IND theatre students take on challenges in upcoming production of Peter Pan

Stage Manager Kelley Johnson directs Jessica Covington and Ciara Pitman

All it takes is faith and trust. But the thing that's a positive must, is a little bit of pixie dust. The dust is a positive must. You can fly! You can fly! You can fly!   -Peter Pan

Seniors Kelley Johnson and Hayley McLean have worked behind the scenes of plays and musicals for the past three years at the Institute of Notre Dame (IND). This year, as part of a program called Independent Research in Theater they are preparing to pull of a dramatic feat, in the school's production of Peter Pan. They are planning to have the characters fly across the stage and they are not using pixie dust.
 

Aubrey Janson (Liza) and Shannon Graham (Peter Pan) review lines

Independent Research in Theatre
IND's Independent Research/ Teaching Assistant in Theatre Arts is intended for serious theatre students. Girls assist in preparing scenery, designing costumes, running auditorium equipment, and stage-managing.

Kelley has a class period devoted to her independent study during which she plans details of the production, specifically costumes, scenery and set changes; she serves as Stage Manager back stage during the show. Hayley’s is similarly independent, but she also serves as a Teaching Assistant for the Stage Craft class, which focuses on behind-the-scenes and gives students hands-on experience preparing for productions.

Hayley coordinates props, costumes, makeup, lighting and scenery - the “Balcony Boss” for the actual productions. In the days leading up to the shows, the pair provides assistance to Director Mrs. Carolyn Buck and communicates with each other as well as cast and crew to make sure things run smoothly. 

“We have had students in leadership roles for our shows since the mid-1980s. Student stage managers, choreographers, dance captains, and set designers,” explains Buck, who has been IND's Drama Director for more than 23 years. “But the actual concept of earning academic credit as Teaching Assistants started in 2006.”

Grading for the Independent Research is based on the girls' research and work

Balcony Boss Hayley McLean and Crew Member Meghan Vaughn

In addition to a large cast and complex set changes in Peter Pan, the girls have arranged for Peter (Shannon Graham ’10), Michael (Shelby Pasko ’10) and Jane (Kayla Theis ’13) to fly across the IND stage.

“It’s going to be a challenge but very fun,” says Hayley. Kelley agrees, “I’m excited to pull off such a large undertaking for our senior show.”