“Alarm”ing interruption halts local theater production
Photo credit: Four Seasons Theater Company
Thursday was an unfulfilling evening for theater-goers at Sky View High School when the Four Seasons Theater Company’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” took an early exit because of a fire alarm. The alarm cut short the show’s first act during the song “Gaston.”
But this isn’t the first time an alarm has interrupted a Four Seasons’ show.
“It happens at least once a year,” said John Rash, one of the founding members of the Four Seasons. “We’re getting used to it, but this is the first time we’ve had to cancel a show.”
Ben Phillips, who played Gaston, said his first thought when he heard the alarm was how to get the production behind curtain while in character.
“There was a little moment of panic, but I think everyone did a great job,” he said.
According to firemen on the scene the alarm was triggered in the vocational building by causes still unknown. It was then turned off and patrons returned to their seats. The sensor was triggered again and patrons were eventually sent home. Rash told audience members they would be able to redeem their tickets for another showing.
“We’re going to exchange tickets back for Friday or Saturday,” Rash said.
Another member of the Four Seasons board, Brady Turner said the alarm tripped because the school is old and the fire alarm system doesn’t communicate well.
“It was just such an old school and they’ve added on so many sections,” Turner said. “Every time they reset the system it goes off again.”
Turner also mentioned the past issues at Sky View.
“The other thing that’s frustrating is that it happens in every show,” he said. “It happened in ‘Mary Poppins’ and it happened in ‘Christmas Carol’ numerous times. I don’t know what they can do.”
Sky View Assistant Principal Shane Jones said the problem has to do with the variety of alarms present throughout the buildings.
“We definitely have our share of fire alarms,” he said. “We have a few different types of alarms and there could be a bunch of different things that could set them off.”
“One year there was a Chamber of Commerce dinner in the other part of this room and they were cooking,” Rash said. “One year it was our fault because we were roasting almonds as part of concessions. But usually it’s just a false alarm.”
Phillips had his own theory of why the sensor was triggered this year.
“I think just my presence on stage elevated the temperature just a little too much,” he said.
The alarm was stopped around ten thirty p.m., after two hours of running.