Opening the Pit!

We opened the cover on the orchestra pit today. Since the hydraulic elevator designed for this pit has not been installed yet, the temporary aluminum legs and wooden lid have to be disassembled when we do musicals. Here, two maintenance workers remove the individual panels that make up the decking. (All photos will enlarge when clicked).


After the aluminum legs have been taken down, we have to add wooden platforming to raise the orchestra up two feet. If we had the hydraulic lift, this could be done at the touch of a button, of course.


Next we attach the safety netting to the apron of the stage. It clips onto a series of heavy-duty eye bolts that are anchored into the cement lip of the stage.


The safety netting was custom fit to the shape of our pit opening. Here, my Stagecraft class pulls the net so that it reaches the steel railings on the audience side of the pit.


These special straps secure the net to the railings.


And finally, our parent volunteer, Kevin Pusch, falls into the orchestra pit to test the safety netting. DO NOT TRY THIS. This is not "Tumblebees" kiddie gym!