| Show actors pla y iu aa workshop to learn stagecraft k W 44 u the hero her 0 clasps the heroine in his bis arms and the curtain falls alls anthe second act of a t stirring drama the stagehands stage hands and ad technicians hurry to a arrange the abe settings tor for the final thrilling act which takes the charac from the wilds of africa afric ato a to a london drawing room the complete change of scenery lights ind and props is accomplished in just three minutes and the veteran stage manager jack reidy nods cods approvingly now mow sound the buzzers buzzerd in the dressing rooms and get set for or the curtain he orders stand by the control board to dim the lights bak backstage well use the twilight effect its all strictly big time stuff but the whole procedure of stage tech is bein being g worked out under the proscenium of a unique miniature theater and the stagehands stage hands technicians and electricians are students of the columbia college of drama and radio at chicago columbian Colum bias theater which asbe Is believed to be the most complete and faithful capy copy of a modern stage eyer constructed is neldys idea to 01 training aspiring thespians in every detail of stage craft thirty years trouping gas as an actor and technical authority backed up construction st odthe of the little theater which ff marion ario amuck cluck left felt student in stagecraft arranges stage fellings for the miniature theatre while jeanne smith handles handies lighting effects ram from a control board measures 42 inches in width 36 inches in height and 32 inches in depth the stage opening is 26 inches across I 1 every detail is precisely alto to scale one inch to a foot from pr proscenium osce arc arch h to back wall there are ceiling pieces wh which li are stored ain in a rigging loft curtains drops scenery solid doors parallels and platforms anda and a complete lighting system of footlights spots spot xray X ray border for foi colored effa effects ct Q and bun bunch c h lights all aU operated from u tin tiny y con control trob board reldy reidy put JU lu more than eight months work in designing and constructing the faithful working model of a theater thea tei weve fauna found that this provides the roost most practical way vay of teaching what goes on behind the curtain burtain reldy reidy says students are unable to grasp the details when they are confronted with the maze of cal devices in a life size theater but bu t with the miniature to work with their own hands and eyes teach thim them every function of the involved processes |
