Behind the Scenes

Another op'nin' another show...

Audiences have come to expect a high level of quality from Chanhassen productions, and Resident Artistic Director Michael Brindisi surrounds himself with an extremely gifted artistic design staff to assist him in achieving that objective. They include musical directors, choreographers, scenic and costume designers, lighting and sound technical designers, makeup/wig artists, a variety of technical theatre artisans and production stage managers. These people combine their talents; and when the elements are melded, the result is a high-quality Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' production that is second to none.

Chanhassen is one of the few theatres in the Twin Cities to have facilities on site to create productions from scratch. From the initial concepts of scenic design down to the production of original costume designs -- everything is done on Chanhassen property. This gives the director great flexibility and full creative range in mounting a theatrical production.

Once a play title is selected, several months prior to its opening, many production meetings are held. The director works closely with the designers in concept development. Once they understand what the director envisions, they begin researching and designing. The set designer makes a miniature scale model of the set including the set pieces and backdrops. The costume designer sketches renderings of the wide variety of costumes and selects fabric swatches to be used for each particular costume. Main Stage productions have boasted as many as 250 costumes!

The properties master begins gathering the myriad of props called for in the script from vintage furnishings to wall decorations and hand props. Many props are created in the scene shop. Things like loaves of bread, shrunken heads, and foreign currencies are made to look genuine. Great care is taken to ensure authenticity.

It takes the scene, prop, and costume shops about twelve weeks to create everything needed for the show. Due to the long run of each production, all scenes, props, and costumes must be sturdy enough to handle wear and tear.

The musical director re-orchestrates the original musical score to cover all pertinent instrumentation for Chanhassen's live, professional ten-member orchestra. The choreographer is busy at work listening to the music, creating the movement for dance numbers. Sound and lighting designers plot the technical components to create mood and emotion for the audience. The makeup and hair designers research the era of the play and develop a hairstyle and look for each character.

The actors begin rehearsals about three weeks prior to opening. When they arrive, they have all their lines and some of the music already prepared. Rehearsals, about eight hours each day, are packed with learning music and choreography and blocking scenes. In between, there are costume fittings and press interviews. Many actors do double-duty during a rehearsal period: they rehearse all day and continue their eight-show performance regimen in the currently running production. It can be a grueling routine! "Tech week" arrives the week of opening. Technically, "tech week" isn't even a full-week. It begins on a Monday and ends on Thursday for the final dress rehearsal.

The currently running production closes over the weekend, at which time the old set is dismantled and removed to make room for the set pieces needed for the new production. Drops must be hung, special effects set, floor painted. The lighting and sound technicians re-direct over 250 individual lighting instruments in accordance with the lighting design. All of the body microphones need to be re-organized and plotted. Finishing touches are placed on the costumes, and they are brought to the dressing rooms.

Orchestra members perfect their musical parts. The stage manager marks the stage with glow-tape so stagehands know where to position set pieces for each scene. Everything is coming together for the actors' first rehearsal on stage. Can you believe the company has only three days to rehearse on the actual stage before opening night? It's amazing that this new production can be created in such a short time. Then everyone anticipates the arrival of the live audience and the critics!

And that's show biz at Chanhassen!