June 2, 2006 -- Summer theatre-goers will catch a glimpse of the show behind the show
when "Headset: A View From the Light Booth," launches the University of Wyoming 2006
Snowy Range Summer Theatre and Dance Festival Tuesday, June 13.
The family-friendly comedy written by William Missouri Downs, UW professor and playwright-in-residence,
runs June 13 and June 15-17. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center
studio theatre. Tickets cost $10 for the general public, $8 for seniors and $5 for
students. For tickets call (307) 766-6666 or go online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts.
"I wrote ‘Headset’ many years ago after working as a spotlight operator for the sultry
jazz singer Miss Peggy Lee," says Downs. "It was the 45th performance and I (along
with the rest of the backstage crew) was getting restless."
That night, Downs and his cohorts "began having some backstage fun," engaging in
practical jokes and other antics, ultimately resulting in Downs' spotlight being pointed
at Lee's ankles during her rendition of "Fever."
Downs was fired, but his newfound unemployment gave him time to think. Soon he had
an idea; perhaps all the outrageous things that go on backstage would make a great
play.
Called by some the "Noises Off of Technical Theatre," Downs' clever farce takes place
in the light booth of The-Chicago-Ensemble-Repertory-Group-Theatre-Project on the
final night of the company's doomed production of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Running
the light board are the stressed-out technical director, Hamlet, and his estranged
stepfather, Claude, who need to work through some issues.
"I changed the setting from a Peggy Lee concert to 'Hamlet' simply because playing
off a revenge tragedy like Hamlet was funnier," he says.
"I love directing my own work. For thousands of years playwrights have directed their
own work -- it wasn't until about 150 years ago that directing became a separate job
in the theatre," says Downs
Posted on Friday, June 02, 2006