SEEN Importance of Spring Sing crew brought to light After the house lights went down and the stage lights came up and a wave of light washed over the colorfully dressed hosts, hostesses and ensemble members, the magic of Spring Sing began. But as the audience watched the performers on stage, there was a group of students, and a few adults, who were working behind the scenes fixing broken platforms, making sure pro ps were in their proper places and ensur– ing the more than 1,000 students who were in the show gOt on and off the Stage safely. Although they were nOt seen by audience members ~ or even by performers ~ the show could not have gone on witham the crew. Before dubs were practicing, the Spring Sing crew began working on the show soon after Christmas break. Adam Sullivan, technical director for Spring Sing, posted applications and then hand picked the members of the crew who started building around the beginning of February. The members of the crew then spent around 20 hours a week to get the stage prepared for the show. fu opening night approached , the crew spent many hours working in the Benson ~ sometimes until 6 a.m. ~ and then had to go to class or work the next day. Despite the long hours, senior Seth Fish, who worked crew for two years, said one of the reasons he did Spring Sing was the experience. "It is what we love to do," Fish said. "It's just fun building; it's my future. It's practical experience because building something like the [Spring Singset] o n such a massive scale is valuable knowledge." The crew was split into two different groups: the build crew, who built the set, made props, worked on the fly system and did other various set jobs, and the running crew who worked during the performances making sure the performers did nor get hurt running on and off the stage. "[The running crew has] 800-plus people running on and off the Benson in under a minute multiple times so its our job to make sure they get to where they are going, that they safely do, make sure they can see the steps, make sure that we know when to let them in, when to fly in cues for lights, when things need to fly in and OUt for dubs," Fish said. "We're basically directional." One of the most important aspects of the crew was their work was never seen by [he audience. "The crew's goal is to keep the audience unaware ofJUSt how much is actually going on backstage," Dr. Steve Frye, director ofSpting Sing, said. "[The crew] responds well to orders and keeps the flow of the show going so the audience thinks it's happening real easy, [when] it's actually a very large task." Fish said not being seen was what they were trained/to do. "It's hard work and determination," Fish said. "We're [he original ninjas. We're [rained to dress in black and not be seen by the audience," To be on the crew, Frye said members needed co have good people skills, good carpencry or paiming skills, o r something appropriate for the task. Fish said even though the crew did not get much recognition from audience members or from Spring Sing participants, they realized their irnponance in the show. "It's kind of an adrenaline rush," Fish said. "[Because you are running] on stage, moving large heavy objects [while] the curtain is going up and [[ying to get [the cast] all there and knowing that you have thousands of people enjoying the show. T hey may n ot n ecessarily be clapping because they saw you, bur you helped to become a part of something bigger." -Cynthia Noah Singing with the male ensemble, junior hostess Jillian Shackleford performs"1 Need a Hero" from the animated movie "Shrek 2" on April II, 2006. "Toon In" marked Shackelford's second consecutive year as Spring Sing hostess. -Chelsea Roberson 12 student life Performing his solo on April 11, 2006, junior host Travis Wisely, accompanied by ensemble members seniors Katie Casey and Anya Burt, sings "Snoopy" during Spring Sing's "Toon In.'' Wisely's song was taken from the musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." ·Chelsea Roberson
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