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!
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You write it and I’ll act in it!
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this was fun, Barbara. You certainly have an eye for signs and interesting decor!
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Thanks, Carol. The DPAC is filled with interesting stuff. I had no idea the backstage area was decorated like that!
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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!
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I would love to do a backstage tour of Radio City. Went there as a little girl. So fun for your mom!
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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!
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Sill pretty neat you’ve been in some!
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Thanks for taking us along for the ‘tour’! Neat.
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