How do our students make the productions happen?
Students take part in all disciplines of our productions, including our:
Technical Theater & Stage Design classes
Each year, students in our Technical Theater and Stage Design classes help bring ASH’s high school musical and drama productions to life. Starting from reading the script and predicting design challenges, they work hands-on to help design, build, and paint the sets, create props, find and adjust costumes, and support the tech needs of the show. On any given day, you might find them digging through the costume room, hanging up set pieces, painting a sign to be used on stage, testing out set pieces for sightlines or functionality...and so much more! Guided by experienced theater professionals, these students gain real-world experience in scenic construction, lighting, and stage management. Watching their work come to life onstage is an amazing experience!
Live Band
The student musicians in the musical band (often called a pit band or pit orchestra) are an essential part the production. Over the summer, before the school year even starts,they begin practicing on their parts, and during the weekly rehearsals once school starts, they develop their musical and collaborative skills, learning every note and every line of the show. The Music Director leads their rehearsals, helping them not only learn the music but also how to read the connections with the script, follow the actor's cues, and support the scenes onstage. By the end of the process, the band is an essential part of the show, underscoring beautiful moments, able to follow the action onstage, and adjusting perfectly when the unexpected happens. They are our very own rock stars!
Costumes Team
Each production needs a strong costumes team. In our department, the costumes for the HS productions are created in combination with an after-school team and the Tech Theater classes. The costume team's work always starts with the script and the director's vision. What time period does the show need? What is the feeling or theme the director wants the show to portay? But there are also always practical questions: What kind of movement does an actor need to make while wearing these clothes? What do we have available in the costume room? Working closely with the director and the Tech Theater class, they learn how the smallest detail can help to tell a unique story. During the show, they need to be ready to fix immedate problems (where's that hot-glue gun!) and make sure that everything is running smoothly. This kind of experience in planning, collaboration, artistic choices and problem-solving is the backbone of every theatrical production.
Stage Crew & Props Team
The work of the Stage Crew and Props Team can be very different from show to show. Sometimes, these team members are moving set pieces on and off stage with precision and speed. Sometimes, they're assisting with backstage costume changes or standing ready to give a prop to exactly the right person at exactly the right moment. Working together with the director, the Stage Managers and the Tech Theater class, they start with the script, with planning and organization (yes, this means spreadsheets!), and by the final performances they are ready to perform their own kind of choreography. That's the choreography that smoothly transitions each set change & prop transition and allows them to manage any unexpected moments with ease.
Lighting Team
Student members of our lighting team learn from the first moment they begin work how powerfully lighting shapes an audience's experience at a theatrical performance. This team works closely with our lighting designer, the production's director and the technical theater staff to operate the lighting that enhances each scene, and as they work, they learn how lighting design affects the mood of a scene or the visual look of a production, eventually growing toward learning to program lighting cues. Their work requires creativity, precision, and constant flexibility as they adapt to changes during rehearsals and performances. Through their collaboration and technical expertise, the lighting team ensures every moment on stage is seen in its best light.
Sound Team
Student members of our sound team are essential to the success of every ASH high school musical and drama production. They collaborate closely with the director and the technical theater staff to ensure that dialogue, vocals, and music are balanced and clear. They are also responsible for finding appropriate sound cues and making sure those cues are played at exactly the right moment. A telephone that doesn't ring as needed or a lightning flash that's missing it's thunder? Not on our sound team's watch! From managing microphones to mixing live sound, they combine technical skill with creative problem-solving. Their flexibility and readiness to adapt during rehearsals and performances help create a professional and immersive audio experience for the audience.
Hair & Makeup Team
Student members of our hair and makeup team play a key role in bringing each ASH high school musical and drama production to life. The work starts by reading the script and thinking about the time period and feel of the production. Once hair and makeup designs begin to take shape, the team works closely with the director, to make sure the looks they're creating are exactly what the production needs. Their work requires creativity, attention to detail, and a willingness to adapt quickly as artistic visions evolve. On performance nights, their space buzzes with creativity as they make sure each performer's look is perfect for the show!
Alumni
ASH theater alumni continue to play an important role in supporting our high school musical and drama productions. Coming back to see the productions each year is a long-standing tradition, and performance nights become mini-reunions as former theater students show up to support the new crop of talent and catch up with each other! Alumni also return during productions and in theater classes to share their skills, experience, and passion with current students, offering mentorship and hands-on help in areas such as performance, design, and technical production. Our alumni's willingness to give back is a symbol of how important the ASH theater community has been in shaping their own lives, and we appreciate how they strengthen our theater community and create meaningful connections across generations of ASH performers and creators. Working alongside alumni enriches the learning experience for current students and helps them see that they are part of a long-standing tradition that has meant so much to so many people, and will continue to do so for years to come.