BEHIND THE SCENES

SPRINGFIELD LITTLE THEATRE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BRINGING STORIES TO LIFE ON STAGE, BUT FOR EVERY STORY THAT MAKES IT TO THE LANDERS, COUNTLESS MORE STORIES HAPPEN BEHIND THE SCENES. WE TALKED TO SLT’S TWO CO-TECHNICAL DIRECTORS, JAMIE BOWER AND CHUCK ROGERS, WHO GAVE US THE INSIDE SCOOP ON HOW SLT HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS AND WHAT REALLY GOES ON BACKSTAGE.

BY VIVIAN WHEELER

Backstage Pass next number, get out and get that elephant down out of the sky. Play like you know what you're doing and have fun in front of the audience.’ And they did. V.W.: Who was your favorite Broadway performer to come to SLT? J.B.: One of the biggest treats has been having Kim Crosby grace our stage. She is such an impeccable performer and just an absolute joy to work with! Also, Robert Westenberg directed our production of Les Miserables, and working with him was defi nitely one of the best moments of my career. V.W.: Can you share a funny anecdote from your career? J.B.: Back when we did Annie Get Your Gun, on opening night, our light board failed 30 minutes before showtime. Well, we had to get a loaner. The whole process took about an hour, so Beth Domann greeted the audience when the show was supposed to start. She informed them of the issue and proceeded to do a 30-minute stand-up comedy routine to keep them entertained until we got the lights running on a backup console. The audience got two shows for the price of one that night. C.R.: Opening night of e Full Monty, at the end of the show when we are supposed to have all of our clothes o , this blinding light comes on and we turn around and show our backsides to the audience. And we're supposed to cover up our private areas with policemen hats, just like a stripper does, and I lost my hat.

Vivian Wheeler: How has Springfi eld Little Theatre evolved over the years since you’ve been involved with the organization? Jamie Bower: When I fi rst joined SLT [in 2003], we had very tight budgets and were trying to make sure we could keep the doors open. I tried to spend the least amount possible to produce shows. If it wasn’t for our amazing volunteers and patrons, we wouldn’t have made it. The same is true today, but the support and sheer amount of people involved has grown exponentially.

V.W.: Have there been very many memorable disasters? Chuck Rogers (joined SLT in 1983): When we did our production of Barnum, we had a giant elephant that took up the full stage. One night the elephant’s legs got tangled up and it started tearing and falling down. I rounded up all the clowns that were in the show and gave them all a broom and a knife, and I said, ‘during the

Roll The Tape

SLT FILM LABS IS MAKING THE NEXT GENERATION OF FILM MAKERS.

BY PEYSON SHIELDS

Hosted at The Film Lab in The Judy, SLT Film Labs is an immersive, year-long program for middle- and high-school-aged students to learn the ropes of all things film.

“SLT Film Labs started as an ‘acting for the camera’ class,” says Eli Cunningham, creative director for Springfield Little Theatre and facilitator of the program. “But there were storytellers sitting, waiting their turn. So I put them to work as writers, cinematographers and directors.”

For the past four years, the program has focused on teaching hireable skills from lighting and camera work to acting and directing. With equipment like gimbals and green screens, as well as computers outfitted with industry-standard video editing software, SLT Film Labs positions graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to step into a professional setting.

After a year of biweekly classes, students walk away with more than technical skills. “Filmmaking is the ultimate team sport,” Cunningham says. "Each shot requires each crew member to perform their job successfully. Otherwise, you have to reset and take it again and again." That collaboration came to the forefront during a local film challenge. Upper-level students participate in Springfield and The Ozarks (SATO) 48-hour film challenge where local film-makers of all skill levels compete to produce a 5-minute film in two days. This year, SLT's 301 class won the O the Wall Prize.

Taking home a prize was an exciting benchmark, especially because today’s students find nontraditional influences—social media. “They’re not doing it like Tarantino, but like an influencer on YouTube or TikTok,” Cunningham says.

Regardless of where inspiration is drawn from, it all comes down to storytelling. “The core of our program is about how to tell a good and compelling story,” Cunningham says. “No matter your job, it’s invaluable to be able to tell a better story.”

If you are interested in participating in SLT Film Labs in the 2021–2022 school year, visit springfieldlittletheatre.org or call 417-413-2287.