I’ve been in love with live theatre since I can remember. No, really—I think I was six when I saw my first stage production and it was “La Bohème.” You know, Puccini’s opera about a poor seamstress and her bohemian friends set in Paris in the early 1800’s? No? Doesn’t ring a bell? Maybe you’ve seen the musical “Rent?” Or perhaps you’ve scored tickets for the upcoming Broadway production of “Moulin Rouge!” inspired by the film of the same name. Guess what? All three are based on “La Bohème.” That Puccini dude sure did get around.

I can’t remember what I had for breakfast this morning, but I’ll never forget the lights dimming at the Triple Cities Opera Company’s matinee that glorious afternoon in Binghamton, NY, circa 1960. A hush fell over the crowd as the first musical notes washed over us and the curtain majestically rose. Although the opera takes place in France, it’s written entirely in Italian, and at that tender age I was still grasping the English language.  Still, the audience somehow understood everything that was taking place in the small Parisian café. It was brought to life on stage, where Mimi and Rudolfo were singing their hearts out, over the course of four acts. The magic of the theatre cast its spell over me at that moment, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

 A good part of that magic takes place behind the curtain in the days, weeks and months before it goes up. Designers, electricians, costumers, musicians, directors, choreographers and stage hands ply their craft. They are the unsung heroes of the theatre. If the planets align, the stage is lit, the actors are dressed and the set recreates Paris, or a living room, or even a wonderland under the sea. It’s all part of the mystical experience of live theatre, and none of it would be possible without the sum of its parts.

In the wake of COVID-19, people are starved for entertainment, and fortunately there’s something for everyone on both sides of the beautiful Delaware River. Aside from the charming Ritz Playhouse, Pennsylvania’s Wayne County boasts the Cooperage Project, Harmony Presents and something I’ve not experienced—the Kathy Jenkins Performing Arts Center in Honesdale—along with a few more hidden gems.

In addition, Sullivan County is home to Big Sky Productions, the brand new River Rep Arts Center, the Delaware Valley Opera, (can you say “La Bohème?”) the Tusten Theatre, the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop and my “home away from home”—the Forestburgh Playhouse (FBP).

I was at the FBP last week and caught a show I’ve never heard of, “Fully Committed.” It’s a one-man tour de force starring the incredibly talented Phillip Taratula as Sam, the overworked, underpaid “man behind the curtain” of a schmancy restaurant in Manhattan, one where everyone wants the “best table.” It’s Sam’s job to keep out the riff-raff, make sure the A-list celebrities are coddled, the B-listers don’t get a reservation and the chef doesn’t spin out of control. Sam does this by manning a variety of phones, which constantly ring, beep, and jangle throughout the 70 minutes of hilarity that left me breathless from laughing more than I have in years.

But it was the great basement set (Jacob Brown),  the lighting (Ethan Steimel), and the fantastic sound design (extra-special thanks to TJ O’Leary) that impressed me above all else last Thursday. I listened intently to not only the dialogue—Taratula hilariously portrays more than 30 characters at breakneck speed—but also the production stage manager, Caroline Jackson, in the booth behind the scenes, who (in my humble opinion) was the star of the show.

The stage manager is responsible for making sure that all of those working parts go off without a hitch, and in the case of “Fully Committed,” there are literally hundreds of cues that Jackson was responsible for. The show relies heavily on Sam’s ability to juggle multiple phone calls during the dizzying, frenetic action and without Jackson being at the top of her game… well, it simply would not have worked.

But she was, and it did, and I’m still impressed by it all. In addition, this production was a veritable playground for properties designer Lorelei Davis, who clearly had a field day “dressing” (it’s a theatrical term) the basement set. It looked realistically filthy, and upon closer inspection was riddled with details that we, the audience, are either delighted by, or don’t even notice, since it’s all done so darn well.

There are others, of course. Behind that curtain are stagehands, assistants to the various designers (Oscar Escobedo), directors (Jessica Barkl) and folks like costume shop manager Camille Lerner, all of whom had a hand in the overall success of this particular show. Unsung heroes, each and every one.

So the next time you attend a show at one of the many fantastic venues in the region, make sure to read the program. If you aren’t aware of how the unsung heroes have played a part, then they have done their jobs well. Bravo!

For a comprehensive list of theatres on both sides of the river, visit  www.sullivancatskills.com and www.visitwayecounty.com.