CUE THE CREW

Let’s shine a spotlight on the hidden stars of Theatre West’s productions: the crew. From costume-making to hair-spraying, what can’t these folks do?

ART & DESIGN BY ESTHER PARK

BY MAYA CHU

HAIR & MAKEUP

Aside from shiny ball gowns and detailed props, hair and makeup play a key part in bringing characters to life. Alyssa Hagiwara ’23, the hair crew chief, emphasizes the importance of ensuring each hairstyle suits its character.

“We try to read the script and get a rundown of what the characters are like and how they’re depicted — old, young, rude, snobby — [to] decide which hairstyle would fit their characters,” Hagiwara said.

Makeup Crew Chief Willow Oleson ’23 says the creative process for her crew is similar. After the designs are approved by the directors, Oleson and Hagiwara meet with crew members to plan and gauge skill sets. From there, they wait for tech week, which is when they do hair and makeup tests on the actors.

“[Makeup] is one of the lowest time-commitment crews, but for the 20 minutes that everything needs to get done all at once, it can get very chaotic,” Oleson said.

Both Oleson and Hagiwara have found a fun and welcoming community through the cast and crew.

“It’s a close-knit group. We’re kind of like a cult,” Hagiwara said.

Set And Props

Often spotted drilling and painting after school, the set and props crews are essential in creating a realistic performance. Both crews start planning and meeting with directors a few months before the show.

Following meetings, the props crew searches their inventory for suitable items, according to former Props Crew Chief Rachel Swack ’23.

“We usually have most of [the props] already … they’ve been accumulating for so long,” Swack said.

Set-building is an intensive process that requires detailed considerations.

“We have to make sure [the set] is structural, especially if actors are dancing on it or interacting with it,” said Ali Hawkes ’24, one of the set crew chiefs. “Then we have to make it certain heights … so it’s proportional.”

As a senior, Swack reflects on her Theatre West experience.

“It’s really rewarding to get to this point,” Swack said. “You’re staring at it as a freshman like, ‘Wow, that’s going to be me soon.’ Now it’s me.”