For members of Loyola’s Evergreen Players theatre group, the magic of a final production begins long before the curtain rises. Students took a step into the rich history of professional theatre, and got a rare behind-the-scenes look at how productions come to life during their visit to the historic Hippodrome on Feb. 9. The Hippodrome Theatre was one of the first theaters in the United States to present Vaudeville and motion pictures.
Dr. Natka Bianchini, associate theatre professor at Loyola, organized the trip and explained the process of making this one-of-a-kind opportunity possible. As the Managing Director of the Iron Crow Theatre, Bianchini worked last year alongside President Ron Legler and Vice President Chris Mahan of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center to extend their production of “Rent” to the M&T Bank Exchange in the building.
“I really got to know the people that work there really well, and it was a very successful collaboration. I was in a meeting there last December and asked Chris Mahan if he would be open to hosting my students on a tour and he was like absolutely,” Bianchini said.
As they walked through the impressive venue, Evergreen Players got to witness large set pieces, huge dressing rooms, and bright and colorful lights that help create the perfect mood for each scene. Beyond just seeing the technical side, they also got a look into the building’s history. With special access to places where most people never get to see, they developed a deeper understanding of the hard work, careful planning, and logistics that go into bringing a professional production to life.
“This was a really cool and important trip for the Evergreen Players as it was the first trip of its kind to be taken. It was an amazing experience into the world of professional theatre, something that many of our club members hope to achieve someday,” Audrey Schlamp’25, president of the Evergreen Players said.
Alongside Bianchini, Schlamp played a huge part in organizing this trip. She explained that other than working on productions, as a board they try to create different events as a way of getting more students involved in the club.
“Planning this trip was definitely a group effort and we knew since last semester that we wanted to plan something cool and interesting for the club. Professor Bianchini was able to use her connections to get the club this awesome chance to hear about a professional theatre and all that goes into those productions,” Schlamp said.
For many members of the Evergreen Players, this was the first time they had ever been inside the Hippodrome. Students got to see the process of everything being set on stage, along with admiring the theater’s beautiful architecture.
“It was an incredible experience, and I had never been here before. We only saw a show being developed, not even the show itself, but the theatre architecture itself was inspiring,” Mac Ferrone ’25 said.
After the tour, members went to Sammy’s Trattoria for a family-style Italian meal, where they discussed their experiences and excitement following the day’s events. The group then headed to Everyman Theatre to see the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Primary Trust.” From stepping behind the scenes at one of Baltimore’s most historic theaters to experiencing a critically acclaimed production, the trip was a perfect example of how the Evergreen Players strive to engage with theater beyond Loyola.
