Backstage students have an important place in productions by the Marshfield Theatre Company. They make sure the lights, costumes and makeup are perfect, as well as ensure the performance runs smoothly behind the scenes.
Imagine blank faces, dull clothing and dark lighting.

When it comes to theatre production, both the onstage and offstage crews prepare for two to three months prior to a play to bring certain aspects to life. In those months, the crew works together to make the play an enjoyable experience for the audience.

Senior Trever Coney is a second-year member of the Marshfield Theatre Company. He started working backstage in the production of “All My Sons.” His last job was being the light designer for the production of “12 Angry Jurors” to create a visual that appealed to the audience of the play.

“The backstage crew kind of ties together what [the onstage crew] does,” Coney said.
A group of students helps to set up the productions taking place over the course of the school year. With plays such as “Dracula,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Importance of Being Earnest,” audiences are able to see the effects of the backstage crew.
According to choral and theatre department director Allison Bassett, the backstage crew is equally important to the onstage crew.
“A show, whether it’s student ran or professional, can’t work without a backstage crew,” Bassett said.
Bassett also said the backstage crew is to be credited for their work in stage management, costume design, set design, hair, makeup, lighting and sound.
Senior Hope Voellinger is spending this school year as the head of the makeup department. Though she has been part of theatre since her freshman year, this will be the first year she is in charge of the department. Her job is to test makeup on the actors and actresses to see if it is suitable for the play.

“Each of us have our own task,” Voellinger said.

According to Bassett, the group dedicates a majority of their time to help create the lively scenes the company produces every year. They have other extracurricular activities, sports and classes to keep up on, but manage to stay focused on their commitments.

“They’re [at rehearsals] as much as I am,” Bassett said. “Plus extra time outside of rehearsals.”

The most recent production brought to life was the well-known play “12 Angry Jurors.” From the beginning of the school year, the staff of the theatre company was able to begin work on the play that took place Nov. 20-22.

The backstage crew has an enormous amount of entertainment amongst themselves, according to senior Shasta Banks. They are able to develop the scenes and costumes to what they see fit and customize them to their liking.

“It’s fun backstage,” Banks said.

According to Bassett, there is a certain stigma that students who participate backstage are not as important as actors. However, they are not left behind by the actors and actresses. Both crews are aware of the balance they have between each other and are able to recognize that without the other, they would not be able to participate in the activity.

“It’s a team effort and without your full team, you’re not very successful,” Bassett said.

According to Banks, without them the onstage crew would not be as lively and would have to create their own costumes, set and makeup, which takes up time.

According to Voellinger, hard work and dedication go into the making of the productions. The actors and backstage crew create the atmosphere to reel in the audience.

“We work together,” Voellinger said. “It creates a magical experience for people watching the plays.”