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CEDAR CITY — Audiences talk about the magic of the theater, but the spectacular scenes that unfold on stages of the Utah Shakespeare Festival follow months of hard work behind the scenes.
"Titus Andronicus" performances take place at 8 p.m. What's called "set load-in" happens 12 hours before. Since three different plays are staged in the same area, the crew carefully places each piece for that day's production.
Most members of the cast of "Les Mis" play multiple characters, which means many costumes and hairpieces.
Marcia Willard has been one of the festival's wig masters for four years. In her unique office, hand-tied wigs line the walls from floor to ceiling.
"That's why each name, there's a number after it, and that's how many wigs each person has," Willard explained.
Cami Heubert, who made some of the festival's costumes, delivers hundreds of them to the right dressing rooms and the right place backstage each day. One of her actors changes eight times in Act 1.
"We have check-in sheets," Heubert said. "Every piece is checked in at the beginning of the show. All their shoes, all their accessories, every hat, everything has a place."
Just imagine how big the laundry load is at the festival every day.
Morning rehearsals for performances in the Green Shows are a regular routine. In Shakespeare's day, they drew audiences into the theater. In the 21st Century, they are the show before the show.
Many festival visitors say their experience here would not be complete without one, or two, or three of the festival's famous tarts. Baker Christopher Daughton makes 1,200 a day.
Experience the Utah Shakespere Festival for yourself this summer. The 2012 season is going on in Ceder City from now until October. Visit http:// www.bard.org for more details.
