A few minutes with some of the talent behind (and on!) the different stages we all enjoy

…Hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol. And the music crackles to life! It’s Motzaei Shabbos Nachamu and everyone is coming together, hoping, and yearning for the Geulah.

If you’re in camp or together with family or friends, there’s no better way to celebrate than with music and an exciting performance, on stage, of course.

Ever wonder what it’s like to actually be the one in the spotlight? We were lucky enough to catch a few minutes with some of the talent behind (and on!) the different stages we all enjoy.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

The curtains open and a hush falls over the crowd. Spotlights illuminate the stage as the mics begin to hum. We’re captivated as the drama sucks us in. When the final scene unfolds, we leave, smiles on our faces. However, in our excitement, we often forget about the tireless team behind the scenes that brought the production to life.  Meet Mrs. R., a talented play director who has been directing plays in schools and camps for over ten years.

Getting Involved

The first time I got involved in directing plays (I had been acting for a few years) was about 11 years ago, when I was a staff member in Camp Bnos, and assisted Aidy Rabanowitz and Miriam Handler in the camp plays. After two years, I went on to head camp plays on my own and have been putting on plays for about eight years now, baruch Hashem.

The Responsibility

When you come as part of the audience, you see a full picture. When you’re involved in one specific part of a play, you’ll notice that detail. But when you are the play director, you’re the one keeping track of every single part of it. As a director, I have to collaborate with a lot of people. There is the stage crew, props, costumes, lighting, music, dances, choirs, etc. Since it’s impossible for one person to do it all, I delegate each job to another “head.” Finding the right “heads” for each detail of the play is a pretty difficult task. As much as I get involved, it’s really up to the capable heads to help achieve the vision I imagined.

The Best Part

There’s a lot of satisfaction in directing a play. I love working with girls, building their confidence and helping them shine. Being able to put girls onstage who don’t exactly excel in other areas and watch them really develop their talents is very satisfying. Every year the head counselor tells me, “I can’t wait to see who you put onstage — every year you shock me.”