Cast of ‘Matilda the Musical’ rehearsing for the big show. Courtesy/Elisa Enriquez
By ELISA ENRIQUEZ
LALO
What is the Los Alamos Light Opera?
Imagine post World War 2 Los Alamos, a “town” where many residents had grown up in cities where opera, concerts, plays and music lessons were taken for granted.
Theater lovers got together, and by the end of 1943, Los Alamos Little Theatre (LALT) and Los Alamos Light Opera (LALO) were born.
LALO produced its first show, “HMS Pinafore” in 1948. While the focus was originally on Gilbert and Sullivan, the organization began producing musicals within the first five years.
What does it take to put on a musical?
Like many 503(c) performing arts organizations, LALO requires many hours of volunteer work and other generous financial support.
Everyone involved is a volunteer, including the director, music director, orchestra, and cast. Other volunteers include a stage manager, production team and stage crew.
Set-design and set-building teams are a pivotal part of the process, as are make-up artists, hair stylists, light/sound designers, costume designer/coordinator, prop designer/coordinator, and publicity coordinator, to name a few.
When it’s all said and done, a large-scale musical production will require well over 100 people, many volunteering more than 100 hours each, depending on their role on or off the stage.
How much does it cost to make the magic happen?
When producing a musical of this size, the costs include performance rights, rehearsal and performance space rental, theater staff, costumes, set materials, publicity, makeup, props and other incidentals.
Costs typically run between $14,000 and $20,000, and ticket proceeds from the prior show are used to pay for the next production.
This brings us to the final volunteers needed for the success of any production: an audience.
LALO hopes to fill the Duane Smith Auditorium and encourages the entire community to see “Matilda, The Musical” at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays — Feb. 3, 4, 10 and 11 — and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5.
Tickets are available at Matilda Tickets at Eventbrite, Village Arts at 216 DP Road or at the door.
Cast of ‘Matilda the Musical’ rehearsing for the big show. Courtesy/Elisa Enriquez
A crew member from ‘Matilda the Musical’ works on a set piece for the upcoming show. Courtesy/Elisa Enriquez
Crew members from ‘Matilda the Musical’ working on set pieces for the upcoming show. Courtesy/Elisa Enriquez
Crew members from ‘Matilda the Musical’ working on a set piece for the upcoming show. Courtesy/Elisa Enriquez
Cast of ‘Matilda the Musical’ rehearsing for the big show. Courtesy/Elisa Enriquez
Cast of ‘Matilda the Musical’ rehearsing for the big show. Courtesy/Elisa Enriquez