Life behind the curtain

In high school, teenagers begin to find their place and discover what they’re passionate about. Some students discover hidden talents, such as acting or singing. However, others may find their talent to be behind the scenes of a play or musical.

   

2016-03-09 / Front Page Life behind the curtain A look behind the scenes of the production, ‘Almost, Maine’ By ERICKA SCHOFF Stage Manager Kylee Charest works behind the scenes at the Springfield High School production, “Almost, Maine,” this past weekend. ERICKA SCHOFF PHOTO Stage Manager Kylee Charest works behind the scenes at the Springfield High School production, “Almost, Maine,” this past weekend. ERICKA SCHOFF PHOTO In high school, teenagers begin to find their place and discover what they’re passionate about. Some students discover hidden talents, such as acting or singing. However, others may find their talent to be behind the scenes of a play or musical. In all honesty, how many times have you thought about what’s going on behind the curtains when you’re watching a play? As viewers, we tend to forget about the things we can’t see. These stage managers and set designers are going unnoticed when they actually deserve a standing ovation. Enlarge Map Kylee Charest, a sophomore at Springfield High School (SHS), was a stage manager for the “Almost, Maine” production that took place on March 4-6. Charest has had the opportunity to act on stage and has now learned what it’s like to be behind the curtains. “I love every aspect of theater. I love acting and I love learning all of the backstage work too. It's a great creative outlet,” she said. “Working backstage gives you a better appreciation for not only the work the actors put in, but what goes on behind the curtain too.” Charest’s jobs included getting the actors and props ready, along with helping guide others with tasks. Jocelyn Hunt, a freshman in the play, appreciates all of the work that the crew members have done and continue to do. “Stage crew and managers are the glue to drama. They keep out the bad drama from the performances, and make the whole experience much better and easier for actors,” said Hunt. “Having a good set crew is what makes a show. You can have amazing actors, but the scenery and set is what puts it together, and we can only thank our set crew for that.” For “Almost, Maine,” the set crew created trees, snow, and painted a backdrop. Although being a part of the set crew keeps students out of the spotlight, they are under immense pressure to make sure the production goes smoothly. Theo Avent, a sophomore, works backstage to help with moving props during scene changes and was also able to help direct the play with the theater teacher, Rebecca Skrypeck. “I love the acting environment and just the rapport between all of us,” said Avent. “I wanted to make my first show with the theater department a good one. I loved helping out backstage and collaborating with the other students.”