[The Duchess of Mint]

Dear Musicals.Net Posters,

Did you ever witness a backstage fight that was so awful that you've never been able to forget it? Did you ever start, become involved in, or try to stop, a backstage fight?

I once spoke to a girl who used to go to my high school (Please note that all of the names within this story have been changed in order to protect all persons who were involved with the fight). That girl's name was Mary. I was telling her about my involvement with the drama program, and, at one point during the conversation, I asked her about the history of the local high schools' drama programs.

Mary proceeded to tell me that my high school's OLD rival high school (the one which had burned down, years ago, one summer) had been the sight of the worst backstage fight that the community had ever seen.

Apparently, the Drama teacher, Mr. Telmah, had been informally, and indirctly accused of indecently harrassing two of his students (a 17-year-old girl named Sally, and her 17-year-old boyfriend named Joe); the kids had told some friends what had supposedly happened.

Joe and Sally lost the lead roles in the school play exactly one hour after they told their friends what Mr. Telmah had supposedly said to them, but their friends swore up and down that they hadn't breathed a word of the news to Mr. Telmah.

One week before the play was scheduled to open, the leading lady, a student named Kora, was institutionalized, and the leading man, a student named James, told Mr. Telmah off at lunchtime, swore off the leading role, and threatened to drop out of school if he was pursued about the role by Mr. Telmah.

Thus, Sally and Joe obtained the leading roles. On opening night, the play had just ended, and everybody seemed happy, when suddenly, Sally came running into the green room with a red face. She claimed that Joe had just forced himself upon her, in the wings, and that he had said that THAT was the only reason that he'd wanted to star with her in the first place.

Joe claimed that Sally had made the entire story up because she was majorly crushing on the teacher, and she suddenly admitted that that was true, but that she was REALLY upset because she was pregnant with Joe's child, and she didn't want to have the kid.

Someone screamed out that the kid was really Mr. Telmah's, and, knowing that that sick lie wasn't true, Sally attempted to deck the offending Drama student. A major fight broke out, with Sally throwing punches, objects, etc., and with Joe receiving multiple stomach wounds because he was trying to stop the fight.

When Mr. Telmah heard of the chaos, he rushed into the green room, only to be accosted by Sally herself, who was out to prove that she HATED him; she managed to kick him, and to break his nose.

There were sooo many suspensions, court dates, law suits, etc., after opening night, that the Drama department was nearly brought to its knees.

The Drama teacher moved to another district, and Sally went to Juvenile Hall, and the Drama program resumed...very cautiously.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[fjays]

what.. the.. hell?

this sounds like something off the bold and the beautiful.
did this really happen irl?

[Brock07]

That's why they're in the Drama department.

[AllThatJazzHands]

That is insane, Duchess. Whoa. It DOES sound something out of a soap opera.

[Nettik]

Whoa! There have been fights in the wings and backstage in the productions I've been in, but they've never been more than a single punch or push.

That's just downright INSANE.

[Salome]

you all know about mine.

[DaddyDiesel]

Well this is no where near as crazy as what youjust said. BUt when I was a sophmore in highschool. Ihave seen to altercations in my time. One I was involved in the other I wasnt. One of my best friends was a black guy name Brian. He was a rather big guy too. Anyway, a bunch of us were back stage at a dress rehearsal for a production of west side story. When I hear a light verbal fight starting. Anyway a crew member had picked a fight with bryan. OUr crew members in highschool were usually not very stable and were usually high.

So anyway I go attempt to break up the verbal fight that started to get physical. As I broke it up I told the crew member to leave. (which I really didnt have the power to do but he was causing a ruckus with one of my friends.) Thats when he said "What ever your just supporting your dum,b N**ger friend." That pissed me off quite a bit. before Brian had a chance, I grabbed the crew member and physically removed him from backstage where I accidently threw him onto than over the painting table. Accidnetly, meaning I pushed him into the scene shop and didnt notice the table. Then turned to hold back my veryy emotional upset friend. Anywho thats when our director had showed up. Thats when he walked Me and the crew member outside to talk to us. When i told him what had happened. The crew member was sent to the dean and suspended for racial slander. I ended up getting detention but never ended up going to it. Since the dean knew I wasnt a trouble maker and the director I am sure vouched for me I was never kicked out of the show.

the second one happened between two girls. It was a community theatre show of B&TB. Anyway backstage before warmups to girls started fighting. Apprently our babbette was sleeping with a silly girl's boyfriend, who happen to be the director. Anyway the silly girl found out and showed up at the theatre in a rage and started to get a little physical with babbette. It was quickley broken up and we were able to get through the rest of the run. We used to joke about babbette being type cast.

[LaurelDP]

I stabbed a bitch during Oklahoma.

[Brock07]

[LittleRedLovesTheater]

I've had guys take off their heels & throw them at random techies before. But mostly the fights at my school are verbal lol.

[Salome]

[Patrick]

[DaddyDiesel]

[EponineMNFF]

[MusicalGal1194]

[Luc]

During The Sound of Music, one of the soldiers threw a phonebook at one of the nun's face. Her nose was broken and had to leave the show a week early (which was kind of silly, because we had already done 40 performances... what's another 10? )

[NoOneMournsTheWicked]

I've never seen a physical fight backstage, but I have gotten into bitch fights with other cast members.

During West Side Story I came into the dressing room to find all of my white costumes on the floor, with other people's stuff on my chair, even though I had clearly marked off my area (as is custom in my school). So, me and some ensemble girls had a little talk which ended with all of us screeching like harpies until my director came to break it up.

[Trevor reincarnate]

I've never seen or heard any fights backstage.

I guess I just work with professional people who don't bring their shit to the theatre.