Upward Bound students receive rare backstage tour of Post Playhouse

 Artistic Director Tom Ossowski provided the tour for the high school students as part of their six-week pre-college program at Chadron State College. Laure Sinn, CSC student activities coordinator, accompanied the group on their tour.

The first stop on the tour was the light booth where Don Fox, season lighting designer, reviewed the different jobs that he is in charge of while the performance is underway.

He explained to the students the fog he creates is actually a food-grade mineral oil sprayed through an atomizer to create the fine mist which reflects the special, colored lights on stage, making them more visible. Fox also explained the use of geometry in designing the lighting for the production.

After learning about lighting, the students got a feel of what it is like to be on stage. Ossowski explained the stage’s layout and how the transition of scenes works before leading them backstage for more time with the cast and crew.

Phoebe H. Boynton, season costume designer, explained the challenges that arise working with different costumes and limited time between scenes for actors and actresses to change and be ready for the next scene.

After learning about wardrobe operations, the students had a chance to watch some of the continued learning once an individual lands a role in a play by observing two actors practicing steps to the Ländler, a German folk dance, for “The Sound of Music.”

To conclude the tour, Ossowski showed the students the construction workshop where Season Scenic Designer Mark Delance and Season Technical Director Scott Cavin explained set construction. Cavin is also a CSC assistant professor of Visual and Performing Arts.