SpringArts is a senior-initiated, senior-organized and senior-run production that was started in the spring of 2012. Its intent is to showcase as many facets of the arts as possible as well as provide a forum for seniors to display talents or try their hand at directing ten-minute scenes.

Behind the scenes, senior Phoebe Copeland heads the event as the production director in addition to her typical role as the stage manager. Being the production director means more in this case than just organizing actors, however.

“[It involves dealing with] logistics and overall production details,” Copeland said. “So meeting with senior directors and giving them their production proposals, meeting with the advising seniors to determine basic…ground rules for what SpringArts is and what we do, getting poster design done, creating the program, contacting the parents for front-of-house assistance.” In the future, she hopes to split the roles between multiple people. Her position as a stage manager comes into play on the night of with coordination backstage.

Sophomore Megan Labarge acts as Phoebe’s assistant stage manager and will hopefully be able to take over the production at least in part next year.

“[In terms of backstage,] we open and close the curtains, we control the lighting, we move the set pieces and we get all the [ten-minute] shows set up. I [also] help out Phoebe [with] organizing when to rehearse and what to rehearse and get times and spaces set up for people to practice,” Labarge said.

This week of SpringArts was essential to the final production, because this is when it all came together. The week started off on Monday, April 27th, with all of the senior-directed shows coming together for a first run onstage.

“[Tuesday was] a tech talk-through and then Wednesday and Thursday [we did] runs of Act 1 and Act 2. Then [we’re] putting it all together Friday night for a full dress rehearsal before the performance Saturday,” Copeland said. This year’s schedule was an improved version of what was attempted last year.

“Last year, we had a singular dress rehearsal [on the Friday before the performance.] It was really stressful because no one knew what was going on, including me. We tried to just make it happen and it didn’t,” Copeland said. Acts have also had the task of rehearsing outside of this week, in order to be fully prepared for the performance on Saturday.

“All of the directors have held rehearsals for their plays, the people who are singing or dancing or reciting poetry or doing the other types of acts have been rehearsing in their own time and [now] we’ve run the acts all together onstage,” Labarge said. For her, the highlight of SpringArts is getting to see the seniors showcase their talents.

For the performance, Copeland has very straightforward goals: for it all to work out.

“The goal every year is to include as many facets of the arts as possible, so I’m hoping that will happen this year,” Copeland said. [Then] I’m hoping for things to run smoothly in terms of transitions and that we get a good turnout!”
The performance is at 7:00 on Saturday night. There is a suggested $3 donation and baked goods will be on sale during intermission.