Have you ever wondered about what happens behind the scenes of the school productions? After Lincoln Middle School’s musical Annie closed in April, three members of Act one shared what it takes to put on a successful show.
The cast of about thirty students worked together for six weeks on Annie, while the crew spent four weeks preparing lights, sound, set, and costumes. The production ran for two performances and nearly sold out the school’s auditorium.
Directors are one main part of the show going smoothly. They determine who fits a role, which takes up most of their day. Directors also block scenes and work with the creative flow. Mr. O’Malley grew up doing musical theater and jumped at the chance to direct at Lincoln. “Without hesitation I said yes,” he recalled. Ellie also thanked Mr. O’Malley in her interview and said “I would like to thank Mr. O’Malley for giving me all the amazing experiences I have had in Act One. He is an amazing director, and we are so lucky to have him at Lincoln!”
“Without the props or the set, there would be no scene for the actors to act out, so we provide all of that, so they actually have somewhere to act,” said Morgan Coody. There are so many things backstage crew do to help people onstage. They have many jobs including finding costumes, getting props, putting the set onstage, working lights or sound, and more. The crew contributes behind the scenes and does not need the spotlight.
Actors also play a critical role in the production’s success. The performers’ job on stage is to bring the character to life. When you are an actor, you must have dedication to be in the show and work with everyone. All actors should be ready to do things they might never have done before and may not want to do. But to do the show, they must compromise so the show works for everyone. We asked Ellie how the actors’ involvement makes an impact on the show and she told us, “It means everything. Without commitment and dedication, the show will not be successful. You must be involved and be ready to put in a lot of challenging work if you want to be an actor.
Act One connects crew members, directors, and actors to create amazing productions that highlight Lincoln students’ talents. Ellie Harkey tells us “Act One is such a great opportunity and is open to anyone who is interested. The experiences you get from being involved benefit you in everything you do.” The next show will be in the fall, so listen to the morning announcements next September. Contact Mr. O’Malley through Schoology for any questions you might have.
