up and tell the local what who where and when they need. We show up the road dogs tell us how to put everything together and poof you have yourselves an event. Locals also work the live event but not all of us. The actual show crew for this is 15 road techs and 18 local stagehands I do believe. I don’t go back till the last after the last show an we will repeat the process in reverse while you are all asleep in your beds. Hopefully not dreaming of becoming a stagehand it’s really not for everyone.
By Susan Roether
February 17, 2010 10:55 PM | Link to this
Many stagehands have college degrees. My son got his at Wright State in Theater Tech. He has been with the Kennedy Center in DC for many years. Also, Wicked just left Greenville, SC where I saw it. It was totally sold out and was worth every cent I paid for the ticket. And I believe it was here over 2 weeks. It was amazing.
By Tom
February 19, 2010 11:00 PM | Link to this
One scene had rain emulated. How was it done?
By anon
February 21, 2010 6:02 PM | Link to this
the “rain” was actually provided by a video projection - the projector was in front of me on the balcony rail. I have seen shows use real water but I imagine it would be hard to pull off in such a large and complex show.
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