What is the basic thing I need to communicate from backstage to the tech. booth?  Something cheap cuz we is poor. I just need headsets and mics - I've used them tons of times but I don't know what they are actually called.

Sorry - I should have been more specific - 'cheap' is like $100 - $200 (but we'll pay what we need to).  Just not the thousand dollar units ;)

Radio shack has headset walkie talkies. They come with vox or manual operation, ie push a button to speak to the other headset. These are failry reasonable aroudn $100 or less. They work fine for short distances, under 200ft. We have used them in our CT, they do have a wire and a clip box for your belt, waistband etc. It isn't the most comfortable and the box tends to fall if a lot os scene change business is being completed. If you are using them for a cue to open the curtain or something like that. We have a red light attached with a remote that will turn it on. The remote is located back stage and the light is in the front of the house to cue the in hous techs that the bacstage is ready. Just couple cost effective things that have worked for us.

I like the security of wired headsets, but wireless is better for people that have to move around a lot. One of the groups I work with have had good success with walkie-talkies with a headset or earbuds. I don't know what models they are using. Remember to change the batteries :-)

I think I like the idea of using wired to all of the positions that don't need to move around much, but have wireless for the stage crew. There was once an article that told about tyeing relatively inexpensive walkie talkie style intercoms to a wired system. Does anyone here know anything about that?