Fall play benefits from in-class preparations

Preparation for HC’s 2017 Fall play is in full swing and on-track for the performances of Oct. 26th through the 28th. The Theater Stagecraft class has been working hard to get the set ready, while the cast practice every day after-school so their performance does the play justice.

The set design is created by students in the Theater Stagecraft class. Each play and each set are different so the class has a process for everyone to decide their specific jobs and roles.

“Casting was in mid-August, and set-building began in mid-August, ” HC Theater Stagecraft teacher Kiefer Shuler said. “What happens is we read through the script, and then if there’s a movie or TV show, we watch parts of that to get a visual for it, everyone then gets into little groups. They do little mock-ups of what the stage should look like and the lighting. They actually build models, and we vote on different aspects of each one and then combine them.”

After the decision making, the projects are coming along swimmingly. However, even with the good relationships in the class, there were a few problems the group experienced.

“The only thing that’s been an issue is we’re right next to other classes, classes where you can’t make a bunch of noise,” HC Senior Makenzie Bartley said.

Along with the excessive noise, a shortage of tools has plagued the class.

“The only problem that we’ve had is the shortage of tools,” Shuler said, “because there’s 35 people in the class, and so if we had like 10 drills and 10 saws, that would make it a lot easier.”

Even with those drawbacks for the Theater Stagecraft class, the play is still on track.

“We’re going to be practicing, probably, during the play to make sure we got it all,” HC Senior Jade Kropp said.

Kropp has been in multiple school plays during her high school career. In “Witness for the Prosecution”, she is playing the part of a secretary named ‘Greta’. The preparation for this play has been different, however, because of the addition of the Theater Stagecraft Class.

“I have been in all the other plays Shuler and Junker have done,” Kropp said, “… [Now] we have a new class, so we don’t have to make the sets.”

Through the preparation many look forward to the audience’s reaction to the show.

“Just enjoy the show,” Kropp said.