What Actually Happens Behind the Scenes of a Broadway Show
I previously worked for a touring Broadway show that came with fanfares, big marketing ploys, and all that jazz. The execs were expecting folks to love it – and they did!... If they were one of the lucky ones who didn't fall victim to inclement weather, cancellations, puke (yes, puke!), or squirrels running amok (and it gets stranger from there).
To be fair, 80% of the shows were fine. But this is showbiz, baby, and you can never expect one day to be like the next. This goes for anyone involved in the run, including cast, crew, front-of-house (FOH), merch, and the administrative teams.
Here are some of the shocking things that happened, from least to most freaky.
No. 1 - Stuck in an elevator
This happened a lot. It didn't matter if the elevator technician came to "fix" it the day before; you better bet the elevator will be down again within a couple weeks – or, most dramatically, the very next day.
My heart goes out to the poor unfortunate souls who missed the first 30 - 45 minutes of the show because they decided to take a chance with the machinery.
I started having concerns about not going to the washroom before getting into an elevator. Luckily, I didn't work high enough in the building to merit this concern, but I really hope those who got stuck in there had more bladder power than me.
And it wasn't just audience members who got stuck. Everyone from staff to crew were no less likely. Cast members occasionally found themselves victimized as well, and the whole show would have to be delayed in order to get them out.
No. 2 - The power went out
Again, this happened a lot. Not as many times as the out-of-service elevators, but enough to justify a mention in this list.
Sometimes there was strong inclement weather, and sometimes the theatre just decided it was tired and needed a break. Cue blackout.
Each time, the fire department and local police would have to show up and clear the building with the help of FOH staff until everyone was given the go-ahead to head back in. By this point, a quarter of the audience left instead of waited around. If the situation was unresolvable, the remainder of the show would be cancelled.
I'm sure there were also some (false) fire alarms here and there, but fortunately I don't think I encountered one.
