Evie Bradley, Reporter
@ebradleycourant
On Clue’s opening night, I arrived at call time to get an inside look at what goes into opening a show. Crew member Laura Tedesco gave me a tour of the backstage, while both lead and supporting actors provided insight into the traditions of the cast and crew as well as what it’s like to be in theatre program.
Below, props Mistress Lucy Lee and Laura Tedesco are mixing fake blood for one of Clue’s many murders, made from coffee creamer, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, corn starch, and red and yellow food dye. Did you know that the coffee creamer stops the blood from staining costumes and hair?
After showing me how to make blood, backstage crew members Laura Tedesco and Caragh Dougherty took me to the stage to have a look at the Boddy Mansion which was built by students working at eight-hour Saturday techs, at which they built the set, props, and costumes.
After shadowing the crew, I headed over to the dressing room to talk to some of the cast members. Senior Helen Culpepper showed off her favorite knife, Patricia (don’t tell Jennifer!) in a slightly terrifying pose…
Next, I ventured into the dressing room, where junior Maren Lysenko was preparing for her featured singing and dance solo as the singing telegram. The theatre program just can’t resist adding a tap number!
As a theatre kid, I know how special opening night traditions between the cast and crew are. I went to senior Devin Findlay to explain a vital theatre tradition to the Courant: buddy gifts!
In character as Mrs White, senior Fiona Stevens got very inquisitive with the Courant whilst on her way for a mic check wearing an elegant gown made by the student costume crew.
It is now only a half-hour before curtain—and senior Nicole Demers is putting on the finishing touches to Mrs Peacocks make-up as she tells the Courant what goes into making a show. Nicole’s co-star Teresa Oliveira, playing Yvette the maid, chimes in to say that, “we’re a family in the theatre department.”
At his fifteen-minute call, senior Dustin Valenti shares how he’s feeling before his making his starring debut as Wadsworth the butler!
I was lucky enough to get one of the last tickets to see Clue on it’s opening night minutes after speaking with Dustin, and I’m sure all those who saw it can all agree that it was spectacular. Many condolences for those who missed the show, but hopefully this was a window into what Clue was all about. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Clue!
