Last night, we performed in Fairmont, MN at the Fairmont Opera House. Tickets had been selling very well and , by show, we were completely sold out. The Opera House is an intimate theatre that was built in 1901. It is located in the center of downtown and really is in the heart of this community.
We arrived early in the day to begin loading in. The dock is situated on the side of the building. We first pulled up next to the building, walked inside to meet the crew and scope the space. Everyone was working had to finish up the light plot. We decided what the production elements of the evening show would be and then decided to start the load in. In order to get to the dock, I needed to pull across the street and back into the dock. That would mean the rig would block four lanes of traffic – but the police department is used to this and had been called in advance.
We got all loaded into an started to get the show set up. A few minutes later, a local police officer came onto the stage. He was talking into his talkie, not really paying attention to what was happening on stage. Then he asked, “who is with that moving van outside?” No one responded because we don’t have a moving van. We have a 65 foot semi truck and trailer…so I had no idea he was talking to any of us. We just kept working. A few seconds later, he asked again…this time a little more firm. I responded with, “You mean the big truck?” Turns out he was a little upset that we had blocked the road to unload the truck and he wasn’t there to control traffic, even though the theatre had called and they were informed. Oh well, I told him we would be doing it again tonight around 9:45pm – he said to call.
We moved on into the day – getting one of the backdrops into place, having the moving lights, and focusing the traditional lighting instruments. On to sound checks and music volume levels…and then dinner time!
Doors opened at 7pm and the audience started making their way to their seats. You could hear the excitement in the theatre – and I knew it was going to be a fun show. The audience was great – very responsive, laughing and clapping in all the right places. And I loved hearing the “gasps” when something “magical” would happen on stage. What a great time I had!
Thank you Fairmont for making us feel welcome and being such an outstanding audience!