Members of stage crew are the unsung heroes of any production. You’ll hear audience members raving about the actors, but often less is said about the hard work and talent that went into making the set. We forget that the sets are not there to simply wow the audience– they serve a critical purpose of portraying scenes and telling the story. Additionally, we take for granted the tasks that they complete to make the show run as seamlessly as possible. The work of stage crew doesn’t stop once the set is complete; they are also in charge of lights, sound, and all of the props.Without their efforts the show would fall apart. Construction on the set of this year’s play, The Odd Couple, began way back at the end of January with an average of two hours each school night, and even the occasional Saturday. To complete it the stage crew utilized many materials such as trusses, plywood, platforms, paint, cloth, glow-in-the-dark stickers, gaff tape, and props from years past to create an apartment complete with multiple doors, windows, and furnishings.

After the set was complete, stage crew members were assigned other tasks such as controlling lights or moving props. These bring the story to life and help the audience to clearly see what is taking place instead of leaving it to the imagination. “We have to set up the stage with furniture, and also we have light queues,” explained Junior Jacquelynne Bergschultz. “We have to get the correct props, we must know the script as much as the actors, and we need to create sound effects if needed.”

One who is not familiar with building sets may think that two months is an easy time frame in which to construct a set, however many challenges arose to make things more difficult. Some typical problems were warped wood and shortages of paint and plywood, although those weren’t the biggest challenges. “Meeting Ms. Grabow’s vision,” stated Junior Derek Post when asked what the stage crew’s greatest difficulty was. “She has high standards.” While high standards from the director certainly adds higher amounts of stress, it does not eliminate the enjoyment that the students have. Crew members become very close when working on shows together every year, and they share many nicknames and inside jokes. Sophomore Carly Johnson expressed, “I like the family feel of it. Jon Becker, Nick’s dad, brings humor and really knows how to bring out the best of us.” Having a group that feels like a family is critical for any activity, especially stage crew. With the looming deadline of opening night it is important that crew members work together well to finish their goals. Not only that, but what would be the point of participating in stage crew if you didn’t enjoy it? There wouldn’t be one. Thankfully, members of stage crew strive to have a good time just as much as they strive for beautiful sets and perfect queues.