By Shannon Solheim

As the week before opening night of The Music Man at Newtown High School, or Tech Week as referred to by the cast and crew, approaches, stress levels have become noticeably higher among all participants.  However, with carefully planned rehearsals and every smallest detail reviewed, the NHS students participating in this year’s spring production are proud of their accomplishments as of yet.

Actors and actresses are no longer permitted to have the accompaniment of a script on stage and must begin testing the use of body microphones.  The female dancers must now wear practice skirts to rehearsals and all dancers must wear proper footwear. Sneakers are no longer permitted because they do not provide the important slide needed to execute certain partner stunts.

All crew members are putting the finishing touches on what they need to complete as well. The set construction crew, headed by junior Erin Thomas, has worked diligently to complete the elaborate sets for The Music Man. On average, the crew meets three times a week, yet as the show gets even closer, they plan on working more hours.

The set construction crew is responsible for all building. They also need to be aware of how the set will function with the dancing, acting, etc. The performers need to be able to work with and around what is built onstage.

Erin Thomas stressed that, “Most people just show up and see a set.  They don’t normally understand or realize the dedication of the crews and the hours it takes to build a set.”  She continued by saying, “Many people also don’t understand that setting the environment for the musical takes the coordination of many crews.”

For example, Kelly Fuller, a senior and set designer/scenic artist, works hand in hand with the set construction crew. Miss Fuller said, “Sometimes the people who help me overlap with [the set construction crew] because what is built is directly related to what is painted, and all the decision-making overlaps.”

Miss Fuller’s task is more elaborate than one may think. For the overall effect of the sets and backdrops, she must study the time period and location of the musical. Miss Fuller explained, “There is a lot of planning on how it will all look before the actual pieces start to be made.”

Other crews work more directly with the performers. Senior Brittany McClure is a member of both the advertising and costume crews as well as a cast member. Over 100 need to be rented for the production of The Music Man and with the time restrictions it can sometimes be a difficult process.  Not only is time period a factor but without sufficient funds, the costumes could simply not be rented.

“The advertisements for the playbill,” Miss McClure explained, “pay for each person’s costumes and without them we would have a hard time putting on a show.”

On top of looking historically correct, the actors’ facial expressions add emotion and character to the performance.  Jackie Alpert, a junior and make-up crew head, stated, “We have to make the cast look good as well as make their facial features noticeable to the audience.” She continued, “We also help the actors look like the character they are portraying.”

While costumes and make-up set the stage for the time in history, lighting is important to set the right emotions and evoke them from the audience. Erin Thomas explained, “The set is just a set, but with the right lighting, a mood is created.”

But even if the costumes are time period appropriate, the actor’s features are accented, and the mood is just right, the musical would be nothing without sound. While the sound crew has not had much of a chance as of yet to really experiment with the actual equipment, they have spent time organizing their materials and making sure they have everything needed.

Brian Rowe, a sophomore and co-sound manager for the production, said, “My crew is in charge of setting up and running sound.  This includes figuring out what microphones are needed, getting them, some by renting, and setting them up.”

He explained that his crew’s main goal is to do sound the best they can and to make sure everyone can hear and be heard.

Lastly the props crew adds finishing touches to the musical to make it all the more enjoyable.  Kaitlin Dunseith, a junior and props crew head, explained, “My crew is responsible for collecting all the props and set dressing for the play as well as keeping track of them and getting them on and off the stage during each performance.”

At a recent full cast and crew meeting, Miss Dunseith took the time to explain the possibility of renting or borrowing furniture from an antiques shop to the cast.  With that being the case she clarified that she was now responsible for the items and she stressed that all members were not to sit on them or have food or drink anywhere around them; they were to respect them.

As the clock ticks and the time between now and opening night shrinks, the crews just want the best they can in all areas.

Jackie Alpert summed it all up when she said, “We just want [everything] to look good for the audience and to do our jobs in a timely fashion.”

The Music Man will be presented at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road in Sandy Hook, this weekend. Opening night is Thursday, April 13. Performances will continue on Friday, April 14, at 8 pm, and Saturday, April 15, at 2 and 8 pm. Tickets may be purchased at the door and are $10 for adults, $5 students and senior citizens.

The full musical production will present a cast of over 70 students, incorporating not only the current crop of aspiring NHS actors and actresses, but also a number of Newtown students as young as first graders.

 (Shannon Solheim, a senior at Newtown High School, is also the news editor for the school’s paper, The Hawkeye.)