Area students perform in ‘Hello Dolly!’

November 18, 2009

By Brenda Rader Mross

The Wellington

 

While responsible for creating much of its magic, the technical aspects of theater often get overlooked.

After all, the spotlight is usually focused on the acting, while most of the costuming and tech crews’ labors are performed offstage in advance, or in the dark in between and behind the scenes.

Not so in the case of “Hello Dolly!” where the period costumes and 3-D staging are the stars, and, as one of the comedic musical’s songs goes, all about “Elegance.”

The Poudre High School Theatre Department is painstakingly recreating turn-of-the-20th-century New York City for four performances of “Hello Dolly!” Nov. 19 through Nov. 21, including a Saturday matinee.

New PHS technical director, theater manager and instructor Joel Smith said set construction started five weeks ago. His 28-person crew has been working four days a week after school and the last four Saturdays.

“It’s a lot of work without a lot of credit,” Smith said. “During the show, the goal is to be invisible. It’s a mistake if we call attention to ourselves.”

Students from the Wellington (Colorado) area, Taylor Martin and Erin Gossman, both 16, are on Smith’s crew. “He knows what he’s doing,” Erin commented.

“This is a big show with lots of big pieces,” Smith said. “For two new on the crew, Erin and Taylor have really stepped up.”

Erin is a spotlight operator, while Taylor has been helping run the show and, according to Smith, did “a lion’s share” of the set construction.

This is Taylor’s second show. A junior who loves the diversity of the International Baccalaureate program, Taylor worked on the tech crew for Wellington Junior High’s 2007 Lincoln Center presentation of “Godspell.”

“I actually performed in the last show (reprised at River of Life Church that spring),” recalled Taylor, who admitted he didn’t thereafter give theatrical things another thought. “Then I built a small (7-foot) boat for my personal IB project, and knew I wanted to build more stuff.”

Taylor plans to participate in other Poudre productions, and has his sights set on pursuing a career in biology or English education.

Erin is a sophomore who loves creative writing. She was in the ensemble chorus for WJHS’s “High School Musical” and “Big River.”

“Being on stage was a lot of fun,” Erin said, “but I prefer behind the scenes.”

Erin admitted she had no idea what she was doing at first regarding lighting, but Smith claims she has a sense for it.

“They are both learning a lot about technical theater and gaining some really specialized, marketable skills,” Smith said. “I had a director in high school who said actors might wait tables for 20 years, but theater technicians can get work right after graduation. Technology is moving at the speed of light and these kids are receiving professional development and job training on the set.”

They are also able to get course credit, thanks to Smith, who convinced administrators to add “Theatre Practicum” to Poudre’s curriculum.

Smith and his wife, Melanie, moved to Fort Collins from California in August. They have two children at Johnson Elementary.

For someone who had never done costuming, costume director Kari Armstrong now has the monumental task of outdoing herself with each Poudre play. Armstrong started designing costumes as a volunteer in 2004, when her son, Ian, appeared in “Damn Yankees.”

How does “Ms. Kari” transform “ugly, old prom dresses” into glamorous gowns?

“By the seat of my pants,” she said with a smirk. “With ‘Seussical’ last year — my dream show — it exploded and designed itself in my head.”

Armstrong is quick to give kudos to her 13 costumers, and called “Hello Dolly!” probably her most challenging show yet due to the period pieces.

“I’m a perfectionist,” she said. “We do tons of paratheatrical (in, but not of, the theatre) research.”

Armstrong estimates she puts in 250 to 300 hours per show. While Armstrong receives only a small stipend for her PHS work, her prowess with pipe cleaners and hot glue has led to professional gigs, earning her Opus Awards for “Best Costume Design” from Bas Bleu and OpenStage Theatre.

“Poudre has my heart,” said the freelance designer and illustrator. “I’m so in love with the kids. I’m addicted to their energy.”

Four Wellington area students will proudly wear original designs for “Hello Dolly!”

Savannah Bearden said dressing up as Minnie, the assistant to hat shop owner Mrs. Molloy, has been really fun because the era is “so pretty.”

“We get lost in elegance,” she said.

The 16-year-old junior has numerous acting credits, including national television and video productions, as well as Poudre’s “Cat in the Hat” last year.

“I’m able to help offstage more in this play, plus I’m taking a fashion design class,” Savannah said. “I’m loving it so much, I want to help with costuming for the rest of the plays.”

Senior Erin Mross, who plays the constantly weeping Ermengarde, takes her beautifully designed hat off to the techies.

“We were just talking about the theatrical food chain,” the 17-year-old said. “Directors are at the top. Techs are in the middle. Actors are at the bottom.”

This is Erin’s third Poudre musical. She did three for WJHS, including a lead in “Godspell.”

Junior Rachel Trotter, also 17, portrays the hilarious Ernestina of the bountiful bosom and bustle.

“I’m one of the ‘good girls’ in class,” she said, laughing. “Teachers who see me in shows are pretty surprised.”

Rachel was Sharpay in WJHS’s “High School Musical” and envisions herself as a theater teacher someday. She prefers her characters over the top, but loves to help put sets together, too.

Sophomore Allycia Mansfield, 15, plays Eleanor, a townsperson. Allycia was in three Wellington productions, and said acting at the high school level is more challenging but still fun.

In a bit of a role reversal, all four actors gave the final bow to the crew.

“They are masters of illusion,” Erin said. “There’d be no show without them.”

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students for the 7 p.m. shows Thursday through Saturday, and $5 a seat for the 1 p.m. Saturday matinee. They are available at the door and at www.showtix4U.com. There is no reserved seating.