Michigan Opera Theatre

Presents

A Backstage Activity Book

When you come to Michigan Opera Theatre there are many people working behind the scenes to create an amazing

performance.

Let’s get started…

Let’s see what everyone does. Maybe you can help out!

Box Office:The box office is the place where tickets are sold to the

public for admission to an event.

We seem to have had some printing problems. Would you help us fill in the blanks on these tickets?

Ushers:Ushers assist visitors by showing them the way to

their appropriate seats.

Will you find the following seats and color them in?

What does it spell?____________________________________

B1,2,3 C1,3 D1,2,3 E1,3 F1,2,3 F10 E5,7B18,19,20 D13,15 D5,7 F18,19,20 C9,11 B14 B5,7 D5,6,7 E18,20 B9,11 D18,20 C14,15 F13,16 E9,11

C18,20 E13,16 D9,10,11 F13,16

B1,2,3 C1,3 D1,2,3 E1,3 F1,2,3 F10 E5,7B18,19,20 D13,15 D5,7 F18,19,20 C9,11 B14 B5,7 D5,6,7 E18,20 B9,11 D18,20 C14,15 F13,16 E9,11

C18,20 E13,16 D9,10,11 F13,16

This is what you say at curtain call when you like an opera!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1911 20

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1911 20

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1911 20

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1911 20G

F

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B

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Orchestra:An orchestra is a large, instrumental ensemble

that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments.

C R U W P N A S O G A C O F C T I H A R T D D W O E C V G L E N M O W H V T F X D S R I A F T H B P U R C U S S I O N R L P S M A O N O O S S A B A I U R V E M S M Z T X X R K P N T A V B L O S E T G C C M M E E H O R R E P O T D E E C I T A N A U P M C A L O I V L T S E Y I I U Y E Z Y T D T B L M P M A R V I O L I N U R P G O P N T M Y S M O U Q U B W S S O C H H L V S Q Y W U F A C V O B O E O A J A B D A N L Q O A Y N F T F T S B X W N J H X

C R U W P N A S O G A C O F C T I H A R T D D W O E C V G L E N M O W H V T F X D S R I A F T H B P U R C U S S I O N R L P S M A O N O O S S A B A I U R V E M S M Z T X X R K P N T A V B L O S E T G C C M M E E H O R R E P O T D E E C I T A N A U P M C A L O I V L T S E Y I I U Y E Z Y T D T B L M P M A R V I O L I N U R P G O P N T M Y S M O U Q U B W S S O C H H L V S Q Y W U F A C V O B O E O A J A B D A N L Q O A Y N F T F T S B X W N J H X

Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble.

Instrument word search:

BASSBASSOONCELESTECELLOCIMBASSOCLARINETFLUTEHARPHORNOBOEPERCUSSIONPIANOTIMPANITROMBONETRUMPETTUBAVIOLAVIOLIN

Production Stage Manager:A stage manager is the person who has overall responsibility

for stage management and the smooth execution of a production. They are assisted by two assistant stage managers.

One of the many things a Stage Management team does is to keep track of where everyone and everything is on stage. Below is a special map that tells you what we call each area. Will you

draw the following things where they go?

A) A tree Upstage RightB) A tree Upstage CenterC) A tree Upstage LeftD) A table CenterE) 2 chairs RightF) A person Downstage CenterG) A person Downstage Left

Stagehands: There are many different categories of stage hands: Carpenters, Riggers, Sound, Lighting, Spot Operators,

Properties, Wardrobe, Hair, and Makeup. Let’s see what each group does…

Carpenters:In theatre, a carpenter is a stagehand who

builds sets and stage elements.

Would you like to draw a set that our carpenters can build?

Riggers:Riggers are responsible for all equipment hung (flown) in the theater space. At Michigan Opera Theatre we use a counter

weight system so we must match the weight of the item that is flying with equal counter weight.

Please help us counter balance these three items with these 10 counter weights

ITEMS TO HANG:

1) A Drop that weighs 120 LBS

2) A Marquee that weighs 100 LBS

3) A Curtain that weighs 140 LBS

Weights to counter BalanceA) 40 lbs B) 40 lbs C) 40 lbs D) 40 lbs E) 40 lbs F) 40 lbs G) 40 lbs H) 40 lbs I) 20 lbs J) 20 lbs

Sound:Sound Technicians are concerned with the recording,

manipulation, mixing, and reproduction of sound. In Opera, the singers are not amplified, so our sound technicians create archival recording and sound effects, among other things.

Would you help us pick out sound effects to tell a story?

It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly a loud _____________ was heard in the __________ room. This was followed by the sound of ______________. I ran to the door to see what was happening and tripped over the ___________ and a loud __________ was heard. I have never been so __________ in my life. The next thing I knew, my alarm clock was _____________ing and I had to wake up.

Would you help us pick out sound effects to tell a story?

It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly a loud _____________ was heard in the __________ room. This was followed by the sound of ______________. I ran to the door to see what was happening and tripped over the ___________ and a loud __________ was heard. I have never been so __________ in my life. The next thing I knew, my alarm clock was _____________ing and I had to wake up.

Electricians:Electricians work with the various aspects of lighting. Some of the positions include the Lighting Supervisor,

Master Electrician, Deck Electrician, Light Board Operator, Moving Light Programmer, and follow spot

Operator, as well as simply Electrician.

• Would you help us untangle all these cords and figure out what light is plugged into what plug? You can write the number of the plug into the box on the light.

Follow Spot Operator The person who operates the follow spot, or spotlight on a production.

This is a light which is physically moved by the operator during the production to follow a performer's movement around the stage.

Would you like to color this picture of a follow spot operator?

Props:A prop is an object used by a performer on stage. The Props technicians build, repair, organize, and distribute all of the

props in an Opera.

Would you help us figure out what props we have by finishing the drawing? Follow the numbers and then color the props.

Wardrobe:Responsible for the maintenance of costume pieces

and dressing the performers.

Can you find 5 differences between these 2 pictures?

Hair:

A hair artist uses a performers own hair, a wig, or extensions to create the correct hair style for a character.

Please connect the hair style to the character:

Makeup: A makeup artist uses makeup and prosthetics to help

transform a performer into their character.

Design makeup for these performers:

You could make them up to be anything: A cat, an alien, a geisha, a princess, or even a devil. It is up to you!

Performers:

We have many different types of performers in opera.PRINCIPAL: A major singing role, or the singer who performs

such a role.

Would you like to color a picture of a principal singer?

Chorus, Supers, and Dancers:

CHORUS: A group of singers, singing together, who sometimes portray servants, party guests, or other unnamed characters; also the music written for them.SUPERNUMERARY: Someone who is part of a group on stage but doesn't sing. Their title is usually shortened to “Super.”Dancers: Someone who dances in an opera.

Below is a picture of the curtain call for the chorus, supers, and dancers who performed in Carmina Burana. That’s a lot of people! Can you count them?

Michigan Opera TheatreChildren's Chorus:

The Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus is a chorus of children, ages 8-16, who learn musical skills and perform special concerts, children’s operas, and perform in main stage operas at MOT.

Every year the Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus presents A Winter Fantasy Concert. Would you like to draw your idea of a winter fantasy?

Winter Fantasy is December, 7th, 2014 3-6 PM

Season Schedule