Happiness builds with each new endeavor

Happiness+builds+with+each+new+endeavor

A French baguette sits on the floor of my room. The four by two piece of plywood, with the gently painted baguette, has been in my room for two years now. I used to see a lot of myself in that baguette. It brings me back to my high school’s 2017 production of “Les Misérables.”

   As a sophomore in Stage Crew, I considered myself low on the totem pole. I was not always given the most prestigious of painting jobs. Previously I had participated in painting the floor on our raked stage. I also helped paint the three show advertisement signs that go on the roads near the school, but things changed on tech day, five days before opening night.

   As I walked backstage I passed by students painting the barricade by flashlight, the tarp under the barricade crunched every time someone took a new position. Every so often I would hear our director Dr. Molotsky over the sound system, giving criticism to the actors on the scenes he had gone over a million times before. I picked up a paint brush to help paint the barricade.

   Shortly after, Cyrena, the production’s paint charge, called me over and said I needed to paint a French baguette on the side of the bakery tower. “Look up a picture for color references,” she said. “Mix a color, and then bring it to me for approval.” She scurried back to her more important job of operating the turntable, and left me to fend for myself. I knew it was time to start cooking.

   I then spent the next five hours standing on a chair. I felt like Bob Ross as I painted the happy little details on my French baguette. I remember taking my time with every brush stroke so as not to mess up on any of the detail. As it started to take shape, I began to become proud.

   For the years that followed, I continued to take pride in not only my work, but also the work of every person that was involved in the shows. Chris Childs taught me the importance of organization. Cyrena Kokolis taught me how to take creative risks. And our Stage Crew advisor Mr. Isshak, who makes five dollars an hour with all the hours he puts in, taught me true dedication.

   As a junior I was lucky enough to hold the position of assistant paint charge. All year I worked alongside Cyrena, who taught me how to effectively bring color to the stage. Seeing our color schemes come to life with “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “Rock of Ages” inspired me to work hard for the position I hold today. I now fill the shoes that Cyrena once wore as paint charge.

   For our Fall Show this year I got to design the way our raked stage would be painted. Walking across my hardwood floor design made me reflect on the cobblestone rake that Cyrena designed for “Les Misérables.”

    Without the hard work of every member involved in “Les Miserables,” we would have never went on to win New Jersey’s Best Overall Production of a Musical at the Papermill Rising Star Awards.

   After the ceremony, I glanced at the baguette in my room. I realized that every single detail represents every person who put themselves into making that show come together. Instead of seeing just myself in that baguette, I now see the entire cast and crew.

   Sure, stage crew has definitely helped improve my leadership and creativity skills, but it also taught me to appreciate life’s ups and downs. A set that takes three months to build comes crumbling down within the next two weeks.

   And yes, it’s sad, but the feeling fades as we realize that our happiness will build back up next time with the next set we create or the next project I decide to tackle.