Mature Adults Walk the Red Carpet at DPAC
By: Michael Honeycutt
Walltown Park Recreation Center
Who knew that deep in the basement of the Durham Performing Arts Center - on cinder block walls - are the signatures and sometimes art work of every performer who has ever been on the DPAC stage? The group of Mature Adults who went on the DPAC Backstage Tour on Monday, February 12 learned all about it and much more.
Mature Adults were led into the vast DPAC auditorium where tour leader Jacob Holland talked about seating, sound systems, and how when “The Lion King” is playing at DPAC, whole rows of seats have to be removed or re-configured in order to accommodate the animals processing down the aisles.
Then the magic moment arrived, and the Mature Adults stepped out on the DPAC stage and looked out at the 2,700 seats. Here they saw the massive ceiling heights above stage where sets and props are hung and saw the entire wall of hand controlled ropes and pulleys that guarantee every show comes off without a hitch. They also learned about the “ghost light” which all major theaters around the world have. This is a single bulb lamp which is kept on at all times to welcome the spirits of great performers who have passed on. When there is not a show at DPAC, the lamp is kept on stage. When there is a show or performance, it is moved backstage.
After that, the Mature Adults went down to the vast basement level of DPAC. Here they saw the “star” dressing rooms and the “group” dressing rooms for supporting cast members. They also saw the pretty basic rooms with long folding tables where cast and crew may have a meal or snack before a show. DPAC also has a good-size area of washers and dryers where performers (or someone they get to do it) wash and dry costumes between performances. Of course costumes with sequins, appliques, etc. all go out to be professionally cleaned. But when you see “background chorus girl” or “third giraffe from the left in “The Lion King,” chances are that the performer wearing those costumes were washing and drying them just that morning at the DPAC laundromat! And everyone learned this fun fact: the majority of wigs that are used in theatrical performances are made of yak hair!
Finally, one of the best parts of the tour. Imagine long and somewhat narrow hallways made of plain looking cinder blocks and each or several cinder blocks having been signed by performers and actors/actresses who have been on the DPAC stage. Robin Williams, Dolly Parton, Mary J. Blige. Now her several cinder blocks were personally decorated by her with stick-on rhinestones and diamonds encircling her name. The cast of all the shows that ever been at DPAC have drawn and painted many cinder blocks with designs depicting their shows and every cast member has signed it.
Some of the performers have pretty illegible hand-writing so to help out in deciphering those, DPAC has added a small discrete label under their signature so you can figure out who it is. After the Mature Adults did some shameless begging for tickets to the upcoming performances of 'Hamilton” (to no avail) the group left having had a truly “red carpet experience.”
Walltown Park Recreation Center
Who knew that deep in the basement of the Durham Performing Arts Center - on cinder block walls - are the signatures and sometimes art work of every performer who has ever been on the DPAC stage? The group of Mature Adults who went on the DPAC Backstage Tour on Monday, February 12 learned all about it and much more.
Mature Adults were led into the vast DPAC auditorium where tour leader Jacob Holland talked about seating, sound systems, and how when “The Lion King” is playing at DPAC, whole rows of seats have to be removed or re-configured in order to accommodate the animals processing down the aisles.
Then the magic moment arrived, and the Mature Adults stepped out on the DPAC stage and looked out at the 2,700 seats. Here they saw the massive ceiling heights above stage where sets and props are hung and saw the entire wall of hand controlled ropes and pulleys that guarantee every show comes off without a hitch. They also learned about the “ghost light” which all major theaters around the world have. This is a single bulb lamp which is kept on at all times to welcome the spirits of great performers who have passed on. When there is not a show at DPAC, the lamp is kept on stage. When there is a show or performance, it is moved backstage.
After that, the Mature Adults went down to the vast basement level of DPAC. Here they saw the “star” dressing rooms and the “group” dressing rooms for supporting cast members. They also saw the pretty basic rooms with long folding tables where cast and crew may have a meal or snack before a show. DPAC also has a good-size area of washers and dryers where performers (or someone they get to do it) wash and dry costumes between performances. Of course costumes with sequins, appliques, etc. all go out to be professionally cleaned. But when you see “background chorus girl” or “third giraffe from the left in “The Lion King,” chances are that the performer wearing those costumes were washing and drying them just that morning at the DPAC laundromat! And everyone learned this fun fact: the majority of wigs that are used in theatrical performances are made of yak hair!
Finally, one of the best parts of the tour. Imagine long and somewhat narrow hallways made of plain looking cinder blocks and each or several cinder blocks having been signed by performers and actors/actresses who have been on the DPAC stage. Robin Williams, Dolly Parton, Mary J. Blige. Now her several cinder blocks were personally decorated by her with stick-on rhinestones and diamonds encircling her name. The cast of all the shows that ever been at DPAC have drawn and painted many cinder blocks with designs depicting their shows and every cast member has signed it.
Some of the performers have pretty illegible hand-writing so to help out in deciphering those, DPAC has added a small discrete label under their signature so you can figure out who it is. After the Mature Adults did some shameless begging for tickets to the upcoming performances of 'Hamilton” (to no avail) the group left having had a truly “red carpet experience.”
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