Scroll down to see slide shows of various backstage photographs.
Beyond the Arena at the Theatre in the Round... off script, but on the record.
Beyond the Arena is a photographic essay project that captures life in the theater from the actor and production crew's point of view. Most of the images are made during rehearsals and preparation for performances at the Theatre in the Round in Minneapolis. Actors call their stage The Arena...this is what happens beyond it.
A video of the "Beyond the Arena..." project can be seen here.
Many of these actors are members of a theatrical union, but most are actors who devote hundreds of hours to prepare for their roles in dozens of performances a year. For most of them, it is an avocation. A few make their living in these roles. Certainly the crew for most performances are paid staff at the theater, but many of the directors are not. Most of the actors have been performing for years in roles that go back to their elementary school days before their classmates all the way up to feature films today. But, each of them loves the local theater, and Theater in the Round provides the oldest and most unique stage for them to stretch their talents.
My hope is to capture what it is like backstage preparing for these roles. I am really grateful to Steve Antenucci and Pat Moses at Theater in the Round for their help in paving the way for me to hang out at rehearsals and backstage during performances.
A video of the "Beyond the Arena..." project can be seen here.
Many of these actors are members of a theatrical union, but most are actors who devote hundreds of hours to prepare for their roles in dozens of performances a year. For most of them, it is an avocation. A few make their living in these roles. Certainly the crew for most performances are paid staff at the theater, but many of the directors are not. Most of the actors have been performing for years in roles that go back to their elementary school days before their classmates all the way up to feature films today. But, each of them loves the local theater, and Theater in the Round provides the oldest and most unique stage for them to stretch their talents.
My hope is to capture what it is like backstage preparing for these roles. I am really grateful to Steve Antenucci and Pat Moses at Theater in the Round for their help in paving the way for me to hang out at rehearsals and backstage during performances.
Actor Mary Kay Fortier-Spalding
Beyond the Arena Portfolio...
The following photographs represent "The Best Of..." all those made of the Beyond the Arena Project.
More backstage photos from each show follow this section.
More backstage photos from each show follow this section.