Theatre is an integral part of high school. Everyone remembers the school plays of their four-year journey, and those that perform in the school’s productions will remember those experiences for the rest of their lives. The work that goes into a stage production is more than most think- behind every stunt that goes on our stage, there are hours of mishaps, like the time Jonathan Looman kicked Jacob Macintyre square in the jaw trying to do a flip. The plays put on at Lincoln High School, and in high schools around the world, are passion projects of the students, actors and tech crew alike.
Lincoln’s tech crew deserves special recognition, too, beyond just the applause they garner during curtain call. The techies put in countless hours of work building sets, engineering special effects and finding just the right props, all just so the actors can give a seamless, fun, and energetic performance. Tech crew is not just a group of light and sound technicians, it is a band of carpenters, painters, engineers, musicians, stagehands, and numerous other skilled individuals.
Beyond just school productions, many high school theatre programs go on to compete with their productions, whether it be a singular song by an outstanding performer, or loading sets and costumes up to perform a show on an unfamiliar stage in a competition with other theatre troupes from all around the state. Months and Months of practice and work go into a stage production, from all members of the cast, tech crew, and especially the director. This year, the students of Lincoln’s theatre were lucky enough to be directed by Mac Channell, a substitute teacher who gives time and effort towards directing a show that he wasn’t required to do, and that he isn’t being paid for. This show wouldn’t be possible without our director, and all the cast is grateful for all the help he has given and the commitment he has shown towards a cast he just met this year.
Dedication is imperative for any stage production, and as an actor, I am grateful for my fellow cast members, for our amazing tech crew, and for our wonderful director. Lincoln High School’s production of Shrek: The Musical, under Mac Channell, goes live this coming Tuesday, and will be performed for the students of LHS on Thursday, December 12th. In support of all my fellow cast members, I urge you to come out to see us perform, even if it’s just to get out of class. Our theatre program is excited and anxious to put on this show for all our peers, and personally I can’t wait.
See you in the audience,
Louis Rodina