I had worked on the lighting crew for a few previous LaSalle productions, but Androcles and the Lion was my first effort as lighting manager. My crew consisted of Steve PowelL Jim Mooney, and a few others who helped out in hanging and cabling the lights. George McMahon was the lighting designer - the person who draws up the lighting plan and the cabling diagram, directs us in aiming and focusing the lights, an d makes up cues to coordinate the lighting with the action of the play. Our job was simply to hang the lights, cable them, focus them. and run them for the performances. I received the plans six days before opening night. Five days before opening night the rented lights arrived. We worked feverishly for the next few days hanging and wiring the lights, fixing broken cables, and working out the neverending tech nical problems. We ran righ t down to the wire, addi ng final touches just hours before the play opened. At 7:45 the house was opened. From my perch in the balcony I could see that the house was filled to about half its capacity. I had hoped for more people, but that was not my concern. This was it, the culmination of all our efforts.
STAGE CREW Acknowledgements Brother Andrew Bartlev, Princi oal Brother Talbot Ramsbottom, Vice-Princioal Mr . David Di ehl, Vi ce-Princinal Brother Joseoh Regan Butler and Ferrigno Lithooranhers Mrs . Helen Gallaqher Mr s . Rosal i e Comerford Mr s . Florence Ward Mr. James Devi ne
Ushers Pete Susanin, Mgr. Tom Check Tim Diorio Kevin McMenamin Tom Amodie Bil l Kraft Les Al bor .John ~lalish
Tim Przvbvlowski Tim Gi 11 espi e .lohn Waters Bernie Looez Ri ch Catrambone Pete Schofi el d Gus Lodes Pat Harvey
Tickets Chr is Jungers , Mgr.
Everyone knew his part. The stage was set. the actors were ready, the sound was on standby and we were about to start. Steve and Jim were in the lighting cage standing by for my cues, which I relayed to them th rough an in tercom system. The music started. "Standby for house and warmers ou t," I said quietly into the headset. "House and warmers GO!" I watched as the stage faded in to darkness. "Standby cue one ... cue one GO!" An eerie blue ligh t filled th e stage exactly as we had reh earsed. From start to finish we ran like clockwork. Our efforts paid off not only in ticket sales but also in satisfaction. 70