Each academic year, Washington High School puts on three different shows. At the beginning of the first semester they put on a fall play, in November a fall musical, and the company concludes with Playtime Poppy (children’s theater) in the spring. If you’re reading this, I regret to inform you that this year’s play Puffs opened on September 1st and closed on the 3rd, so you’ve missed out. But don’t you worry! I’m here to give you the inside scoop on the 2022-2023 kick off show, and all Wash Drama and their backstage crew has to offer. 

To catch you up, our talented thespians staged a rendition of the play Puffs, a Harry Potter comedy-parody, that cast members Isla Hamilton ‘25 and Moritz Afridi ‘23 would describe as “fun” and “funky.” Though the roughly two hour show was geared towards those who could catch a reference from the series even through the slightest implication, even those unfamiliar with the series contributed to the laughter and gasps that flowed throughout the theater nearly every line delivered. What a great performance to commence the theater season!

Now, if you’ve never been in a show, you may be wondering: what roles do people have in a production? Well, you obviously have the actors and actresses, but there are also stars hidden outside of the spotlight–the crew. Noel Steffen ‘23, props designer, explains their favorite part of what they do backstage. “… this is gonna sound really cheesy–but it’s like the, seeing the progression of the show… …it’s called crew view, um, where you just like sit in the seats and watch the show run through like with blocking but no–no props, no scene movements, or anything like that, no costumes. And then you sit and you watch, like the actual show, once everyone has like their costumes and props and the scene is changing, it’s so cool. Just like everything comes together, everything makes so much sense now.” A few duties that crew members have is to help build the set, work lighting, play the soundtracks for a show, work microphones, make props, and switch scenes on stage. Steffen encourages others to join, saying “…it’s a lot of fun,” and mentions that with musicals especially, crew has a full plate and would appreciate more helping hands. 

But what would crew do if there wasn’t anyone to work with on stage? Not much, that’s for sure. Actors and actresses are obviously also key for a successful show. How does one get into performing onstage you may ask? Auditioning. That’s all there is to it! Though standing in a room and showcasing your talents to others may sound a little… nerve wracking, Afridi tells us, “I’d say definitely there’s no harm in trying. Um, even if you don’t get into stuff ‘cause like I was terrified to audition for stuff my freshman year–obviously, if you don’t audition you’re not going to get into anything.” 

But why should you put the time and effort into a show? Hamilton shares, “…it’s just a really really good community and I’ve learned a lot about–both about like working with a team and also about myself and what I want my life and my goals to be…” Not only that but, “… if you do get into stuff, whether it be cast, or crew, or whatever else, um, you always meet new people which is really nice.” Afridi adds. 

So what’s the takeaway here? There’s a place in the theater for everyone who wants to be there. Whether it’s onstage or behind-the-scenes, you’ll make new friends, learn new skills, and create memories unlike any other. Keep your eyes out for upcoming shows and auditions if you’re interested in involving yourself in this outstanding program.