The Durham Performance Arts Center offered a backstage tour in June. Sign me up! Ever since my theater debut this winter, I’ve been extra curious about life on stage (and backstage).
I was surprised by how bland the dressing rooms are (especially the bathrooms). Cliff and I wondered if actors bring in their own decorative touches or maybe they prefer a simple space as too much decor is distracting. I wish I’d asked our tour guide.
What did delight me are the decorations that plaster the walls of the halls! Each musical leaves behind a colorful painting.
Musicians sign the cinder blocks.
Oprah used to talk about the Green Room at Harpo. Here’s the Green Room at the DPAC. When I did the Dixie Swim Club,I loved the adrenaline rush of waiting to go on stage. I’d like to get the chance to wait in a real Green Room!
I got a kick out of reading the signs. I can just see myself getting confused and coming in on the wrong side of the stage.
A lot of attention is paid to fire safety. I suspect that’s why the door cannot be propped open.
At the end of the tour, I stood on stage and pretended, for just a minute, that I was a star. What would it be like to perform in this auditorium packed with people? To make your words or your song reach to the upper tiers?
Before I left, to bring my back to Earth, to my beloved blog, I snapped a ladies room door sign of sorts.
Don’t miss the chance to take a back stage tour if you can. My tour was definitely a highlight of 2015.
Great! I’ve loved my little view of theater life– you get the bug! Maybe you’ll write a play next!
You write it and I’ll act in it!
this was fun, Barbara. You certainly have an eye for signs and interesting decor!
Thanks, Carol. The DPAC is filled with interesting stuff. I had no idea the backstage area was decorated like that!
My sister and I once surprised our mom with a back stage tour of Radio City Music Hall during a trip to NYC. My mom, who as a girl dreamed of becoming a Rockette, loved every second of it – especially when we got to meet a real Rockette!
I would love to do a backstage tour of Radio City. Went there as a little girl. So fun for your mom!
Very cool! I’ve been in some green rooms at TV studios and always thought they were just OK not really exciting for non celebrities like me!
Sill pretty neat you’ve been in some!
Thanks for taking us along for the ‘tour’! Neat.