They’re usually the students behind the scenes. The ones working backstage to make sure Drama Club’s productions go off without a hitch. This spring, thanks to an effort to create more leadership roles for the musical “Willy Wonka,” stage crew members took the spotlight.
Matt Masci, the show’s director, and Todd Shuskey, the assistant director, began creating an environment last year in which students took on leadership roles within Drama Club. With a record number of participants this spring – nearly 60 – the pair wanted to help students make this “their show.”
“When they get to put their name on it, they want it to be successful,” said Masci.
In seventh and eighth grades, Rae George joined the Drama Club stage crew, which was being led by then-student Brooke Kwiecien. Rae was inspired by Brooke’s organizational skills and the support she gave to her fellow crew members. Presented with the opportunity as a freshman, Rae took over the role of stage manager for the production of “Mean Girls.”
“It was the coolest opportunity,” said Rae. “I know that I want to do this kind of work the rest of my life, so I wanted to get started.”
This year, as a junior, Rae took on a larger role as stage manager. When rehearsals for the production started in December, Rae was developing the day-to-day plan for crew members. She was running the work sessions, which included building sets, painting, and creating props. She was assisted by sophomore Anna Barlow, and junior Jada Batchelder served as the scenery manager. Senior Elizabeth Wright was the student director.
“Mr. Masci wanted this to be student-led, and it was. I wasn’t being told what to do by the directors, I was included in the conversation and decision-making,” she said.
For Rae, the biggest hurdle in the beginning was getting the junior high and high school students, many of whom had never interacted, to work together. She wanted to create an environment where everyone felt safe, heard, and included. In the weeks leading up to the shows, she became nervous about getting everything finished, but was relieved after a group meeting.
“My crew members knew what they had to do to get ready. The most rewarding part was seeing everyone work together and the happy tears we all cried in the end,” said Rae. “It felt like we were a little family.”
Eighth-grader Ethan Massett was the lead technician, running lights and sound with assistance from fellow classmate Henry Schreiber. Ethan started in Drama Club last year, learning as much as possible about lights and sound so he could assume a leadership role for “Willy Wonka.” Despite it being his first year on the stage crew, Henry ran 30 wireless microphones by himself. While there’s a lot of pressure to hit the right cues, Ethan has had fun meeting different people and learning how productions work.
“It’s a pretty cool experience because you get to see the show get better and better as you progress through rehearsals. It’s also great because we get to control the show,” said Ethan.
Next year, Masci and Shuskey hope to have students apply and interview for crew positions, much like they would for a job, as a way to give them real-world experience. For Rae, who is already exploring college opportunities for art and stage management, the leadership experience she’s gaining from Drama Club is invaluable.
“I love technology and I love art, and I think it’s incredible that I have this opportunity in high school,” she said.