The Visor

Stage Crew ensures success of Oliver Twist, along with all thespian productions

November 12, 2009

Allison Jackson

They’re neither seen nor heard. They lurk in the background directing, moving, painting and prepping. They rarely receive acknowledgement and never see the light of the stage. They are Hoban’s stage crew.

“We build and paint everything you end up seeing on stage,” junior stage manager Johanna Breiding said of the 23 dedicated stage crewmembers.

From the streets of London to the orphanage, stage crew constructed the entire set viewed by play patrons.

Stage crew met every Thursday after school from 3-6 P.M. to construct and paint the set over the past few months.

“The most challenging part of stage crew is trying to build a set,” junior Emily Bulgrin said.

Not only do the sets have to look appealing, but they also have to be safe for the actors as they are performing. In order to ensure the safety of the actors, stage crew test the sets themselves.

“We provide extra support for the things that actors walk on and we secure everything on stage,” Breiding said.

The set transformed Hoban’s stage into the dismal, dirty streets of 19th century London.

“The set creates the allusion of being in a different place,” junior actress Maria Rizzo said.

Stage crew is also responsible for changing the sets during scene changes. Their agility at this task keeps the show running smoothly and prevents audiences from waiting long periods of time between scenes.
Despite all of the hard work and effort stage crew puts in they still manage to have fun. This can be seen through their motto, which is: “We’ll fix it later.”

“At the end of the day despite the danger, the adventure or the fact that you’re covered in sawdust we get the job done,” Breiding said.

Through all of the time that stage crew spends together it is no surprise that many of the members have become so close– giving each other clever nicknames.

“Working on the set is so much fun. Stage crew provides such a relaxed environment,” junior and three-year stage crewmember Rachel Volcheck said.

To many stage crew members, watching the sets come to life and seeing the reaction of the audience as the curtain is raised makes all of the toil worth it.

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