Wings

In my limited experience in the world of ballet, the wings of a stage was where dancers were still just regular people who happened to be dressed in snazzy costumes.  Not all of them would walk gracefully; when in pointe shoes it's hard to walk with a natural gait so ballerinas have to compromise by walking duck-like-- think "walking with flippers" but not as goofy. Some would sit right up against the panels that divided up the space in the wings (I know there's a proper, technical stage term for these, I just can't think of it at the moment) and sit or stretch or squirt water into their mouths (so as not to mess up any lip products).  There's no need to whisper in the wings because the music from the pit is usually loud enough to cover up noise, but everyone still uses his/her indoor voice to communicate.  And, as shown in movies such as Phantom of the Opera and Black Swan, there is a box of powdery rosin on either side of the stage for a ballerina to rub her shoes into, to give some traction and prevent slipping on stage.

In my slightly less limited experience in working backstage in a theatrical production, the wings are much more quiet, but not necessarily less calm.  Actors are in various states of being in character; some maintain their character's way of walking and talking, others completely revert back to their typical selves.  There's a lot more nonverbal and quiet communication, because even if a scene has background music the audience usually would still be able to hear people talking in the wings.  People stretch and move around as silently as possible, to stay loose and/or expend any extraneous energy. 

Both these scenarios are also infiltrated by the ninja-like stagehands, working to be seen and heard as little as possible and be efficient to the point of being overlooked.  I like how the wings are filled with so much action to the point that what happens there could be a show itself, nevermind whatever's happening on stage.  Whenever I see a stage production I can't help but wonder what's going on in the wings, what mishaps and close calls were had there.  I like the immediacy of working there, the slight unsung-hero aspect of the sturm und drang of what happens just off stage so that whatever's happening on stage unfolds seamlessly.  Performers spend days, weeks, months anticipating each performance, whether it's a one-night deal or multi-week run, and the wings are the last place-- the final safe space-- before proceeding on past Go and collecting $200 and transforming into whatever stage persona she/he has prepared to inhabit.