Strike

Strike was fast and furious. It took two days for Up The Hill to close completely for the season. Two Gents was the last show to close (all other sets and props had already been struck, we did a progressive strike which was something new to everyone). The scene shop, which consisted of a two man team of Nate and Bill, they struck scenic units that still needed to be struck or put into storage at Titus (the storage piles, just covered scenic units on a hill just around the bend from the stage). The seats were covered by the grounds crew for the winter with plywood and tarps to prevent severe weather damage.

The first day the PA's were put with lighting crew as it was one of the larger tasks to be accomplished as scheduling prevented and lack of storage space made it hard to strike specific lighting instruments after shows. While some of us went up the main lighting towers we had ground crew (in this instance me and two others) to catch and run lights back to the clubhouse for winter storage. We had to sort the lights by type and take out gel (not reused as it had been subject to the elements for so long, it is donated however to other theatre around Spring Green). When this was accomplished it was time for lunch. After lunch I got a chance to climb the permanent structure and strike the lights and cable there. Eliot our ME said it was the fastest strike he'd ever done there because he had us all climb because he trusted us with the equipment, again changes to the normal strike system they had before.

The second day we helped Bill and Nate take tools down to the shop and board up and take down changeover doors. This happened quickly and we didn't take a break until it was done. We had to sort out all the hardware that was recovered from the set that were struck as well as salvage what else we could. This was the majority of the day.

It doesn't sound like a lot to do but it was mostly tedious work that needs to be done as well as a fair dose of heavy lifting. It was also nice to spend some time winding down with the people I'd really been working the closest with too, the rest of the PA's. There's no better way to go out than a good strike.