State probes injury at theater in W.V.

The Utah Occupational Safety and Health Division (UOSH) is investigating the accident at Hale Centre Theater this week in which a stagehand nearly had his ear severed.

Will Phillips, a 32-year-old stagehand and performer at Hale, is recuperating at University Hospital following an accident Tuesday night during a performance of the pop-rock musical "Aida."

According to Mark Dietlein, the theater company's president and CEO, Phillips had placed a large costume on the theater's massive revolving center stage, which raises and lowers many times during the production — not only to create scenic effects, but also to transport props from the basement to the stage.

"Phillips thought something on the costume needed to be adjusted, but the lift was already in motion," Dietlein said.

West Valley Fire Capt. Bob Fitzgerald said Phillips suffered head and chest trauma, but his head was never pinned by the stage. The stage, however, did hit the side of his face.

Phillips' ear was partially severed when paramedics arrived, and he may have suffered a broken jaw, Fitzgerald said.

Emergency crews were called about 8:45 p.m., Fitzgerald said. He did not know how fast the stage was moving when it hit Phillips, who was later flown by medical helicopter to the hospital.

"It's one of those unfortunate accidents," he said.

"We used the emergency stop to halt the stage, and one of the backstage dressers is also a registered nurse, and she was able to respond immediately until the paramedics arrived," Dietlein said.

The incident — the only injury accident connected to the stage over the past 7 1/2 years (more than 3,000 performances) — happened about an hour into the performance. Tuesday's performance was the opening night.

Technical director Andrew Barrus, who also directed "Aida," called an intermission at that point and canceled the rest of the performance.

Dietlein said Phillips has been involved as a stagehand, a stage manager and an actor at the theater for several years, adding that "he is very capable and knows the ropes."

"Safety is a priority issue here," he said. "Some performers may have occasionally twisted an ankle while dancing, but no one has ever been injured due to working with the theater's equipment."