Earlier this year our school’s theatre department performed a Comedy Show at the PAC including 4 Skits. The opening skit was entitled “I’m a Teenager, Get Me Out of This Family!” followed by “Action News: Now With 10% More Action”. After a Brief intermission acting classes 2 &3 performed “Check Please!” and finally “Cut!”.  After going backstage and talking to members of the crew, here is what happens backstage to produce a show. 

It begins with a director. This performance’s director and producer was Mr. Gaudet. When asked about his role in producing the show he said “I am the director and producer of the show. It’s my responsibility to choose the plays, arrange the theater space, cast the roles, direct the students, and arrange for costumes, props, makeup design, set pieces, light and sound cues, programs, and ticket sales.” 

 While he does this the actors in the show go through multiple rehearsals. The rehearsals were during all the acting periods. Actors go over scripts over and over until they can recite the lines by heart. Then they begin character development and blocking. Blocking is the time when the director instructs actors where to move in different scenes. After this hard work they can finally work on the technical part of rehearsals.  

Actors block the show on stage where they have more room, and they can get used to the lighting. Usually only takes one or two rehearsals like that before the first run-throughs.  

Run-throughs are when actors begin running the show in full costume, full make-up, and lighting, sounds, microphones and trying to make it as close to the final show as possible. When speaking to one of the producers of the show, Ms. Neff explained her role in the show. She says, “So my job is to organize, procure, and set up all of the technical aspects, so costumes, make-up, props, the programs, the tickets and all the things that are not acting.” People who work in tech have a very difficult job. They must make sure the show runs smoothly with everything and everyone involved. When asked about the importance of her role she said “… because without techies there is no theatre… it’s important even though obviously the acting and the actors take center stage literally, what they wear, what they carry and what they sit on is obviously important. “  

Each person involved with the performance is important on and off stage. Each department of the theatre works together to put together a show everyone knows and loves. After a wonderful audience for both shows, the Wesley Chapel Drama Department will be presenting “The Crucible” in the future for their Spring play.