As Trimester 3 got into full swing, another exciting event also prepared to take center stage: the SVHS musical, Hello, Dolly! While the show itself was the main attraction, it was the behind-the-scenes work of the SVHS stage crew and stage technology students that made the production possible.
To learn more about their essential role, I reached out via email to several crew members. Their responses offered a peek into the preparation, challenges, and excitement of running a live show. Their answers were grouped into three categories: General Questions, Stage Crew, and Lighting.
General Questions
How does everyone stay connected during performances?
“We all stay connected through headsets that the crew uses,” said Dane Hepworth. “That allows me to communicate with every part of the auditorium without having to run around or yell. We start practicing with the headsets a couple of weeks before the performance so that everyone is comfortable using them. There are a couple backstage, one with the director, one with the sound crew, several up in the light booth, and one with me.”
Stage Crew
How long have you been working on the musical?
“Our crew really starts working hard during the last two weeks before performances,” said Dane Hepworth. “However, certain people — like the stage manager, Paisley [Anderson] — have been working with the musical since practices began in January. We’ve also done a few things here and there after school for a while now.”
How do you coordinate with the actors and other crew members?
“Coordinating with the cast can be difficult, but I’ve learned that it’s better to work with them, not against them,” said Paisley Anderson. “I often use the help of the cast to move sets and assist with cues. Overall, I really enjoy my job, and I love the people I get to work with. Even though it can be stressful and sometimes chaotic, I love my tech crew and being able to do what I do. I give all my credit to the crew — they do an amazing job.”
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced while preparing for the show?
“The biggest struggle for me has been figuring out how everything fits together — the sets and the crew,” Paisley said. “I have to set things up in a way that runs smoothly without getting in the actors’ way. That’s difficult due to the large number of sets and how big they are, especially with our limited space.”
What has your experience with stage crew been like so far?
“My experience, huh? Well, I can say that I love the group of kids in it,” said Colby Hall. “The activity itself is so fun and inclusive. I always have something to do when I’m there. Mr. Hepworth is really nice and understanding.”
Lighting
Both lighting questions were answered by Ben Hepworth.
How do you handle transitions between scenes with lighting? Is it all preprogrammed?
“During tech weeks, we build and work on the timing for lighting transitions and individual scenes,” Ben explained. “By the time performances begin, everything is set up so we just have to press a button at the right time — if everything is working.”
How do you balance making the actors visible and creating the right atmosphere?
“Balancing visibility and atmosphere depends largely on the scene’s focus,” Ben said. “If the focus is on the main actors, the lights are centered on them while other areas are dimmed. Another part of that is making sure the lighting colors match the mood of the scene. For example, if it’s an exciting moment with dark lighting, we add other effects to balance it out.”
Final Thoughts
A huge thank-you went out to everyone who took the time to answer these questions! It was a great experience learning about what went on behind the curtain. From these responses, it was clear that working in stage crew and tech was no small task — but it was all worth it to help bring Hello, Dolly! to life for the SVHS community.
