Tonight, when the show Quilt: A Musical Celebration opens at Schwab Auditorium, it will be breaking new ground — technically.

For the first time the stage crew of the show will be able to "fly" above the stage. Above the opening of the auditorium's proscenium, there is only two to three feet of open space and the auditorium itself was not built for this type of rigging.

Darren Felazzo, the technical director for the show, figured out how to rig the 22-foot scrim into the fly-space.

"We had to get a 22-foot drop fit up there somehow in the fly-space, so it took a lot of engineering and ingenuity," said Felazzo.

As far as the technical crew knows, this was the first time any type of rigging of this size was developed. Along with the brand new rigging in the fly-space, the members of the show decided to relocate the orchestra.

Instead of having the orchestra positioned in front of the stage, as usual, the director, Sarah Keegan, opted to have the orchestra backstage so the cast is able to watch the conductor through two television monitors set up in front of the stage.

"For the show it works out better to put them (the orchestra) backstage, and we (the actors) work off the monitor system," said Keegan.

She felt that it would be easier for the cast and crew to deal with some of the blocking, if the orchestra were put in the back. These technical efforts are proving to be quite beneficial to the cast and crew, and help to move along the plot of the musical more efficiently.

The show follows the stories of several people who have been affected by the AIDS virus in some way or another. However, it focuses around the story of one man in particular, Wes, played by Jack Perry.

Wes is the head-volunteer at the Gay and Lesbian Center and is helping people to construct their quilt panels for the NAMES Project. His lover, Phillip, has recently died and he uses this program as an excuse to get out of the house and away from the pain of his loss.

Perry knew immediately that this was a project he wanted to get involved with and be a part of.

"I wanted to do it because I thought it would really be meaningful. It was a great opportunity and a wonderful show to work on." Perry added, "I think for whoever is going to come and see it is really gonna be a confirmation of AIDS is here and here to stay."