Thirty Years of Theatricals Decorate Backstage Walls

There's a lot of rehearsal, stagecraft and general hard work that goes into mounting a theatrical production. Yet after a handful of performances, it's all just a memory.

Fortunately, the casts and crews of North High School productions going back 30 years have left something tangible behind to remember each one: small murals painted on the cinder-block walls of the "green room," makeup room and shop.

This weekend's production of Antigone will eventually add a 90th mural—give or take—to the backstage walls. The play will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday in the school's  Clarence Johnson Auditorium.

Just this past week, another mural was being added to "The Wall," as it is known by North theater students. Junior Hannah Ottley, who also designed the commemorative T-shirts for Antigone, started work on a mural of last fall's musical, Little Shop of Horrors.

"It's awesome," Ottley said of the opportunity to add her artwork to the wall of fame. "It's like what they say about teachers—you never know how far your influence goes down through the generations."

She had sketched out the design and was starting to add wall paint to the man-eating plant that commands the space. "You have to be careful," she said. "You have to almost spoon on the paint or else it falls."

Demetrios Pappageorge, a North English and drama teacher, said the oldest mural he's discovered is a faded relic from 1981. In the years since, they've become more detailed, more colorful and creative.

There's a Dracula mural in the shape of a bat tucked above a door in the makeup room, a tipped poison bottle recalling Arsenic and Old Lace, and a woodland scene for Wind in the Willows, which was mounted back in 1999.

But it's not only the design elements that make the murals fun; each one is signed by the cast and crew members, which in the case of a typical production could number 80 or more.

Antigone, for example, features 19 cast members and many others on construction, sound, lighting, makeup and costume crews.

The play, which is based on an ancient Greek legend, tells the story of a young girl struggling to do what's right in her heart, even while knowing the results will be tragic. She wishes to bury her fallen brother, who the new king has pronounced a traitor, threatening to put to death anyone who attempts to give him a proper burial.

When the king, Creon, discovers his future daughter-in-law Antigone has buried the body, he must decide whether to follow through with his death decree or make an exception to the rule for his son's sake. 

The play raises many questions, asking the audience to consider which character is right—and whether Antigone can be faulted for her actions or Creon faulted for wanting to keep order.

The cast includes Sarah Batchu, Maxim Becker, Cameron Box, Devin Collett, Amy Fatigato, Victoria Jacobson, Nikki Kay, Jake Kola, Aidan Kolar, Andy Krupin, Bridget Long, Chani McClendon, Ben McCrimmon, James Parsons, Stephanie Scott, Emma Smith, Sam Staley,  Claire Svehla, and Jake Van Santen.

Madi Nona is the stage manager and Matt Brill is the student assistant director.  

These names will soon take their places on a new Antigone mural backstage at North. Like the many colorful creations already lining the walls, it will spiff up a utilitarian space—and allow the students involved to claim a tiny piece of artistic immortality.