A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Theatre Calgary Productions

Posted by Bhagat singh on June 24th, 2023

Production History

Theatre Calgary has been at the heart of Calgary’s performing arts scene with its outstanding productions and initiatives. Dive into a behind-the-scenes look at Theatre Calgary’s production history.

Established in 1972, Theatre Calgary has evolved from a smaller home on Stephen Avenue to becoming one of Canada’s largest nonprofit, professional theatre companies. They have produced over 300 productions since their inception. Some of their most successful shows have included ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Matilda The Musical’. Their current artistic team focuses on producing dynamic works like ‘The Lion King Jr’ and ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'.

Theatre Calgary is unique in many ways as it showcases a variety of elements such as music, dance, puppetry, and aerial acrobatics. In addition to this, they have memorable collaborations with industry professionals and help bring captivating stories to life. Furthermore, they have involved themselves in various community events such as the High-Performance Rodeo an international festival that brings together artists from around the globe.

In addition to producing quality performances year-round, Theatre Calgary also facilitates education initiatives such as their PlaywrightinResidence program which provides mentorship to emerging playwrights, or the popular Imago Youth Program which aims to engage young people with theatre through workshops and performance opportunities.

You can also read: Abhishek Bachchan 2023 – Net Worth, Age, Career, & Awards

Set Design and Construction

Set Design is the process of deciding how a stage will look and feel for each scene in a performance. It involves ideas, creating storyboards, and considering what action and emotion should be conveyed by the set pieces. The result should draw the audience in, transporting them into the world of the play.

The Construction Process is an involved process that takes weeks or months to complete depending on the size of preferred set pieces and the complexity of design elements. First, sketches are drawn up to scale so that measurements can be taken for construction materials. After materials are obtained it’s time to start building! Teams carefully construct scenic pieces from wood, metal, foam, and other materials depending on their purpose. Finally, carpenters add details such as paint or moldings to give it the desired look.

Building Strategies involve making decisions about which material will be used for certain elements and creating backdrops or walls with as minimal weight as possible while still looking eye-catching and feeling realistic to the audience. Depending on which part of the stage it will be used in depends on these considerations as well as its safety rating and budget limitations.

Performance Layout must also be considered during set design, especially thinking ahead about any furniture moves or quick changes needed throughout the performance. Understanding how actors move around a space is essential when designing sets that ensure smooth transitions between scenes without disrupting any flow of action occurring onstage.

Auditions

Actors will then provide their headshots and resumes to increase their chances of being cast in the production. When it comes time to audition, slating is the standard format across all theatre companies. Slating entails introducing yourself with your name and providing basic information such as where you studied acting or any special skills or talents you may have.

During auditions, actors will be asked to perform cold reads or callbacks—which are when they are asked to read from the script with other actors—to gauge their ability to work off each other and their sense of timing. After completing these readings, performers will receive feedback from casting directors on their performance, which can help them assess how they can improve future auditions.

You can also read: Salman Khan's Net Worth, Wiki, Career & Awards

At Theatre Calgary, this thorough auditioning process is designed to select only the best talent for our productions while providing actors with beneficial feedback that can help them refine their craft and take the next steps in their careers. With over forty years of experience producing award-winning plays, we strive to maintain excellence in every aspect of our work—so whether you’re an actor looking for your break or just curious about what goes on behind the scenes of theatrical productions.

Costumes and Props

From musicals and comedies to dramas and operas, Theatre Calgary puts on breathtaking productions that captivate audiences all over Alberta. But have you ever wondered what goes into creating a live production? To give you a better insight beyond the performance, we’ve put together a behind-the-scenes look at Theatre Calgary's productions—costumes and props.

Costumes and props play an incredibly important role in any stage show. Without them, it’s difficult to create believable characters or tell an interesting story. At Theatre Calgary, costumes and props are created by talented designers and creators whose job is to bring each production to life. From researching historical pieces to creating realistic settings, these professionals use their expertise to create unique costumes that accurately reflect the characters’ dialogue and actions on stage. They also work closely with engineers who help build larger structures for sets such as bridges or towers for certain scenes in each production.

Once the costumes and props have been designed, they go through an extensive rehearsal process with actors and directors to perfect each character or scene within the show. During this time, any necessary adjustments can be made to make sure that everything looks its best before opening night! Lastly, after all these details come together—from intricate stitching processes on character robes to perfecting grandiose sets—final touches are added by art directors who adjust lighting or add small artistic touches throughout various scenes to complete the production's look.

Cast Rehearsals

When it comes to rehearsing for any show, preparation is key. The actors need time to get familiar with the script and the characters they will be playing. Theatre Calgary utilizes both script analysis and character development techniques so that actors can get a better understanding of their roles. Through this process, they also become more confident with their lines and blocking as well as form better chemistry among the cast members.

Once actors have done their homework offstage, it’s time for them to hit the stage! Theatre Calgary strives to use effective blocking and staging techniques to create an inviting atmosphere for audience members during each show. This includes connecting all scenes and using music or sound effects between changes in location or time on stage. They also make sure that lighting works with the set design to further enhance the mood or story of each scene.

Lighting and Sound Effects

Light design plays an integral role in creating atmosphere and mood in any given production. Theatre Calgary’s Light Designers use state-of-the-art lighting equipment to manipulate shadows, shades, tints, and colors to bring the stage alive with stunning visuals. From dimly lit scenes to vibrant hues that punctuate emotional moments – light design brings stories to life in vivid ways.

You can also read: Pat McAfee's Net Worth, Age & Relationship

Sound effects are also incredibly important when it comes to adding a realistic touch to a production. From thunderous applause at the curtain call to subtle ambient noise in between scenes – all these elements are carefully crafted by sound designers to create an immersive experience for audience members. By cleverly combining music, ambiance, and sound effects – theatre technicians can paint vivid pictures through soundscapes that add nuance and depth to each story being told on stage.

Set Design is another key component in creating a successful show at Theatre Calgary. This includes building sets from scratch, constructing props, and designing costumes for characters – all with detailed precision following the director's vision for each scene or act.

Performance Night

The planning phase is where the show starts to take shape! It all begins with selecting a production and gathering creative minds like directors, actors, writers, and artists. The director works with actors to develop characters that will tell the story onstage while working through various rehearsals and cues to ensure a seamless performance. On top of that, other teams are also hard at work; ensuring that everything is up to code like sets, lighting effects, colored gels, microphones, and more!

Stage management takes charge before performances start on making sure every detail runs smoothly— from staffing the box office to managing backstage crew members. Customers design costumes that fit into each scene as well as props like weapons for fight scenes or furniture for domestic spaces. Tech crews are also present during performances overseeing sound effects and cues— like giving off thunder during storm scenes or playing jazz music in cafe scenes.

And then there are all of those exciting preshow rituals for actors and directors alike as they make their final preparations before stepping on stage! You may remember seeing clips from some of your favorite Broadway stars doing vocal exercises or sharing stories about their day before taking over each character they play—all part of getting into character themselves.

The Magic of Theatre Calgary Productions

From the first draft of a script to the performance on opening night, there’s an immense amount of creative energy that goes into producing a show. Our cast and crew meticulously craft each scene and character with passion and tenacity. We are constantly striving to bring our audiences something new each year.

Have you ever seen a musical come to life on stage? Our professional cast members work incredibly hard to bring these classic stories to life. Each actor takes their craft seriously and works to stay in character throughout the entire performance.

While we can usually see everything that is happening onstage, there is also a lot that is going on backstage as well! To ensure that everything runs smoothly throughout the performance, we need people who are responsible for creating sets, costumes, props, lighting effects, and more! These talented individuals go above and beyond to ensure that each show looks exactly how it is imagined in our minds.

At Theatre Calgary Productions, professionalism isn’t just an expectation – it’s our standard! Our cast and crew treat each other with respect while also maintaining a high level of professionalism throughout every rehearsal and performance. This commitment ensures that our audiences leave feeling satisfied after every show.