The lights in the theater were dim, and props and paperwork were scatter among the rows of the auditorium.

I was greeted just inside the theater by Dave Dufour, executive director of the Elkhart (Indiana) Civic Theatre in Bristol, Indiana. I greeted him with a “Hello!,” which bounced off the walls of the intimate venue. I became instantly aware of how loud a hushed whisper must be.

John Shoup, artistic and technical director for the theater, appeared from backstage on cue.

The three of us gathered among the seats to chat about technology, superstition and what it means to be a part of a community theater.

DITCH THE LITTLE SCREEN AT THE BIG STAGE

In the age of the smartphone, it’s not easy to compete for people’s attention. But Shoup and Dufour aren’t worried.

“They’re really not bad, I don’t think. Once in awhile somebody forgets [to silence their phone],” Dufour said. “We have announcements that John and/or I do up on the front of the stage and tell people to turn off your cell phones. And most people know that you should do that.”

Surprisingly, Dufour and Shoup say that people checking email, the Cubs score or getting calls aren’t their biggest issue with smartphones. It’s people illegally taking photos or videos.

“They’ll just sit here like this the whole show,” Dufour said, flipping his hands up into a mock rectangle just above the seat back in front of him. “You really can’t do it.”

Shoup, who has been volunteering and working with the ECT since 1984, explained that it’s prohibited by law to record a show unless you have the specific rights to film the event.

“Our booth can actually see that. You can see the lights,” Shoup added. “They [the folks in the booth] tell the house manager over the headset, and the house manager will come down and take the camera until the end of the show.”

While technology is a big challenge facing theaters today, it has its benefits to the theater, too. Dufour shed some light on some subtle, and not so subtle, changes.

“We’re moving towards LED light, which is more energy efficient, but one light can be any color you want it to be, and that gives us some interesting flexibility” he said.

In an artistic medium like theater, that’s huge.

Advancements in audio are a no-brainer, especially as advanced technology becomes more reasonably priced.

“We’ve gone through cassette tapes, to CDs — we were reel-to-reel before that — we’re doing SD cards for some of this, and now we can do it on an iPad,” Dufour continued. “It seems like the ultimate solution, but something else will come along, I’m sure.”

Despite the changes and improvements to audio tech, Dufour favors a more traditional approach.

“Most of our shows are still live orchestras when they’re musicals,” he said.

For him, the live aspect of an orchestra and stage performance can’t be beat when compared to television or a movie theater, because you’re allowed to be in the middle of the action.

“I hope that doesn’t change a lot,” he added.

SAY G’NIGHT, GHOSTS

We’ve all probably been told to “break a leg,” but as far as luck goes, it’s pretty poor.

The Elkhart Civic Theatre has a much happier good luck charm.

“When we do what’s called a box set, so if it looks like you’re looking at the interior of a living room or something, almost always we have a Buddha that goes on the set. And if it doesn’t fit the motif of the show, we’ll stick it under a platform, or we’ll stick inside a cabinet or something like that,” Shoup said.

Just remember, no photos when you spot the statue during a game of “Where’s Buddha?”.

Not all traditions and superstitions are about good luck, though. Some are about preventing bad luck.

“At the end of every evening if there’s somebody here, or even at the end of the day, when you walk out the door, the last person out the door turns around and says ‘goodnight, ghosts,’ ” Shoup said, followed by a smile. “Because if you don’t say goodnight to them, there are a couple of them that like to follow you home. If you believe in ghosts.”

Shoup’s impish smile made me a believer.

The longest standing, and arguably the tradition that binds the cast and crew the most, is one that’s literally behind the scenes.

The duo invited me onstage, and when Shoup lifted a backdrop he exclaimed, “Oh! How could I forget?”

I peered around the curtains to see slatted, wooden walls covered in signatures. Fat, black strokes take up large sections in some areas (complete with red hearts), while other areas have tiny scribbles (bathed in blue light from the stage) from people desperately trying to find space to make their mark.

Decades upon decades of names formed a bond backstage, and the audiences never knew.

PART OF THE COMMUNITY

The challenge that Dufour and Shoup said they face is the exhaustive amount of competition there is for the attention for audiences: other venues, other activities, technology.

“There’s so many things for people to do,” said Dufour. “They [other activities] come and go. We’ve been here [The Bristol Opera House] for 55 years, and we’ve been around for better than 75.”

In a world dominated by 20 second attention spans focused on tiny screens, that means something.

“It’s a busier life than it used to be,” added Shoup. “So community theaters have to find their niche inside that.”

Dufour said that getting new people interested in theater can sometimes be tough, too.

He explained that it’s a disconnect for people of all ages. He teaches at IU South Bend and has met students that have never been to a play, and he says he’s met adults who see a stigma around theater as being something snooty.

“People who aren’t used to theater are somewhat hesitant about it, I think. Until they see a show,” said Dufour. “Then they know.”

On the technical side, Shoup said he’s met with difficulty in recruiting volunteers to help.

A gap has formed where folks who were once active in theater in high school or college stop participating, according to Shoup.

Dufour added that if people are interested in theater, or want to get started in theater, all they have to do is start showing up.

“If you show any kind of enthusiasm at all, you’ll be noticed,” he said. “You might get a little tiny role, but you get to be part of the group… People find a home here.”

There are many roles at a community theater, and Shoup believes it’s important to “say yes” no matter what the role is that you’re offered, from usher to backstage to lead.

“The more you say yes, the more you find out what community theater is about. Which is a group of people coming together to create a special event, a special live event, that touches people in a completely different way than a movie or television show could ever do.”

For folks who are worried about getting stage fright, Dufour has some advice.

“Just get up there and do it anyway. Because that’s the only way you’re going to get past whatever it is that’s bothering you. Because you’re going to find out that the worst that can happen, is probably nothing.”