Back Stage at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall (MOM)

Two-timing

2006-08-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

Mocha knows I'm two-timing her. When I come home from Der Rosenkavalier, I smell of other dogs. Oh, but they are SO cute, those little Miniature Australian Shepards the poodle too, of course. If you clicked on the link, but can't see the dogs for the horses? Look in the menu bar for minis.

Der Rosenkavalier

2006-07-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

Okay we're on it again. Riggin', flyin' and breastin', hoistin', pushin' 'n' weighin' + a lotta waitin' around.
Almost ready for Der Rosenkavalier to take the stage. Nothing like Strauss for some light summer fare. Way different from Wagner.

Sleeping Beauty

2006-06-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

Peter Docherty's set for PNB's Sleeping Beauty perceived as perfect backdrop for a photo shoot.

ONE tee-shirt for Stagehands

2005-12-25T21:36:00.000-08:00

Get ONE tee-shirt or a whole lot of them for a good cause.

If all IATSE members would buy ONE tee-shirt each of us would make a difference.

PNB's NUTCRACKER

2005-11-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

Okay boys and girls, brothers and sisters, we're back! Very happy to write that Brother Don Ferguson is back on the fly rail!
First Nutcracker down, 38 to go.

Uko Gorter and Molly McNeil as Drosselmeier and Clara

Sydney Opera House

2005-11-26T10:45:00.000-08:00

Take a great virtual tour inside and out of the Sydney Opera House.

When you're done, check out the blog of an OMA fan in Seattle.

Bumbershoot

2005-09-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

While I cut the knife during the bows for Götterdämmerung, I blindly bumped into a soprano. She responded the way only a classy singer will, with a melodic, yet unmistakable "Oops".
The end of the Ring Cycle went accompanied by packing of trucks, until only the last set pieces remained on stage.
Sweet melancholy of the end of a run.
The Dutchess said: Partir c'est mourir un peu.

Now we have 4 days off for Labor Day weekend.
Tonight I'm running the spotlight for Elvis Costello. Feels weird to be part of the festive crowd after watching the despair in New Orleans. But then again, Fats Domino was lost, but has been found. Sunday night I'll run the spotlight as well. Then another day off, and back to McCaw Hall for the last long days.

Dutchess Abroad Donates to Red Cross Hurricane Fund

2005-09-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

Hey, y'all, while were breaking our backs getting the Ring packed, you can't help but sigh an extra sigh for the poor folks down south. Man, what devastation.
The Dutchess has come up with something that may just put a drop on a hot plate, but hey, any effort counts. So if you know of anybody who might be helped by a book on grief, check out her blog Artists Donate to Red Cross Hurricane Fund

And if you or those around you are lucky enough not to need such a book, she also provides links to CDBaby.com, with plenty of artists who are donating their profits to the Red Cross as well.

Phil Howard I.M.

2005-08-13T13:14:00.000-07:00

Our colleague Phil Howard has died during his vacation from Pacific Northwest Ballet.
We worked together at so many occasions. Phil was a follow spot operator extraordinaire. A graceful man, who delighted the Dutchess with a personal "thank you" card after a pot roast dinner, she hosted for the PNB crew at our humble abode.
I still can't believe he's gone. There are so many places at McCaw Hall that remind us of him. Jeff suggested there should be a plaque in remembrance of him at the stage elevator.

Ask a Kid

2005-08-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

A mother, wife of one of the orchestra's musicians, came in through the stage entrance, two blond girls in tow. Greeting Ms. Linny at her welcome desk the mother said,"Do you know what Linny does for fun?" "I do," one of her daughters said, "she jumps out of airplanes, you told us."
Linny beamed, she'd jumped only once in the morning, before coming to work at McCaw Hall, but the memory of that one parachute jump was good for a big fat grin.
The Dutchess says Ms. Linny saved our marriage many times. Telling me during tech weeks that I shouldn't go home a grump. That I had to remember my wife didn't get to see much of me and I should be nice. Thank goodness she got her welcome desk in McCaw Hall. With all respect, just imagine the kind of advice we'd get from the guards!

Dreaming about far away places…

2005-08-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, sail boats have nothing to do with The Ring. But working as a flyman does make me think of sailing around the world. I mean, isn't that what sailors do, pulling ropes? If only we could get a good breeze back here!

Baba BarAnn

2005-08-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit Bob Richardson.

Not another opera, not a variation on Master and Commander, but an adventurous journey it must have been.

Follow Bob and Candace Richardson and their occasional crew of friends as they sail Baba BarAnn around the Pacific.
Chapters such as: The Getaway, Passage to San Francisco, Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, Moorea to Bora Bora and Huahine and a visit to "New Potatoes". Check it out. Pretty cool blog book.

Overcast

2005-08-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

Our one day off and it's overcast. Excuse me, what happened to my follow spot? Somebody fell asleep up there?

Break a Leg

2005-08-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

Saying "toi-toi-toi" came into being because you don't want to wish dancers "to break a leg". Yesterday K.K. had a work related accident. Something about the trap door. Mmh. Happened at 2 PM. He went to the hospital and returned at 5:30 PM with his lower leg in a cast. He had broken his foot.
So, from now on, "toi-toi-toi" is the term, no "break a leg" what ever you do on stage.

I.M.

2005-07-31T16:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to a memorial for Kevin B. at Seattle Center's Alki Room. He was 1 year younger than I when he died. Shocking. On the morning of his death I'd seen his brother on the Center grounds. We didn't know yet.
As usually is the case at funerals, I saw some people I hadn't seen for a while. One guy I remembered from the Spoleto Fest, back when I was still in school. Decades ago. Not much opportunity to talk. You just don't at a memorial.
Kevin's son spoke, said his dad was a great guy, told a funny story. His step daughter read from a piece of paper.
People watched a video about Kevin, his brother as well. So sad.

Bite of Seattle

2005-07-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

What's in a name? 2.5 small meatballs and some bread for 5 bucks. I guess you could fill up spending 20.
The rotators almost got their spike mark yesterday. Keep my fingers crossed for today.

Glynn Ross, 1914-2005

2005-07-23T15:06:00.000-07:00

The founder of the Seattle Opera Glynn Ross died on Thursday. The obituary by Linda Bargreen for The Seattle Times says it all.
Our thoughts go out to his widow and children.

Going Somewhere

2005-07-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

Even in McCaw Hall going somewhere can be a problem.
The day before yesterday the top of the 3-D trees touched the track that a Rhine Maiden was hanging from.
Lady-like she exclaimed: "Hey, what's going on!"
We solved the problem by moving her to the middle of the stage where the branches don't reach, there's only tree netting.

On a totally different track: Royal Shell raised gasoline prices in the Netherlands from € 1,399, to €1,415 per liter.
Super Plus goes for €1469, diesel stays at €1,055. Multiply with 1.21 to get dollar price, and with 3.79 to see what a gallon would cost ya.
$1.70 per liter, Ouch! That's $6.42 per gallon!
No wonder the trains and trams and light rail do so well in Europe.

Yesterday we had our 1 day off.
Today it's back to the Ring.

Browse a Ring Dinner Date

2005-07-19T16:47:00.000-07:00

Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit!
Browse and thou will find.
More fodder for the fans: Deuce of Clubs
At the top of the web page with Maestro Henry Holt's take on Wagner there's a link to an ad:

ULTRA SEATTLE RING TICKET PKG FOR SALE
(on this blog undisclosed poster)
Seattle Opera Cycle 1: August 7, 8, 10, 12
PREFERRED DRESS CIRCLE SEATING FOR TWO
"Rheingold Revelry" Champagne Reception and Dinner
4 Perry Lorenzo Reserved Seminars "Exploring the Ring"
"Tech Talks" with Robert Schaub
Complete Package $4,200

Click on the "forum" link and you'll see more Wagner Society bidding going on. Oh, yes.
And then there's the aficionado who already has a sweetie and wants to share his love for Wagner not just with her, but with the world.

That's what we do it for. Those short nights, those early mornings… For all those lovers of the Ring. Oh, yes,yes, yes!

Rehearsal

2005-07-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

Rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearse all, rehearse all four, rehearse all four of the Ring, rehearse all four of the Ring Cycle.

Popeye Forearms

2005-07-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jeff putting a packing blanket on the rail I haven't bruised my thigh.
Steve bumped his leg so bad, he had to get a cortisone shot. Ouch!
Since he's recovering, I've been pulling double duty and until my hands had a spasm and my forearms popped.
Now my arms resemble Popeye's, slender wrists big muscles.
Dutchess kneaded lactic acid out of muscles.
Just a bit sore today. But tired, man am I tired.

Day after One Day Off

2005-07-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

Funny, isn't it, the way you're more tired after One day off than before.
Or is that my imagination?

Rotators

2005-07-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Problems with the rotators. Other than that, rehearsal, rehearsal.

Master and Commander

2005-07-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

Russell Crowe
Originally uploaded by Luna Type.

Back Stage Viewing or Reading

Electronic Devices

2005-07-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

Mmmh. Rectification, the notice about electronic devices on stage meant no phones. Something I don't need to worry about. My phone doesn't even ring inside the concrete bunker McCaw Hall resembles back stage. Got to go outside to even have my phone messages appear! Between cues I'm getting a lot of reading done. Somebody else brought his DVD player and watched three movies yesterday. Others were watching
Master and Commander
which inspired me to pack another one of the books in the Aubrey Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian.

Stage is No Computer Terminal

2005-07-05T08:04:00.000-07:00

Until someone like Nam June Paik designs set and/or costumes for the Seattle Opera, non production related electrical devices are banned from the stage. Back stage is an other matter. Those of us who relax or charge their own personal battery while playing Urban Reign" or the likes, are free to do so in the crew-/ or green room. I'm waiting for Age of Empires III to be screened on the loading dock.

DNO Behind the Scenes

2005-07-04T17:19:00.000-07:00

DNO has a cool web site. On the home page changing thumbnail images show scenes of different opera productions. In "behind the scenes" under Die Walküre
you can see an effective technical trick.
Unfortunately the guy speaks Dutch, but here goes for a quick translation:

"We had to create a steel frame house. Which had to shoot upstage real quick. Quite the challenge, the thing was mighty heavy. We decided for the catapult principle, using extra long bungy cords. Silent, cheap, safe and with a wonderful effect."

Check out some of the other links to back stage scenes:
"Writing to Vermeer" shows another interesting set solution.
"Peter Grimes" presents one of the little performers back stage.
For "La Bohème" DNO hired a real troup of acrobats.

De Nederlandse Opera

2005-07-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

The other day I wore the Ring tee-shirt I got in Amsterdam.
It's black with printed in white Der Ring des Nebelungen and De Nederlandse Opera. I was saying to somebody that German is so much like Dutch and that for the DNO singers to perform in German is easy because everybody there speaks German as well as Dutch and English.
One of our singers, whose native language is German said he hates the guttural G. According to him it sounds as though the Dutch are always clearing their throat. I told him I don't agree. Gee-whiz, even when somebody says, "Ga je mee naar Groningen? Gaan we een glaasje drinken bij Griet in de Gruiterij," I don't feel the need to hand them a Ricola.

Guess what? De Nederlandse Opera is performing Der Ring des Nebelungen coming September and October. After we're done here, we can go see how they do it in Amsterdam.

Back to bed until the fireworks wake me!

No Trap, I'll handle the Knife

2005-07-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

Christine wanted to know if I'm going to be responsible for the trap door again. I remember when one of the soloists landed (luckily unscathed) next to my head, after leisurely walking off the platform.
"You can't get there from here…" did not just apply to stage hands.
Memories…
Yeah, fly her in!

Ease

2005-07-01T06:55:00.000-07:00

One more day from 8-midnight.
Tomorrow and the day after we'll go from 8:30-23:30 and after the 4th of July we may work from 8:30 till 22:30.
But this isn't official, so don't quote me on it.

Beach Drive

2005-06-30T06:15:00.000-07:00

Beach Drive
Originally uploaded by Luna Type.

View west from Beach Drive, West Seattle

In is Over

2005-06-30T05:47:00.000-07:00

We moved in the whole set, today focus starts.
I'm on the rail. Won't be inside the dragon to manipulate one of its wings this time. As a flyman you're involved with practically every set change, I like that.

Yesterday I slept till 8:30 A.M. had breakfast and coffee (didn't want to get a deprivation headache) and went back to bed until 11:30. Got new elk skin gloves for the run at Dunkin & Sons. The saleswoman told me a coffeeshop (don't want to advertise) was handing out free ice cream. It's got to be said, it was very good. Coffee chocolate chip. Real "chips" of a block of dark chocolate. Good for another few hours of cafeinated energy.

Rare mid-week dinner with friends. The Dutchess made Moroccan Tagine of Lamb and cous-cous. Yummy.
Walk on Beach Drive. Little Dog got into something major Stinky. Had to have bath upon return home.
Pay bills, back to bed.

Back to work.

Harbor View Hospital

2005-06-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

Harbor View Hospital
Originally uploaded by Luna Type.

Yesterday the Dutchess and I visited Brother Don Ferguson and his wife Sheila at the hospital.

Man, the poor guy, he had a couple of amber colored shiners, and that discoloration wasn't from the surgery on his cheekbone, but still from the fall at the Winery.

They fused some vertebrae, and the white harness they put on him would look good on one of the Rheingold characters.

All jokes aside, he had his guardian angel on his shoulder, for he made a Bad Fall. One thing to remind ourselves of, Always Double Check everything!

Anyway, the view from his room may be good (Mount Rainier without obstructions) Don hopes to be back home pretty soon.

On our way out we ran into Brother Steve, he knows what it's like to break a bone, and to lie in the hospital, I guess.

Working 8-Midnight

2005-06-23T00:54:00.000-07:00

Wednesday
"Volunteers wanted for the Electrics Department", I learned after the fact.
I'm "Most Wanted" elsewhere.

At 9:45 PM we hear we'll work till midnight.
Without "wash-up" notice, we're broke at 24:00 hours, and walk into the new day, Thursday.
After shower, hit the sack at 12:45 AM, alarm set for 5:30 AM.
Kiss my wife Good Morning.
When? Before I zonked out.

So who wrote this?
My alter ego.

The Carpenters

2005-06-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

I'm on the carpenter crew.
Again, I should say.
Not bad for a lighting guy.
Must be my aura.

At times I'm reminded of working on a movie set, there's a lot of waiting involved.
And then you're on!

Torrefazione

2005-06-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

Torrefazione
Originally uploaded by Luna Type.

Me and my dog having a java on Occidental.

The Day Before

2005-06-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

This is the last day of my life before the start of tech weeks in McCaw Hall.
From tomorrow on, we'll come up for air for 1 day only, after every 4, 5 or 6 days.
I got the bedroom painted, curtain rods up in the master bedroom and the office. Drove to Burien for hardware to re-mount the pick-up's license plate and took the dog to off-leash park. (Sorry honey, shampooing the carpet will have to wait until September.) Got a pair of new black jeans and a black pocket tee. I'm ready.