EDUCATION
Page 8 | January 2017
Midvale City Journal
Out of spotlight, Hillcrest stage crew shines By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com | Story originally printed April 2016
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illcrest sophomore Lillian Willis often goes unnoticed when the stage lights go on to state-winning musicals and plays at her school. She, as well as 21 other stage crew students and 24 Introduction to Technical Theatre students each term, is found after school, on weekends and other days when classes aren’t held, hammering, screwing and piecing together sets for the show. “I don’t need to be in the spotlight,” Lillian said. “I get recognition from the actors and if other students don’t know how things work on stage, then we’ve done our job. My favorite part is knowing I built something and was a part of it.” Classmate Mary Pope agrees: “It’s fun to be in on the secret and knowing I helped create this piece by piece, but it’s not needed to be recognized.” As part of the stage crew class requirements, students are required to complete 25 after-school hours to put toward the assembly of a set. This includes lighting, costumes, sound and stage construction. “My favorite was sitting inside the raft during ‘Big River’ last year and making it move. Not very many people knew I was in it, so it was magical,” Lillian said. During late February, students were constructing an island and a pontoon boat for the show “Argonautika,” slated for March 17-19. “By doing sets, I’ve learned how to build things, and that translates into doing home projects when something needs fixing. Before, I had no idea what a ¾-inch ply was, and now it’s just second language to me,” she said. Senior Jorden Reese wants a career as a sound designer or technician after graduation. “I’m much more interested in the sounds and lights and the fly reel,” he said. “I’ve learned how to work them digitally. It amazes me when an actor says, ‘Show me how to work this
microphone’; it has become second nature to me and how to limit the frequencies they share on the radio.” The Intro to Technical Theatre students spend eight hours outside class helping with set construction plus job shadowing the stage tech crew to learn how to run the show. During this spring, students either worked on “Argonautika” or will help with the school’s Broadway revue May 12-14. Freshman Harry Sullivan said he was learning to use tools, such as a miter saw, as he was building the set. Classmate Ryan Perkins said he learn more about not only construction but teamwork as well. “It’s fun, but you have to work together,” he said. Lillian said one of her favorite parts of stage crew is problem solving. “I like looking at what we need to build and saying, ‘I want it to look like this and this is how we can build it.’ If I can’t figure it out, then I can ask to see if someone else has an idea. We want to come up with a solution before we present it to our teacher,” she said. Giselle Gremmert, who has been the stage tech and technical theater teacher for two years, encourages active problem-solving. “I want them to anticipate a problem or something that may not happen the way they planned and discuss it before they approach the project,” she said. Such was the case with the 28-foot turntable they used with the carousel during the fall musical, “Carousel.” “Building the carousel was relatively easy, but incorporating every piece of scenery on it and around it took hours of time. The horses were labor-intensive and the LED lights ended up blowing up a light board, so we rented a new one and had to reprogram it last minute. ‘Big River’ was the most challenging since we had to build the set in one week as others were using the stage. There are challenges, foreseen and unseen, that students need to be prepare for,” Gremmert said.
Hillcrest High stage crew and Introduction to Technical Theatre students work on the set for “Argonautika” Feb. 26. The show was scheduled to be performed March 17-19. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Hillcrest theater director Josh Long applauds the students working backstage. “They are the show,” Long said. “They’re not helping; they are the show — the ones who create the most memorable parts of the show, the visual and sound — that everyone remembers. These students don’t need to be acknowledged. It’s their selflessness I applaud.” l
Copperview Students Sport New Hairdos for Spring Photos By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com | Story originally printed June 2016
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opperview Elementary third-grader Savannah Williams sat on her school stage while she watched some split ends fall to the floor from her thick, long hair. Thanks to the Paul Mitchell School, Copperview students had the chance for free haircuts April 14, the day before spring school photos. About 10 stylists and future professionals from the Paul Mitchell School donated their time and set up a makeshift salon in the school’s gymnasium. About 30 students took advantage of the offer. “All of our students deserve an opportunity to look their best, so we thought this would be a great tradition to start and one our patrons can take advantage of,” Principal Chanci Loran said. “We didn’t set any limits other than to say it’s just haircuts.” Savannah appreciated the new trim. “If I don’t have my hair cut, it just knots up,” she said, adding that her mom’s cousin usually cuts it but has been busy. Her dad, Marcus, said that the trim was at the right time. “Her haircut was overdue, so this was a blessing,” he said.
Thanks to the Paul Mitchell School, Copperview Elementary students received free haircuts April 14, the day before school photos. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
For years, photos have been a typical backto-school event. But Copperview, a Title I school where 33 percent of the student body turns over each year, holds school photos twice a year, once in fall and again in spring, Canyons School District spokesperson Kirsten Stewart said. This is the second Canyons School District elementary school to team up with Paul Mitchell to give students free haircuts. Earlier this year, students
at Midvale Elementary got their hair trimmed. “We — all of us, the stylists and the kids — have such a great time,” said Paul Mitchell School learning leader (or instructor) Hollie Galloway Langlois, who helped at Midvale Elementary. Hair stylist Kat Denney sad that she has helped with styling hair and makeup at several high school events, musicals and Keys to Success events. “It’s the first time I’ve volunteered and cut for elementary students,” she said. “It’s been a lot of fun doing trims and easy styles — nothing drastic, but something they can style and keep up.” Learning leader Erin Dockstader said that it has given their future professionals a chance to give service to the community. “We are able to donate our time and help some of these students with haircuts who may not have been able to afford them,” Dockstader said about providing service to the Title I school children where 85 percent of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch. “We want to help them look their best and feel their best for school photos. I know how nervous or uncertain young children can feel when you don’t have the same opportunities as others, so this is a way to make everyone feel
comfortable and have the same fun experience.” Dockstader said that normally at Paul Mitchell, hair cuts cost about $12-14. That’s about how much Joana Clavel pays to have her second-grader Jahaziel Loya’s hair cut twice each month. “When I go to the salon, it costs $13 twice each month,” she said. “Money is important. This is free and he looks much better.” Fourth-grader Nathan Hallum got his hair cut as well. “My dad is the one who said I needed my hair cut,” he said. “School photos are tomorrow, but it will help if my hair isn’t in my face when I’m doing sports.” Nathan’s dad, Daniel, said he served in the military, so he appreciates Nathan’s hair cut short. “We compromise and find a happy medium,” Hallum said. “Today worked out great, as he came out of one after-school program and there was a spot available for him. It was awesome that the whole school could take advantage of [it], especially since we’re a Title I school and might not be able to afford it. It’s great timing right before our school photos.” l