A Keg In Time

At Aviano AB, Italy Production Stage Manager Troy Dent devises a unique way to support his actors

Upon arriving at the theatre at Aviano Air Base in Italy during the 1997 World Tour, it was discovered that the stage was too shallow to allow room for our rear screen projection system.  This happens occasionally and the usual remedy is to extend the stage with risers.   Unfortunately, the risers on hand at Aviano were only 12" high, while the edge of the stage was nearly four feet high. 

There simply wasn't enough time to build risers, so Production Stage Manager Troy Dent started scouring the base for anything that might provide the needed height while at the same time provide a sturdy and safe support for the actors, who among other things had to perform a rousing jitterbug on the extensions.

Every item he found was either too tall, too short or too flimsy.  He was momentarily stumped.   He knew that if he couldn't solve this problem he would have no alternative but to pull the show.  During the entire history of Letters From the Front, this had only been done once - at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio during the 94 Tour when a blizzard closed the base. 

Suddenly the answer was obvious.  Being a former Marine, Troy knew that there was one item always in abundant supply at any military base and it more than passed the sturdiness test.   But was it the right height?  Troy measured one and found it to be precisely the height needed to position the risers so that they would be even with the edge of the stage.

That night the show did go on - atop two dozen strategically placed empty beer kegs.