The Man Behind the Curtain
John Gaddis Creates scenery that brings the theater to life
By Brian Robin
Read more profiles of California Masons here.
The magic of the theater is in the way it can transport you to another place. At least that’s what John Gaddis IV tries to make happen.
As interim technical director of South Coast Repertory Theater in Costa Mesa, one of the largest regional theater companies in the country, Gaddis is responsible for building the sets and scenery that bring its stage productions to life. Those creations run the gamut. A New York City apartment, a desert hovel in ancient Judea, a skid row nursery home to a man-eating plant—these are just some of the worlds Gaddis and his crew have conjured over 350 productions.
“We take those designs and make it work,” he says. In other words, Gaddis sits at the intersection of the imagination of a set designer and the physical world of wood, screws, saws, and paint.
His work begins by procuring materials and ensuring that the construction is structurally sound, comes in on budget, and is completed on time. In addition, he and his crew build sets for other events at the theater, including gala dinners, youth productions, and more. During a show’s tech week, which comes just before previews, he’s on hand to troubleshoot technical issues, especially when automation is involved. “It’s challenging,” says Gaddis, who has worked there since 1987. “Every show is different in terms of what they want it to look like or what’s required to make it happen.”
As a two-time master of Long Beach № 327 and that lodge’s secretary since 2006, Gaddis has put his theaterworld skills to use plenty inside his lodge. He was responsible for building a projection screen that can roll in and out of the lodge for lectures and presentations. He built the lodge’s booth for a display at the Orange County Fair, installed security cameras around the lodge, and serves as an all-purpose Mr. Fix-It whenever the need for repairs pops up.
Perhaps that’s to be expected; the lodge is practically in his blood. Gaddis’s great-grandfather was a Freemason in Illinois, and both his grandfather and father were members of Long Beach № 327. Gaddis’s younger brother, Bryant, is a member of that lodge, too. John Gaddis III, their father, served as master in 1994; Bryant was master in 1995 and John IV the next year.
Although his professional work in the theater is decidedly behind-the-scenes, Gaddis says that when it comes to the Masonic degree, he’s comfortable taking center stage. “Being around the theater has certainly helped me do my Masonic degree work,” he says. “It rubs off on you.”
As far as other parallels between his professional and fraternal interests, he says that both are truly crafts. “The craftsman part is related to Masonry,” he says. And in both cases, he says, the key is knowing the tools of your trade.
Photo by
Mathew Scott
