Backstage at Tecumseh!

Over The Back Fence Magazine | Summer 2002

The roar of cannon fire thumps the earth summoning the ghosts of history to the present with war cries, tom­ahawks, knives and thundering horses. Like a vivid painting the panorama of time is backdropped against the lush green hills and twilight of Chillicothe where the past catches up with the present.

Tecumseh!, a living drama of the 1800s, envelopes its audience in a three-dimensional motion of time, cap­tivated by war, romance and music.

Tecumseh! was brought to life through the writings of Allan W. Eckert (nominated six times for a Pulitzer Prize) and the intensive efforts of the Scioto Society, Inc.   With over 28 years of performances and now the third largest outdoor drama in the nation, Tecumseh! is shown at Sugarloaf Mountain located in Ross County, Ohio.    Nearly two million people have witnessed the majestic outdoor drama with visitors from 100 different coun­tries, Tecumseh! has become a landmark with its elaborate $2 million amphithe­ater.

Far in advance of each season, an intensive search for talent across thecountry begins.   "Finding the people to do this job-the talent that can work in an outdoor venue and can take the physical demands of this drama is the hard part. This is like theater boot camp.  That's exactly what it's like," smiles Marion Waggoner, Director/ Production Stage Manager. "It's 14 hours a day for the actors and 16 to 18 hours a day for the production heads for two weeks, five days a week."

"We travel all over the country, scouting talent and see roughly 3,000 actors for a season each year.  We then interview maybe 600 to 700 of those on call back and then narrow it to the final cast."

college students in theatrical training, but some are long time veterans of twenty plus years in the production. Each actor / actress fills several stage roles (some up to four characters) with­in the drama. Their duties range from back stage tour guides, stunt coordina­tors, grounds keepers, pyro-technicians, to lighting and sound technicians.

"The actors have about two and a half weeks of very intensive rehearsals, right up until the first show is per­formed," states Joe Murray, Marketing Director. " With producer, director, lighting, staff, box office, parking and everyone involved, there are about 105 people that make this drama come to life."

The spirit of the drama is achieved through hours of practiced fights, stunts and props.  Each section of the stage is filled with small fighting spaces that when choreographed together gives the intense movement of war and pas­sion.   A rich landscape of time, complete with live horses, over fifty firearms and high-banked cannons that yield black powder smoke and the intense noise set the stage.

"There are basically nine cannon shots total and six mortars that we use as more cannon fire back in the woods to give the feel and sound of war," says Raymond Speakman, Pyrotechnical director/coordinator.   "From the start I explain to the actors that these are real weapons. They could hurt someone; they are shooting blanks but they are still dangerous.   Most of these actors have never handled a weapon.   So train­ing is really important."

A small shed houses the armament not far from the backdrop of stone fac­ings. With quick ease he demonstrates the long rifle and continues,   "My assis­tant and I are basically in the shop from 10 am to sometimes 4 pm preparing for just one show. We make 260 shotgun shells-that's taking out the old primers and putting in new ones and loading with black 3F powder."

Explosives nearly the equivalent of a quarter stick of dynamite are prepared and placed beneath the pond surface and in specific locations of the stage for the intense battles.   The explosives are triggered by wire from the tall crow's nest tower that controls sound and lighting.

"We have to train actors about how far they can stand away from the explo­sives and be safe at all times."   With some 19 years with Tecumseh, Speakman has developed a knowledge of safety that is needed for working with such explosives and cannons.

Within just two short weeks actors are trained in stunts, weaponry, and horse back riding. "Some of these actors have never ridden a horse. You can imagine how difficult bareback riding would be in just two weeks," Joe Murray smiles.   "We have eleven horses that we own and they have been accli­mated to guns and cannon fire.  When you think of it, lines, weapons, and horses — I honestly don't know how the actors accomplish so much in such a short period of time— between their different character roles, cleaning their own weapons, horses, all the stage cues that take place in the show and not to mention the changes."

As twilight deepens with a setting sun, music swells while a hush falls over the audience. Time begins to unfold with a syn­chronization of a well-mas­tered plan that lies beyond the stone facings hiding a regi­ment of people who combine their efforts to create this world-class drama. Technical skills, training and some of the best actors in the U.S. breathe life into history, as the annual drama is preformed, June through September.

Realistic stone cliffs are lighted dramatically in the night to frame the glimmer of a small cattail pond where explosives are set.  Beyond the structure lies bare concrete block that hides actors, horses, props, dressing rooms and boats.  One structure bears a slanted roof constructed so that hidden actors may quickly take their cue. The block structures are flanked with bare metal stairs.   As the light shifts to one side of the stage, actors almost magically appear in the darkness or leave without being viewed by the audience.

Realistic blood is made from liquid soap, coloring and peanut butter for thickening so it is easily washed off yet sends visual chills to the audience. Hidden cushioned landing platforms, costumed storage with headdresses, uni­ forms, battleaxes, bridles and numbered racks of firearms; these are but a few of the hidden secrets behind the stone backdrop.

These scenes behind Tecumseh! are revealed through back stage tours given daily throughout the season.

"Tecumseh! is bigger than life, it has to be with the level of scale that this outdoor drama is." states Robb Smith, who holds the lead as Tecumseh.   "We are painting a mural of time with huge brush strokes and reliving lives of real people."

When one buys a ticket at the box office it is not just a mere slip of paper but your magical pass that is backed by literally months of preparation and intense study that make the drama of Tecumseh.   It becomes a living key to our history.

For ticket information on performances and back stage tours one can call:  Toll Free (866) 775-0700 or Local (740) 775-0700 or write TECUMSEH!, Attention: Reservations, P.O. Box 73,Chillicothe, OH 45601-0073.  Or check the website at: www.tecumsehdrama.com.   For in depth reading, look for Alien Eckert's Frontiersman on which the Tecumseh drama is based.