They turned a corner and stepped into a wide staging area directly behind the main stage curtains.

Large black equipment cases were stacked against the painted cinderblock walls.

A young man wearing a black headset walked out of a side room carrying a thick stack of plastic clipboards.

He stopped dead when he saw the four of them standing by the lighting rigs.

“This is a restricted staging area,” the young man said.

“All competitors need to be seated in the main hall immediately.”

Claire stepped into his path before he could reach for his shoulder radio.