Press Club Forum: Picnic at The Muny,
Wed.,
June 25 at 11:30 a.m.
Two of the Press Club's summer scholarship winners, Georgios Nikolaidis of Principia College (left) and Amanda King of Webster University (right), are recognized by Press Club President Alice S. Handelman at the June 25th forum held at the Muny.
Press Club member Bob Hille shares a humorous Muny anecdote from 1973 about a production involving a horse who "did his business" on the stage, which forced the dancers and cast to perform around it until the next break.
Denny Reagan, CEO of Muny Opera, gives background information on the Muny to the forum audience of nearly 60 members and guest. . He suggests most St. Louisans know someone who has worked at the Muny at some point and are unaware of how the Muny enriches the community.
While conducting a backstage tour, Reagan explains that all the sets begin with a small rough sketch, which is is then transferred to a much bigger size and onto the boons to be used on stage.
All the painting and sets are done by artists who are standing upright on the boons according to Reagan and for things such as leaves, they have stamps that they use over and over again.
Reagan explains that trees in the stage cannot always be kept. A tree which kept rubbing against a boon and had a failing root system was made into the board room table.