Behind The Curtain Look at Ohio Light Opera
Thanks to the generosity of the Ohio Light Opera. I got a sneak peak behind the curtain and backstage look Ohio Light Opera. I go to see how they put on multiple productions during the Summers. I’ve always been orchestra stage right or left or down in the first few rows at plays. Until now.
Located in the Freelander building on The College of Wooster campus in Wooster Ohio. The Ohio Light Opera (OLO around locally) is busy with activity.
The theater focuses on operetta and musical theater. To me this means, they have some pretty fabulous plays to see. There is singing, acting and usually humor within the play to keep the audience engaged. A lot is packed into their performance schedule. Productions run June to August. Tickets can be reserved online.
The lobby is elegant and simply decorated. It does not take away from what awaits you when you step inside the theater.
When we arrived, they were rehearsing the play Anything Goes. We watched part of their performance. When in rehearsal, they go through the play like it was a live performance.
Backstage Look Ohio Light Opera
We were shown backstand and what it takes to put on a production. They were gearing up for the Summer season and were going to have 7 different plays going on all Summer. Sometimes multiple plays within a day. This means the staging would have to be removed and the next play’s props brought in. And they do this all Summer. You might be able to see all of the plays they are performing in one week!
In the hallway, costumes waited to be altered, complete with notes explaining what needed to be done. The costume department dedicates an entire room to making those alterations.
In another room, the props team was working on building some things for the set. There are multiple productions going on at the same time. You might be wondering, how do they keep what set goes on the stage organized. Trucks bring in the different sets needed for the summer season. The crew delivers whatever staging the show requires and sets it up on site.
Props and Preparation
We got to see the trap door on the stage that they escape through during performances, and it was really interesting to see it up close. On stage, it always looks so smooth and impressive when they make their escape.
The dressing rooms had those iconic looking lights to help the actors put their make up on. Taped to the wall were instructions on how to secure their wigs. I forget it’s not always their own hair we see, which makes getting ready easier.
We walked past some of the actors preparing for their scenes. Some were running through their dance routine completely and some were standing in place, going through the motions.
With multiple plays going on, most of the actors are in most if not all the plays. This means, memorizing lines, dances etc for each performance. We discussed how difficult this must be, and it is. Rhe actors make it look easy, it’s what they do best!
Check out all the other wonderful things to see and do in downtown Wooster when you visit the OLO.
What is your favorite play you have seen at the Ohio Light Opera?
