Behind the Curtain
How well do you know the mysteries of the theater?
For every concert, TV, movie, and theatrical performance, cast and crew have labored behind the scenes to stage a show that will make audiences clamor for more! See if you know these bits of staging magic – with a special focus on Richmond, Virginia.
- Van Halen made famous a concert rider that required venues to provide a bowl of ____.
- Put the parts of a stage in order, starting from the audience seating: apron, downstage, house, pit, proscenium, upstage.
- Match each contemporary performing arts theater in Richmond, Virginia, with its description.
| 1. November Theatre | a. Opened in 1914 in Jackson Ward as a vaudeville and movie theater and hosted Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong and other stars. |
| 2. The Hippodrome | b. Opened in 1927 as The Mosque. Once contained a gymnasium, a bowling alley and an underground swimming pool. |
| 3. Altria Theater | c. In 1953, six actors renovated a historic building; became the nation’s first dinner theater and Virginia’s first performing arts theater welcoming integrated audiences. |
| 4. Barksdale Theatre | d. Dinner theater started in 1965 by three local families in a circa 1663 building. |
| 5. Swift Creek Mill Theatre | e. Opened as Empire Theatre in 1911 for theatrical performances. Operated for decades as the Booker T, a vaudeville and movie theater. |
- Which of the following is not a theatrical tradition?
- Say “Break a leg” to mean “good luck.”
- Leave on “ghost light” illuminated when leaving a theater.
- Don’t say “Macbeth.”
- Turn around three times before going on stage.
- No whistling backstage.
- Unscramble the name of this 1966 play (and 1990 movie) featuring two minor characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which will be presented by Quill Theatre in the 2019/2020 season.
N A R C N O S E Z R T D A N N E S T N E R D U G L I R E A A D D E
CROSSWORD
by Myles Mellor
Across
1. Richmond theater
4. First word of a noted Tchaikovsky ballet
8. Shakespeare comedy, goes with 24 across
9. French lake
10. 1930 musical Puttin’ on the ____
11. Recent Disney hit that was made into a Broadway play
13. One of the three musketeers
17. Actor’s come-on
19. Mr. ____, Michael Keaton film
20. Ain’t Too Proud is a popular Broadway play describing the life of these Motown greats
24. See 8 across
25. Character in Aladdin
Down
1. Stage performers
2. The Hipp, for one
3. What a theater program provides
5. Matilda was famous for this dance
6. Broadway locale, abbr.
7. Singing group
12. Compass direction
14. Electric guitar hookup
15. Church vocal piece
16. Introduction, in a way – two words
17. Comic in the circus
18. Wow
21. Ryan of When Harry Met Sally
22. Moniker
23. Murder, __ Wrote, by Agatha Christie
How do you think you did?
Myles Mellor has published 35 puzzle books and more than 13,000 puzzles in hundreds of magazines and newspapers. He also creates personalized puzzles for celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries. MylesMellor.com
