Crew

• MMNT stage - Building set for "Forum"
• Costume Shop - finishing touches on costumes for "Forum"

There is lots of activity as major portions of the set are being fabricated under the supervision of the Technical Director, Mark Porter. Numerous students are working with power tools to build parts of the set. Some are attaching decorative pieces. There is also work going on in the Shop and outside.

Another student (B) arrives who has been assigned the responsibility for setting up the lights for the show. He asks Mark if a couple of others may assist him and Mark assigns three students. B refers to the lighting diagram, which looks like a large blueprint and shows where each light should be placed on the overhead grid. He determines which lights are needed and sends his assistants to bring them in from where they are stored. The lights are large and stored in heavy rolling cases. The students roll them and and place them on the stage in their approximate location in preparation for hoisting them into place. The third student has already climbed up onto the grid and is preparing the places for the lights and attaching the ropes which will be used to lift them.

B asks the 2 students who have brought in the lights if they have done this before and finding that they have not he carefully demonstrates how to handle the lights, how to attach the ropes and tests the knots. After he demonstrates he unties the rope and has each student practice. When he feels they have it down B climbs up into the grid and prepares to attach the first light. The students on the floor wait for his signal and then begin to hoist the light into place. It moves slowly up and they hold it as B and the third student attach it to the grid and fasten the safety wires.

This process is handled efficiently and professionally, I am impressed with the leadership and abilities demonstrated by each student. They understand that the success of the show is the responsibility of everyone involved and take it very seriously. They express that they feel a connection to each show they work on whether in the cast or crew because they are doing whatever it takes to provide a good experience for the audience. They understand that everything must work perfectly during the show in order for the performers to do their job.

Goals
Observations
   • Performances
   • Rehearsals
   • Classes
   • Crew
   • Discussions

Several students work under the direction of Eric Reyez-Abbott, Costume Shop Manager. At this point the costumes are complete except for hemming, decoration, etc. Most of the activities today are sewing, but at other times they may be fabricating headpieces, accessories or characters props. The shop is a large room filled to overflowing with fabric and other materials, sewing machines, cabinets full of accessories, etc. There is music playing and the students chat and joke. It is very relaxed and they include me in their activities.

Eric is very busy and moves from task to task while also directing students to their next task. He seems to have everything organized in his head and does not refer to any written notes. This place is busy, the show opens in less than a week and the costumes are needed for rehearsal. Some will be used tonight and others will be completed in a day or two.

The Director of the show, Susan Loughran, comes in to see how things are coming along and pick out jewelry for the costumes. She works with one costume at a time and goes through the large collection of pieces to find all the necessary pieces. She even helps work on one of the capes, pinning the pleats the way she wants them. One of the students then takes it and stitches them on a sewing machine. The interaction between the instructors and students is relaxed and informal. I have noticed that there is a high level of familiarity that exists between the theatre faculty/staff and the students. They work together easily and listen to what works and what doesn't.