Behind the Scenes: A Christmas Story

By Yoselin Reynoso

This year the fall play is A Christmas Story and we are all excited to see it. The students involved aren’t just the ones who are on stage but the ones who are behind the scenes. The students that are involved in stagecraft play a very important role in the show every year.

Although we all enjoy the play we need to realize that there’s always more to it. The students who help in stagecraft make the props and the backgrounds as well as so much more. Stagecraft students help set the scene for those who need to act it out.

Kianna Garcia ‘25 says, “ Some challenges we face are that a lot of people get hurt. Our drama teacher (Mrs. Galvan) actually hurt her foot loading stuff.”

Although stagecraft is behind the scenes there are so many challenges they have faced. Emily Gaither-Calo ‘25 added, “ We had some issues with our paint and it became too watery but we got it sorted out as fast as we could.”

Julia Morones ‘24 also says, “ We were supposed to be in rotary theater but they didn’t finish the theater in time so stagecraft had to adjust everything in about two days as well as the lights and anything else we had to fix.”

Flyn Olson ‘25 adds, “ It did affect where people come on stage but in the end, it helped out with people knowing there was more space to move around.”If stagecraft didn’t do all these things for the play it would be impossible for the play to go on.

From the audience, you look at everything on the stage but what you don’t realize is that all of it was made by the students who participate in the stagecraft. These things all take time and are not just made overnight.

Morones ‘24 says, “ We have been doing the play for two months but they finished some of the set pieces in one month.” No matter how small the prop is it has to be as close to perfect as they can get it within the time they have to do it.

Liliana Lopez ‘25, “ To make one of the set pieces it actually takes teamwork and if we get productive it takes one or two weeks.”

After all the challenges stagecraft students have faced they are all excited to get the play going. Olson ‘25 adds, “ I’m just excited for people to get to watch it and enjoy and I think everyone else can agree.”

The drama teacher Mrs. Galvan adds, “ Stagecraft has stepped up to the challenge of building and creating for the fall play. Only a few knew how to use power tools safely when we started and now most everyone does! They have built and painted everything the audience will see. It’s very exciting.”

Tags: A Christmas Story, acting, arts and entertainment, Behind the Scenes, christmas, drama, exclusive, play, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, yoselin reynoso