Thursday night is Stage Night at the Guild. At least on most Thursday nights the “stage guys” assemble at the Guild to either tear down the last show, build up the next show, or tend to stage and shop problems. From time to time, they also do routine maintenance stuff around the Guild.
In the picture, Dave Wood, our Stage Governor, can be seen beginning the construction of the shower for Nellie’s “infamous shower scene.” John Sczomak, a psychologist with Neighborhood Service Organization, is in the background dismantling part of the set for The 39 Steps.
Wood, a retired Dearborn Fire Commissioner, frequently says he’s not sure what he’s building until he’s almost done. He also says, “Here at the Guild, we build things up and tear them down.”
Wood invites anyone with even only the slightest interest in backstage work to “come on down to the Guild on Stage Night.”
Stage Night forces rehearsals into the basement, especially if the Clubroom is being used for music rehearsals. In the picture, Director Brian Townsend is blocking a scene withTom Davis (Luther Billis) and Kevin Talanges (Lt. Cable.) The building, and the flexibility it provides us, is one of the Guild’s biggest assists.