Maeve Hibbert, Blogs Editor
@mhibbertcourant
At the end of a Broadway show, the audience watches as the actors take a bow. Those on stage receive recognition and applause for their efforts to the show, but what about those who stay backstage?
In the NCHS theater department, crew members are given bows and recognition for their hard work.
Every member of the theater program is a necessity in creating the final product. Theater program coordinator Chris Myers has directed six shows here and is aware of crew members’ vitality in creating the final performance. “It would just be absolutely impossible to do a show without a dedicated crew,” Chris said.
The student-run aspect of the theater program is unique for the high-school level. “We try to run our shows here so that it’s kind of on a parallel path with professional theater,” Chris said, “Our last show of last season, we had a student stage manager call the show.” Mr. Myers said. The focus of the theater program is moving more and more towards a focus on student leadership.
Senior Maylis Pabon, the first student stage manager, is very grateful for the opportunity to work in a leadership position. “Some people might say that crew members are given less work but in reality the opposite is true.” she said. “Both the performers and crew members put in the same amount of energy, and everyone is treated equally no matter what,” she said.
Sophomore Amanda Aalto, stage manager for the upperclassmen show, Take Her She’s Mine, appreciates the camaraderie of the theater program, “I love that the theater program is very interconnected,” she said. “It allows us to build so many new connections with people you may have never talked to before,” she said. “The final product is really rewarding,” Amanda said.
“Sometimes actors can get their pride in the way, but it’s so rare with this group,” said junior Ike Morales, assistant stage manager for Take Her She’s Mine. “If an actor is about to go onstage they may say something brash, but nothing around here is taken personally,” Ike said. Throughout his two years as a crew member, Ike has felt a sense of belonging within the theater program, “People are so welcoming here, they’ll never turn you away,” he said. “There’s no shame in being yourself around here, you can be whoever you want and no one will judge you for it,” Ike said.
“Here at the high school, we’re pretty good about acknowledging the importance of the crew to the show,” Amanda said. As a younger stage manager, she still feels the respect of the upperclassmen in the program, actors and crew members alike.
One of the rituals that all of the cast and crew participate in before the first night of a show is a testament to the unity of the program. “On opening night, all of the cast and crew come together backstage before the show,” said Mr. Myers. “We kind of revisit the journey that we’ve had, and again talk about all focusing together to try to make this magic at one time,” He said.
“The bottom line is that we’re all working to tell this story, to have this experience where the actors onstage and the crew backstage work to connect with the audience that we have that night,” said Mr. Myers. All members of the program work together to create this final product, and see large crowds show after show, season after season. The performers and crew members alike connect during performances to bring a story to the audience, and tell it together.
