A theater is a place of wonder and magic. Most patrons only see the show on stage, but there is a whole other production behind the scenes.
A costume designer holds the curtain of a quick-change area open as an actor rush’s to the stage during a performance of Dance Nation at Syracuse Stage. University of Syracuse, Department of Drama puts on numerous shows for the public throughout the year to give students an opportunity to build their acting resume’s and gain professional experience.Members of the production team observes and directs the actors during a rehearsal of Dance Nation at Syracuse Stage. Each role in the show plays an integral part in making a show come to life both on and off the stage.The Syracuse of University Department of Drama Chair, Ralph Zito, sits front and center as he observes the last rehearsal of Dance Nation in their rehearsal space before moving to the stage. Most roles in the production are filled by students except the director and choreographer. The department chair ensures the quality of the universities productions lives up to the school’s reputation.On the far back wall backstage of Dance Nation, the props for the production are neatly lined up for the crew to hand off to the actors. The backstage crew work with little to no light during the run of a show. They rely of the structure and organization backstage to make sure the show runs smoothly.Jessica DeLucia, the stage manager for Dance Nation, calls cues from the tech booth during a dress rehearsal. The stage manager makes sure everyone is doing their part from the lighting and sound department to the backstage crew. Many people assume the director runs the show but once a show starts tech rehearsals, the stage manager takes over.Gillian Stoltz embraces her boyfriend during the after party of Dance Nation. The cast and crew celebrate the successful run of their show at the restaurant across the street from the theatre, Phoebes.Isaiah Tucker and Emily Castillo-Langley share stories about their day while they wait for their que to go on stage for Dance Nation. All the students in the show take classes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with rehearsals starting immediately after until 10 p.m.Jaelynn Pearl Evelyn Ricks, a costume dresser, watches the cast of Dance Nation rehearse. Jaelynn is a freshman at Syracuse University. The freshmen drama majors are not allowed to perform in shows, so they help out backstage to get show experience during their first year.Isaiah Tucker participates in a dance warm-up during a rehearsal for Dance Nation. Actors use this warm-up time to prevent injuries while performing the vigorous movements the perform during the show.Emma Waterhouse and Alex Russ embrace backstage before they run through the show, Dance Nation. The production covers sensitive subjects through an adolescent’s life, pushing the actors range from discovering their sexuality to having their first period. The actors gained a unique bond through these vulnerable moments.Emma Waterhouse puts on her costume before the run of Dance Nation. The actor are required to show up to the theatre an hour before the top of the show for stunt calls and costuming.Kailee Brandt, an actor in Syracuse University’s production of Dance Nation applies her makeup before the show.Isaiah Tucker watches a rehearsal of Dance Nation. While the show is in the rehearsal space, the actors cram all their dance bags to a corner of the studio while the rest of the space is used as the stage.The tap shoes for Syracuse University’s production of Dance Nation lay in a costume department basket. All items for the show are provided by the costume department’s budget of $8,000. Everything from shoes to underwear are given to the actors every show to ensure continuity throughout the performance.Sofia Pizer, the costume designer for Dance Nation, applies rhinestones to an actor’s leotard. Sofia is a junior at Syracuse University and oversees all the costume pieces for the show. She spends 3-5 hours on every costume for the actors’ characters to come to life on stage.The actors of Dance Nation perform a scene during a rehearsal. While the show is in the rehearsal hall, the director, choreographer, and stage manager, watch and take diligent notes so the show successfully transfers to the stage.Olivia Busche and Kailee Brandt embrace before they start rehearsals for Dance Nation. Although there is animosity between the two on stage, the actors are lean on each other for support off stage.Adelaide Lobenthal applies makeup in a quick-change booth with the remains of her fellow thespians’ costumes scattered around her. The quick-change booth is a small space on either side of the stage actors can use to change when they don’t have the time to run to the dressing room.The understudies of Dance Nation play on their phones as they sit through countless rehearsal hours. The understudies must attend all the rehearsals but only go on stage when the actor they are understudying for can’t perform.Mairead Cummins adjusts the stage lighting during a tech rehearsal of Dance Nation. The lighting designer creates everything from the placement, color, and timing of the lights.Gillian Stoltz, an understudy for Dance Nation, practices the shows dance movements in the theatre. While the actors practice on stage, understudies find their own spaces to prepare for the possibility of performing on stage.The actors perform a dance during a show of Dance Nation. Although there were only nine actors performing over 60 people worked on this production from lighting, sound design, costumes and more. There is a lot more that goes into a production behind the curtain.
