Gallery • 12 Photos

Keira Kress

Director and senior Luke Boyce

How did you get involved with theater?

I did a lot of theater as a kid and then I got involved with CHS Theater because one of my friends actually encouraged me to audition for one of the summer shows, it’s called the Fringe Show. So I went and did that sophomore year and then after I loved it so much, I auditioned for the theater class and I’ve been in theater class for the last 3 years.

How do Studio One Acts differ from traditional plays?

The two other plays that we do at CHS are primarily based out of the theater class and we rehearse during class. This and the Studio One Acts are different because students from that class or just from the program in general are chosen to be directors and we rehearse outside of school. We don’t have to cast people who are specifically in the theater class so it’s a great way to involve people who want to be in the theater program who aren’t necessarily in the class.

What’s the most challenging part about preparing for a show as a director?

So previously in my experience I’ve only acted in the show, so I’ve only had to think about like my personal performance, but it’s been really interesting to have to think about all the different aspects of the show, like the costumes, the lighting, the scenery the props as well as what my actors are doing. So just really focusing on making sure all those elements come together to bring a show to life is probably the most difficult part.

What are you most excited about?

There’s a scene that we added the other day, it’s a chase scene and we added some water effects where someone gets splashed in the face and someone else gets slapped. There’s just some funny moments that I’m excited for the audience to see.

Cast member and junior Lexie Palmer

Why did you audition for this production?

l auditioned for the Studio One Acts also last year, and the reason I auditioned this year is because in the theater class that I’m in a lot of the people that are the directors are in the class, and they were recommending that everyone should audition.

How has this experience involving Carmel Theatre impacted you as a performer or person?

I really love the community that we have in Carmel Theatre. Everyone is so supportive and even just in the callbacks like people that were going for the same roles and that sort of thing, everyone was supporting each other, clapping for each other, like really excited just to have opportunities. I think that that’s impacted me as a person because it’s made me more positive and have closer friends, especially in the theater.

What’s been the most challenging part of the rehearsal process?

I would say that the most challenging part is just making sure that everyone feels included. Especially in our show, the character that I’m playing she’s making a lot of phone calls and so the people that she’s talking to have smaller parts, but they’re also still important to continue the story along. So I really think making sure that everyone feels welcome, like if they need help with something that they can always come to me or come to the directors, is important. We have a lot of people that don’t have any theater experience that are in our cast, which is amazing, one of the best parts about Studio One Acts, so making sure that those people have the resources that they need and understand what goes into a production is a priority.

What’s your favorite memory from working on this show?

My favorite memory from working on the show was one of our most recent rehearsals. We all just came in and instead of just running through the show like we had been, we kind of all just sat there and talked for like two hours, which was really amazing because it gave us an opportunity to kind of get to know each other better and it definitely made our cast closer.

Stage manager and junior Emily Kennedy

What is the day-to-day process of working as a stage manager?

How I was selected as a stage manager was we got signups sent out by our technical director. We got to pick our top three choices and then he sent out a crew list. As soon as the crew list got sent out the four stage managers got on a call together and we decided what show we were gonna do, and obviously I decided to do Evelyn (Foster)’s [Director] show Completely Absolutely Normal. I reached out to Evelyn, we planned what we were doing when we were meeting, and then I just started attending cast rehearsals. At those rehearsals I would take blocking notes, I would help run lines and then I would also gather information for all of the tech crew. So I needed to get what lights we wanted in the show, what sound we wanted in the show, the props and the run stuff, which is our set pieces. And then recently, we’ve just kind of been incorporating all of that together. Today we just did our first run through of stuff with some set pieces, but it’s been really fun, it’s been really rewarding and it’s super exciting.

What’s been the most challenging part of being a stage manager?

I think it just being a totally different type of technical theater. So l’ve done technical theater at the high school all three years, but  this is my first stage management experience and it’s something completely different. I have to take notes at all the rehearsals, I send out emails to parents, the cast and the crew and I feel like I’m more in charge of the show rather than a part of the show. I’ve run and been in charge of departments for shows like props or sound, but I’ve never made the show come to life like how I feel like I have now. It’s nice because I get to work more one on one with the cast and I get to know them and get to know their character, and I feel a more of a personal connection with the show because of how much time and effort I put into it with everyone.

How has this experience involving Carmel Theatre impacted you as a performer or person?

Technical theater at Carmel High School has straight up changed my life. They have made me the person I am today. They are my chosen family, and they get you on another level, because you are with them not only through everything, but through all the late nights, they see all the blood, sweat and tears that goes into the show. So if you mess up and do something wrong, they know exactly how to help you, because they know that they have needed that help before. It’s just a big community, and Carmel Theatre is so big and it has so many new ideas all the time that you’re never bored. Like, after this we’re setting up for our show Dracula in the fall and I’m one of the assistant stage managers for that show, and watching that come together, while watching Evelyn’s show come together while also doing our Indy Fringe Show, you are constantly moving and it really just connects you with the people you are working with.

What’s been your favorite rehearsal moment?

I think for this show, honestly, just getting to know Evelyn has been super exciting. I’ve obviously known of her and known people who know her, but really getting to know the person she is has been super fun and I really do consider her someone that I look up to in the way that she directs.