VERO BEACH — Visitors to Riverside Theatre got a backstage pass to see the magic behind the curtain and usher in the theatre’s new production season at an open house on Sunday. Tours throughout the afternoon gave everyone a firsthand glimpse of what goes on backstage, long before the house lights go dark and the stage lights come up.
Steady streams of visitors were greeted by tuxedoed ushers, and had a chance to speak with Allen Cornell, CEO and producing artistic director. They also enjoyed a treat of Kilwin’s Chocolates and Natalie’s Orchid Island orange juice before heading out for tours led by Oscar Sales and Bill Prado.
“It’s always neat to see people coming here for the first time,” said Cornell. “Some are patrons who come every year just because they like to see backstage.”
Tour guides gave a brief history of Riverside Theatre, from its origin in 1973 as home to the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, to its prestigious status today as the only professional theatre on the Treasure Coast.
“The challenge was to incorporate all the changes they wanted to make, but do it within the former foot print,” explained Prado, of the main stage renovations which were completed in 2007 and renamed the Stark Stage. Despite wider seats and the addition of two aisles, designers were still able to add more than 100 seats.
The tour continued onto the stage, where work is in progress for the first show of the season, Boeing-Boeing, and then led into the true backstage areas of set production and storage, dressing rooms, the green room and the rehearsal hall.
“The rehearsal hall is the same dimension as the stage without the wings,” said Sales, adding that the first two weeks of rehearsals are done there before moving to the stage for the final tech week. “By the end of that week, you have a show that’s just phenomenal.”
The tour ended in the Waxlax Stage, described as a black box theater, where both seating and stage can be moved to suit their needs. The space can be used for everything from contemporary theatre and the Comedy Zone, to cabarets and dinner parties.
“This is our third tour with Oscar,” said Celia Colicchio. “This sort of preps us for the season.”
“They work so hard; they’ve earned their success,” said Kate Gill, Riverside Theatre membership director. “We are so very blessed to have such amazing talent in this town. It’s an exceptional environment; it’s just fabulous.”
If you missed the tour, you’ll have another chance to go on Sunday, Sept. 25 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Riverside Theatre 2011 – 2012 Productions:
Boeing-Boeing, Oct. 27 – Nov. 13 on the Stark Stage
The Full Monty, Jan. 12 – Feb. 5 on the Stark Stage
The World Goes Round, Feb. 2 – 12 on the Waxlax Stage
The Music Man, Feb. 23 – March 18 on the Stark Stage
The Gin Game, March 15 – 25 on the Waxlax Stage
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, April 12 – May 6 on the Stark Stage
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, April 26 – May 6 on the Stark Stage