The Importance of Being Earnest (2014)

As opposed to the drama the department put on last year, our new theatre director Lucas Howland decided to put on a well known Victorian-era comedy. I was then put in the position of stage manager, which is the head technical role, and given an immense amount of responsibility I felt pretty unprepared for. This was my first head stage management job and I still had a lot to learn about what the title meant. Basically I was in charge of a whole group mainly comprised of actors and technicians who were older than me, including leads and now graduates Olsen Kelly, Ellie Sumner and Martha Ruby Clark. This show taught me a lot about taking initiative and treating others with fairness and respect, important skills that I would take with me through my stage management career. Originally I had wished I had more practice before stage managing such an important show, but looking back I now realize I got the best experience possible by just doing it.  The fast paced diction and dramatic irony of the show must have really appealed to the judges, because for the first time the Vandegrift theatre department advanced from zone to the district level. Unfortunately we didn’t make it further past districts, but it was still exciting to have a competitive, enjoyable show to work on.