The Show Goes on Thanks to These Theater Techs

It's the first dress rehearsal of Hairspray at Medford High School. 9 p.m. on a Saturday, and an irregular crowd shuffles in (apologies to Billy Joel). No one arrives emptyhanded: tarps, ironing boards, grapes. People are exclaiming over costumes and there is much ado about lost shoes. There is beehive hair and costumes that suggest the 1960s.

But you have to smile when you hear a student mention that a few kids should dress like ninjas. "After all, no one's supposed to see you." No, you're not supposed to notice the lights, the props, the duct tape and extension cords. You're just supposed to appreciate the magic.

The magic makers, the stage ninjas, are freshmen Emma Zec, Mark Cangiano, Nathanael Victor and Leila Walker, and seniors Billy Russell and Nick Alverino. The freshmen consider themselves "apprenticed" to seniors Billy and Nick. As apprentices, they will gradually gain the finesse and responsibility of the seniors. Which means right now they have a lot of grunt work to do. 

Emma and Mark work the spotlights, so they need extensive knowledge of the script and performance. Nathanael and Leila work on the set, and have to be many places at once. Nick works the entire lighting board, so he's in the booth, and Billy, working the set,  answers directly to Sarah Grant, the faculty member working with the Drama Club. Someone needs to find the telephone and table, and someone needs to move the set. You can see them in the wings, going over the script, but they'll be invisible by opening night. 

Go see Hairspray this week, April 7-9. If you see the production and not 4 frenzied freshmen and 2 stoic seniors, you'll know their key to awesomeness. They are stage ninjas.