Building a High School within a High School – MVCCT Volunteer Spotlight

Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre production of Disney’s High School Musical opens November 15th.    As we head into our final week – tech week as it is known in theatre circles, we find ourselves forever grateful to the many volunteers that help us launch each production.  As we have watched a high school being built within a high school over the past several weeks, we find ourselves once again in awe of our set designer Suzanne Parrish. We wanted to find out a bit more about Suzanne and what drives her year after year.  

MVCCT:  How long have you been designing sets for MVCCT?

SP:  “One of the parents asked me this at this build. I responded ‘over 20 years’ and Pam (Pam Peckar our program manager extraordinaire!) alarmingly said, ‘Oh no, that’s not right.’ I had to remind her that my daughter was (almost) born on the set of Aladdin, and she is going to be 18 this year! My 29 year old was the youngest child in a MVCCT production, which I think was 8 years old.  I helped out on that set, designed by Barbara Gasque, who was generous and trusting when she asked me to paint a castle on a periaktio for Pinocchio! I think it was the next year when I persuaded her to go for the backdrop!”

MVCCT:  This is a huge commitment, why do you do it year after year?

SP:  Where else can you go where total strangers become wonderful friends, your ideas and visions come to life, thanks to the hard work, collaborations and talents of so many dedicated parents and you get to play with as many tools and materials as you can manage? 

MVCCT:  Do you have one memorable or funny story in conjunction with your set experiences with MVCCT?

SP:  Sometimes I forget that the 'magic of theater' is magical to everyone, even parents who help with the sets. So after we had finished the set for a productions, it was The Reluctant Dragon, I think, I was looking over my sketches and plans to make sure we had completed everything and a parent looked over my shoulder and exclaimed " Wow!  That looks just like the set!"

Probably my most memorable set pieces were from the Narnia production.  I'm always looking and thinking about what the upcoming shows will look like and what kinds of things we will need.  I was out near the Patuxent River with my daughter and stopped by a farm and was chatting with the lovely women who farmed the land. They invited me into their barn and lo and behold!  There was an amazing full size sleigh. They not only allowed me to use it and so many other items, but delivered it to the theater.  It was incredible and enchanting to see on set, decked out with white and sparkle and floating across the stage!

Another favorite set was our most recent Cinderella. I was picturing the Rogers and Hammerstein production as if it were set in Morocco.  The director went with it and it was spectacular and very special.  During intermission, a parent came running back and said "You know I thought it was horrible that Cinderella was dressed in black (velvet), but you know what?  It REALLY works!!!!"

MVCCT:  What is your favorite part about the High School Musical Set?

SP:  Bryant space is interesting; with the large open space between the audience and the actors. We'll use the space for the cheerleaders while the sets change, but I think we will really get a sense of those long vacuous hallways and crowded halls and gymnasium with the angles on the tall flats, the towering columns and the backdrop painted to evoke pennants.  I'm looking forward to the Wildcats pumping up the crowd from downstage as well.

Thank you Suzanne for your dedication to our mission of stimulating and enhancing the cultural life of young people and helping us offer a creative outlet that helps our kids to develop poise, independence, and accountability through self-expression.  Come and see Suzanne’s beautiful work!  Tickets may be purchased at http://www.mvcct.org.  Visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MVCCT to learn about upcoming productions and auditions