Written by Ben Cox – As the Brownwood Lyric Theatre readies itself for the upcoming production of Crimes of the Heart, there is a crew hard at work that you won’t see, but their efforts are very visible to theater-goers.
Randy Harkey, Jimmy Henry, and Craig Blanton are the volunteers in charge of set construction. They work tirelessly to turn an empty stage into a believable environment for actors to inhabit during performances.
Randy Harkey measures for a counter top for the Crimes of The Heart set
The crew is headed by Larry Mathis, who also directs plays for the theatre. Mathis says these men “are invaluable, and are truly the magic that helps this place come to life” for the run of a show.
While tasked with creating an entire working kitchen as the set for the current production, the crew must overcome random obstacles that change from show to show. This particular set for Crimes of the Heart requires running water, and there is no existing plumbing onstage.
Jimmy Henry moves a flat while looking for pieces that can be used for the new set
Unique challenges like that are what keeps Jimmy Henry interested in working as a set builder. Henry, whose wife Kris has become the go-to stage manager for recent shows, is a retired special education teacher for Brownwood ISD.
He says the crew works so well together, they have begun thinking alike.
“We were setting up (for Crimes of The Heart) and I said to Larry (Mathis) that I thought an archway would look real good (in a certain part of the stage). About 10 minutes later Randy walks in and says ‘I think we should put an archway right there’ in the exact same spot!”
Harkey and Blanton work in the theaters shop
Craig Blanton is the newest member of the trio, having begun after his wife volunteered him to help. Holli Blanton, who has been onstage in several Lyric productions, told Larry Mathis “if you need any help my husband’s available,” while watching a performance last year.
Randy Harkey, whose wife Suzi was last seen in A Few Good Men, has a background in construction trades and also spent over a decade teaching them. Safety and believability are two of Harkey’s main goals when working on a set.
“Even though a lot of what we do is smoke and mirrors, it’s done well. We don’t want to put anybody in jeopardy, and we want to make it look as real as possible.”
Left to right: Jimmy Henry, Randy Harkey, Craig Blanton
While it is not a requirement to have a spouse involved with the theatre, it apparently doesn’t hurt. The group is looking for more help. A willingness to learn and collaborate with the group is the only ability required.
Those interested in helping with sets and construction can contact the Lyric via their website.
