Backstage Pass at Civic Theatre: CityMoms Report
Please note: This post was first published in January 2019. The program remains available, though some details may have changed.
Ask any kid what they want to be when they grow up, and you'll likely hear a mix of vet, teacher, police officer, doctor, or athlete. Not me, though - I was determined to become a famous actress. Specifically, a stage actress.
I spent years studying theatre, mastering how to project my voice and learning the difference between “upstage” and “downstage.” It’s probably why public speaking doesn’t faze me, and why the mere thought of the lights rising on a stage still gives me a thrill.
While my dreams of Broadway stardom didn’t quite pan out, my love for live theatre (or is it theater? Let’s debate that later!) never faded. These days, what I enjoy even more is sparking that same passion for the performing arts in kids.
Enter a special hidden gem: The Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre Backstage Pass tour.
What is the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre Backstage Pass tour? This hidden gem of a program offers kids a behind-the-scenes look at Civic Theatre’s on- and off-stage operations. It also teaches proper theatre etiquette—AKA how to be the best kind of audience member.
On a recent Wednesday, our CityMoms and CityKids gathered in the Civic’s front lobby, excited for our exclusive group tour. The best part? The Backstage Pass Tour is open to any group—think scout troops, classrooms, homeschoolers, moms’ groups like theCityMoms, and more. If you’ve got a crew, Civic Theatre would love to host you.
We were first greeted by the lovely Ms. Holly, Civic’s Education Programs Director. She quickly set expectations with our youngest participants—hands to ourselves, voices off, ears on. She worked magic putting the tour’s content into kid-friendly terms they could understand and remember.
The first step in attending show is getting your ticket, right? Here, Ms. Holly explains what the Box Office does.
Then it was time for CityKids to get their tickets to the 'show.' Luckily Ms. Holly had pennies to share with everyone.
Our CityKids came loaded with questions:
Who was Booth Tarkington?
Why did he get a theatre named after him?
And wait—is there a dog hidden in his portrait?!
Then came one of the best parts: stepping inside the main theatre. There’s something about an empty auditorium that hushes even the chattiest little ones—it’s just that awe-inspiring.
Ms. Holly explained the basics, like how ticket letters represent the row and numbers indicate your seat. It was a great moment to see the kids connect the dots between their play tickets and the seating chart.
Everyone seated? Good.
Next, we met Mr. Marty, Civic Theatre’s Director of Music and Education. He introduced us to the six essentials of a play: actors, scenery, sound, lighting, costumes, and props. He also made us laugh—a lot.
After learning how to be good audience members, Mr. Marty gave us the green light to go on stage. Cue the excitement! We channeled our best Sutton Foster, took deep breaths, and made our way up the steps (parents placed strategically to prevent any accidental dives into the orchestra pit, of course).
Mr. Marty taught us the difference between stage directions - upstage, downstage, stage right, and stage left. Fun fact: stages used to slope downward toward the audience, so moving toward the front is called “downstage.” Who knew?
We were even more starstruck knowing the Civic’s production of Mary Poppins was currently running - our kids were standing on the very set where everyone's favorite nanny had just sung and danced!
One of our favorite photo ops? Mr. Marty showing the kids where the sound and lighting techs sit at the back of the house.
But theatre isn’t just what you see on stage. So Ms. Holly and Mr. Marty led us behind the curtain—literally—where we peeked at the backstage world: lighting rigs, prop tables, dressing rooms, set pieces, and more.
This may look like Greek to you, but it's an important piece of the puzzle - these levers and pulleys all move the various sets onstage.
CityKids were fascinated at the prop tables and amount of wigs needed for Mary Poppins, before heading into the dressing rooms where “all the magic happens” according to Ms. Holly.
Finally our tour was coming to a close, but Ms. Holly wasn't quite done with us yet. She pulled us into the Civic Theatre practice studio for an impromptu improv class!
Before we knew it, our hour with Civic Theatre had flown by. More than a few CityMoms left inspired to enroll their kids in the Jr. Civic program - including me!
If you’re looking for a fun, enriching activity for your group this season, we can’t recommend the Backstage Pass Tour enough. It’s truly a hidden gem.
