This issue has…

• 🎻 A pit tour
  we’re back to the weird basement

• 🛋 Lotsa furniture
  Prop Storage 1 is full of surprises

• 📷 A sneaky photo
  the shop folks are funny

WEIRD BASEMENT CHRONICLES

Orchestra pit sans orchestra

It’s been a while since we’ve explored the weird basement, so let’s dive back in!

Although we haven’t used it in a while, the John H. Potter Theater does have an orchestra pit. Here’s what it looks like.

Up the stairs and once inside, you’ll see that we currently use the pit to store a few larger pieces of scenic furniture and things.

Those sections of the ceiling are actually the JHP’s stage. They’re removable so when you have live musicians, the area can open up and allow them to be heard.

“So Ben, why is the orchestra pit now used to house furniture?”

Great question. The short answer: budget.
Good musicians are expensive and it’s more cost effective to purchase the pre-recorded tracks and use them for our musicals.

I know, I know…I also prefer live musicians. My hope is that we’ll soon get back to being able to use the orchestra pit for its true purpose. 🤞

WEIRD BASEMENT CHRONICLES

Prop Storage 1: so much better than its name

Right around the corner from the orchestra pit is another fun room (with an unfun name): Prop Storage 1.

This room houses much of our larger furniture items. Think a couch, an old hutch, a 1970s TV, etc.

Fun fact about Prop Storage 1: in addition to housing couches and chairs, it’s also the location of the JHP’s trap. See the pic below.

Again, the ceiling here is the JHP’s stage floor. Remove a portion and an actor can disappear like magic. THEATRE MAGIC!

Next time you see a Phipps production where we utilize the trap, please act very amazed and pretend I didn’t show this to you. 😁

👆
my favorite gallery piece of the week
We’re in changeover mode this week at the PCA.
Check back next week for a brand new exhibition (which opens Friday)!

BACKSTAGE

Some backstage sneaky peeks

On my way back to the office after escaping the weird basement, I stopped backstage to get you some SUPER SECRET SNEAK PEEKS.

First: some very fun food props being set aside for our upcoming production of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. You can take a look, but as the sign says DO NOT TOUCH. Thanks in advance.

Then there’s the kitchen set piece from our current production of Prancer. Looks nice, right? Nothing out of the ordinar — wait a second…

What’s…something seems a little fishy…

Yup. Franklin Hart from the PCA’s 2023 production of 9 to 5 the Musical. 😂

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Talk to you on the 28th!