Shining a Light on Stagecraft
November 18, 2015
While many people enjoy the productions that the Diamond Bar High School drama department showcases, few thoughts are given to the students and teachers who work hard to make the sets of these plays possible. Behind the scenes, Diamond Bar’s stagecraft class, led by instructor Dexter Rogers, focuses not only on building props for theater productions, but also functions as the backstage crew for all theatrical productions.
“Stagecraft provides all the technical stuff for theatre productions. We build the sets, hang the lights, run the sound system, and we are part of the backstage crew that actively runs the show. Anybody that is involved in the production that isn’t on stage is part of stagecraft,” Rogers said.
Backstage, many students work frantically to make sure nothing goes wrong. The experience can be just as stressful backstage as it is on stage, as the crew prepares to move sets when scenes shift and focus on a new background and scenery.
“I think it’s very interesting. Because you don’t really hear a lot about what these people do, and without them, there would be no show. As an actor, I can appreciate what they do, and now that I’m in stagecraft, I can help make the magic that is theater,” senior Austin Mooney said.
As well as being the backstage crew for theater productions, stagecraft is also a class that allows students to learn how to handle the tools in stagecraft that are used in the stage itself. The class focuses on building the set and learning skills about various aspects of stagecraft so students will take an interest and pursue a specific field in stagecraft. Even with all the building, lectures and projects do take place in order to encourage students to become more involved.
So next time you watch a production, think about the people who work behind scenes, because, without them, theater productions would be not be possible.
