Props to the Crew

What does a milliner or a fly operator have to do with your theater experience? Well, someone has to design the hats the actors wear, and scenery doesn’t move itself. It’s not an understatement to say it takes a village for Pioneer Theatre Company (PTC) to put on a performance.

As a fully professional theater—one of only two in Utah—PTC plans and executes every aspect of production using the skills of technical directors, prop artists, electricians, wardrobe managers, stitchers, sound operators, and more—all masters of their trades.

And make no mistake, these artists are just as talented as the ones we see on stage. “You’ll find directors, designers, and actors who might be working on Broadway one year and at theaters like PTC the next,” says Karen Azenberg, artistic director. “They’re at the top of their game.”

A walk through their workspace is like a journey through time. You might see a wig mistress coiffing a Medieval hairstyle, a carpenter reupholstering Victorian furniture, or a tailor hemming a pair of ’60s bell-bottoms. Every detail you see on stage is well-thought-out, down to the consistency of stage blood and the weathering of the shoes.

Moving forward after the most unconventional season in its 59-year history, PTC welcomes back audiences and its professional crew for the 2021-22 season. “We’re calling this season ‘A Ticket to Feel... Good!’ ” says Azenberg—a sentiment we can all get behind.