Hidden heroes
Behind the curtain of a Riverland Theatre production By Savannah Howe
Austin High School student Rylan Clark secures part of a platform frame together at Riverland Community College. Clark helps backstage as part of the school’s posetsecondary enrollment options program,
Photos by Savannah Howe/ newsroom@austindailyherald.com
42 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022
If only theatrical productions were as simple as lights, camera and action. Playgoers being dazzled with carefully-rehearsed performances, beautifully-built sets and stunning tricks of light and sound doesn’t happen overnight. It is largely owed to hours of design, construction and technical work. Behind every actor is a sound technician hoping beyond all hopes that the microphone doesn’t fail, and behind every kickline is a stagehand scurrying a used set off the stage. “The work that the students do is very important,” said Riverland Theatre technical director John Deyo. “I could not do all this by myself.” Much of building a set involves high-intensity, heavy-lifting work, and thankless work at that; the Riverland Theatre stagehands dedicate hours of their time to preparing for a production despite having classes, jobs and other responsibilities. They are just as essential to a theatrical operation as the performers; the only difference is the lack of applause and flower bouquets when it’s time to close the curtain. So just who are the unsung heroes in the John Deyo stage shadows? Riverland Technical Ian Gearhart is a Riverland Community ColDirector lege student pursuing a degree in agricultural science. He has been working for Riverland Theatre and the Summerset Theatre for six years, doing much of the hammering, painting, sawing and heavy lifting that goes into getting sets and stages performance-ready. “My sister, Lindsey Williams, is director of the [Riverland] theatre department,” Gearhart said. “It’s been her lifelong passion, and when I moved here, I needed something to do. I sort of fell into it. I love the community, and when I go to work every day, we’re always doing something different, whether it’s construction, or painting, or making props. It’s never the same thing for too long, so it’s exciting and doesn’t get boring.” A day in the life of a stagehand depends on what stages of
“Each student brings something unique to the table. Some are very artistic, some are musical.”
