Set the stage for Wicked Omaha

Elphaba isn’t the only thing defying gravity. “Going up!” is the refrain of the day as Wicked’s crew members and union stagehands from IATSE Local 42 hoist pieces of the set into place in preparation for opening night at the Orpheum Theater.

It’s load-in — a process that, to the outside observer, seems equal parts elbow grease and magic. How can 13 trucks of technical equipment, props, costumes, and set pieces leave Dallas on Sunday, arrive in Omaha on Monday, and become a fully fledged Broadway show by Wednesday? The crew isn’t worried. They’ve built Oz before.

It doesn’t hurt that company manager Steve Quinn has been with the show for 21 of its 23 years on the road, handling the business, financial, and logistical details of the tour.

And, like the iconic musical, the story of Omaha Performing Arts’ preparations began long before Dorothy arrived.

How Broadway makes the Orpheum home

1.     Prepping in advance

Bringing Broadway to Omaha takes an incredible amount of coordination. One or two years before hosting a show, O-pa’s operations team reviews a document called a rider. They look over the show’s requirements from a technical standpoint and make sure they can fit within the space or if there will be structural changes needed.

Then there may be a site visit from the production office, though a long-running show like Wicked has been to Omaha five times before, so there are fewer surprises to worry about.

2.     Tickets go on sale

Once everyone is certain the venue is a good fit, O-pa books the show and announces it at the Season Reveal. This season Wicked was an add-on option for season ticket holders — meaning they got first dibs on tickets before individual tickets went on sale to the public (just one of many season ticket perks!).

3.     Advancing the show

Around three months before the show date, the conversation between O-pa and the show’s crew picks up. They talk about what their crew will need from a local standpoint and how to make sure that when they get to town, they’ll be set for the entire run of the show.

4.     Load-in

It usually takes between 80 and 100 local crew members to assist with loading a show in. The day before the production arrives, the crew does a “strip” of the Orpheum — removing lighting, sound equipment, and curtains to create a blank canvas for the show’s equipment and set.

That’s what’s filling those 13 trucks! Broadway shows generally travel with all the equipment they need for a production. And whereas a movie can use CGI for its effects, a live performance makes its magic from scratch.

“We bring Broadway to you,” says Steve. “This is a 10-million-dollar production, and we’re constantly updating the show.”

The day after the theater is stripped, load-in begins, and the Orpheum stage is transformed into the world of the show.

From the equipment to the talent, the stage is set to give audiences an extraordinary experience with a timeless story that continues to resonate.

Source: Preparing for ‘Hamilton’: What it takes to bring traveling shows to Omaha’s Orpheum
Nebraska Public Media interviews Ryan Murray, O-pa Associate Vice President of Operations