Memorable Moments Behind the Scenes
Blog By: Quinn Gray
Shadowing production manager Brian Hunt ended up being one of the most memorable parts of my time as an ambassador. During the backstage tour, I met the admin staff, the designers and the crew who keep everything running. Hearing how each of them approaches their work gave me a better understanding of how every role contributes to the shows that come to life at DPAC.
When Brian took me backstage, the cast and crew were getting everything ready for Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, and I was immediately drawn to the sound and lighting gear. There were what felt like hundreds of cables hanging above us, almost like branches on a tree. As a high school performer and someone who’s done sound design on a smaller scale, I’m not used to seeing systems this huge. Seeing it up close helped me understand just how much goes into creating a Broadway production.
I was so caught up in everything that I barely remembered to take notes, but one moment that stuck with me was meeting a technician who worked out of a small room filled wall to wall with equipment. It was wild to see how much control he had from that space. With a single click, he could black out the stage or mute the entire system. I told him I’m a performer who also plays around with sound, and he said he came from a similar background. When I asked how he made that transition into making this his full-time job, he told me, “I followed my tech curiosity, and eventually it opened a door I didn’t even know existed.”
Walking out of the tour, I felt like I was seeing DPAC with a completely different set of eyes. I’ve always respected the people behind the scenes, but meeting them and watching their work up close gave me a real appreciation for how much skill and coordination it takes to run a show. It made me excited to keep learning, both as a performer and as someone who loves the technical side of theater. The next time I’m in the audience at a Broadway show, I know I’ll be paying attention to the details I used to overlook. Thank you, Brian, for this amazing tour.
