Working Backstage
Book Feature - Working Backstage: A Cultural History and Ethnography of Technical Theater Labor by Christin Essin
HBL Note: When I tell people I’m a fashion historian, the most common response I get is something to the effect of, “I didn’t know that was a thing.” I imagine Christin Essin, a theater historian, might get a similar response. I’ve loved the theater for as long as I can remember. I think my first introduction to a stage performance was The Nutcracker and my first broadway was Cats (don’t judge me, I really loved cats when I as a kid and what kid doesn’t love cats on roller skates?) I also have a cousin who made a career out of being a dancer on Broadway and I loved seeing him perform. All this to say, when I heard about Christin Essin’s book, WORKING BACKSTAGE, which put backstage workers in the spotlight for a change, I was eager to feature it. Scroll down to read more.
Book Feature - Working Backstage: A Cultural History and Ethnography of Technical Theater Labor by Christin Essin
Book Feature - Working Backstage: A Cultural History and Ethnography of Technical Theater Labor by Christin Essin
From the publisher:
Working Backstage illuminates the work of New York City’s theater technicians, shining a light on the essential contributions of unionized stagehands, carpenters, electricians, sound engineers, properties artisans, wardrobe crews, makeup artists, and child guardians. Too-often dismissed or misunderstood as mere functionaries, these technicians are deeply engaged in creative problem-solving and perform collaborative, intricate choreographed work that parallels the performances of actors, singers, and dancers onstage. Although their contributions have fueled the Broadway machine, their contributions have been left out of most theater histories.
Book Feature - Working Backstage: A Cultural History and Ethnography of Technical Theater Labor by Christin Essin
