Theater | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper: As the audience cheers during The Lion King's famous opening scene, where a breathtaking parade of actors in animal costumes march onto the stage of The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts to the music of Elton John’s “Circle of Life,” stagehand Pat Lohrer listens behind the scenes at stage right. He's making sure the applause continues by ensuring that the props are correctly placed and in working order, just like he’s done for over 15 years.
6 comments:
Wow this stagehand comes from quite the legacy of stagehands, and has been continuing that legacy his whole life. I was also surprised to read that he has been working with the Lion King tour for 16 years. That is a very long time to be on the road, and I cannot imagine how he is able to keep his family life in balance with is work – however it is cool that sometimes his work turns into “a family reunion of sorts” given the family business. I have thought a lot about being a stagehand on tour for some portion of my career journey and while I do revel in the idea of getting to travel all over and constantly be working in the adrenaline filled environment of live performance, I know that the concept of settling down is not one that necessarily aligns with this occupation. I don’t really know if “settling down” is something I want in my life, but it is reassuring to see that someone has managed to have both the job and the family.
What an inspiration Pat Lohrer is to stagehands and theatre technicians alike. It is so amazing to see that he has been with The Lion King Tour for so long. Even stranger since I saw the tour a few years back in San Francisco and will be seeing it again this coming Wednesday in Pittsburgh. I am sure most of the crew and cast has had some turnaround, but Pat is still kicking it! I can only wonder at how much of the show he has completely memorized. He must know where every single thing is on that stage at any given time. I love that he is back in town with where he started. I am sure it is nice for him!
I agree with Katie above. I too have wanted to go into touring but have some trepidations about the constantly moving and feeling like it may be too hard to settle. It is comforting though that some of the people I have met who tour have figured it out.
Wow. It’s amazing that Pat Lohrer has been on this show for 16 years. Lion King must be a complicated show props wise to work on because of all the puppets. Since different puppets are considered props, costumes, puppets, or a combination of all three the interdepartmental collaboration must be on point. I wonder how the show has changed since its tour 16 years ago, both onstage and behind the scenes. I wonder if the puppets are made differently or more durable now, as the show has been tour for 16 years. Also, how would these changes have effected Lohrer’s job. I would be curious to ask Lohrer if the job has changed over the past 16 years and how. I wish Lohrer all the best and I wonder how much longer Loher will be on the Lion King. Maybe he will come back to Pittsburgh and the Benedum again.
I love hearing about stage hand stories. Being a stagehand is such a classic my” great-great-great whatever was the first head carp and now I work here” and I love these stories. Stagehands in IATSE are such a tight knit group of people. Most of the time it is because they are literally family but also because they work so much together. It is so interesting to read the stories of people who have been apart of the show for a long time. Lion King is special in the world of theater as its been playing around the world since before I was even born. This gives people the opportunity to stay with the production for a while. I know one of the assistant stage managers have been doing it for 15 years. My favorite part of this is that the two brothers get to work with each other and how many people get to say they work with there brother!
This is truly incredible. Coming, myself, from a theatre family, it is truly so incredible to be able to have a full family behind you, who truly understands and unconditionally supports your work. To hear this incredible story of this amazingly successful legacy is so beautiful and so inspiring. This family must have the most intimate understanding of how theatre has evolved and changed over the years. To be able to have that complete knowledge behind you, motivating and inspiring your work and unbelievable. As much as we are intensely focused on the newest aspects of this world, it is so important for us to understand the intricate history of the work we make everyday. We have to keep talking to these people in order to learn and grow as a community. The past informs the future.
This was very heart warming. Personally, I am a first generation "theatre person" in my family. Growing up in the Caribbean, there wasn't much of a theatre industry, so I have had to learn almost everything in my young adult years. It must be incredible to have so many generational footsteps to follow in and look up to, career-wise. His family has been in the business since 1887! To me, that is wild, but also so amusing. To think of the theatrical periods alone that they have passed through is very cool. I also love the idea of being able to work with family. When I think of theatre, it is like a second family. You are with these people almost every day for long hours. So it must be nice to have some of those people be your brothers. That must be an interesting dynamic. Actual family within family...
-Apriah
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