So I went to see the Phantom of the Opera play at Grady Gammage Auditorium in Tempe tonight with a friend of mine, Mary who I know through both Faire and Southwest Shakespeare Company (it should be noted also that she is a Theatre Major). While I was on my way, I saw a tweet from a friend of mine from work saying that he would be there too. As such things go, I didn’t think much of it, because without fail, even in an auditorium which seats several thousand, I knew I’d run into him. It’s just the way of things.
I met up with Mary and we had a great dinner at Rula Bula, and then headed over. We got there just in time to get into our seats (which were AMAZING. Row 10, dead center. THANKS MOM!!!) and during intermission, sure enough, my friend Dante was just four rows behind us and a bit stage right. We really only waved because we’re classy like that and don’t shout (totally being ironic here. Were this the MAC I would totally have shouted, but I had a suit on for Chrissakes).
Here’s the point to all this rambling. As intermission was coming to a close, I get a text from Dante asking if we wanted to go backstage after the show. Wha- wha- WHA–?!? It turns out his parents are stage hands for the production and his dad is a master carpenter. So in short the answer is “HELLS YEAH!!” I think Mary would have choked me out then and there if I had answered anything different.
Mary and me in front of the Chandelier which figures in the famous . . . DISASTER.
So after the INCREDIBLY well acted and sung production (seriously, I would say one of the best Phantoms and Raouls I’ve ever seen), we met up with Dante and his grandmother (his date. Awwww. No, really. I think that’s a really good thing for someone to do) and we trooped on backstage, where I learned all sorts of just fascinating tidbits which I wanted to record.
- Phantom is the longest running Broadway play in history. It has never gone dark. But that means it has ALSO never been updated. So it is running on all the same technology as when it first started. The state-of-the-art technology that it was designed around 20 plus years ago must now be custom repaired at great expense because it simply doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world anymore.
- The boat is remote controlled. I always thought it was on a track. The remote control is the size of a large lunchbox.
- All stage hands, even locals, are in full costume. When the elephant turns around and there are people drinking inside? Local stagehands who helped push it out in the first place.
- Carlotta’s costume for the “Hannibal” scene weighs in excess of 70 lbs.
- The touring show has twenty-one (that’s a two and a one) semis to bring sets/costumes, etc from town to town.
- There are two sets of several set pieces so that one set can go in advance to the next town and construction can begin because it is so complicated.
- I love this show even more now having seen just how much WORK goes into it. It is IN. TENSE.
Just had to share and remember some of this stuff. Thanks for letting me ramble a bit. Oh, and Mary and Dante (and Dante’s folks — sorry I’ve forgotten your names — ), you guys absolutely made my week! Thanks a million!!
~Ash.