Behind the curtain of every Archer production, students scramble to bring a script to life. With props, set design and lighting, a production could not be complete without the work of the student technology crew.
Sophomore Gaia Bhavsar, the assistant stage manager of the upper school play “Fall into the Stars,” has been on the crew for every theater production since the beginning of her freshman year. From setting props to adjusting actors’ costumes and ensuring quick changes go smoothly, Bhavsar takes on multiple key responsibilities behind the scenes.
The Oracle sat down with Bhavsar before the production, which ran March 13-15, to discuss the process and responsibilities of being an assistant stage manager.
How has the rehearsal process been?
Gaia Bhavsar [GB]: The rehearsal process definitely had a bit of a rocky start because of the fires. Auditions were pushed back two weeks, but the cast pulled through so well and caught up to speed and were really on top of it. Because of the play being written by [Tracy Poverstein] herself, it definitely took a lot of work from both cast, crew and Ms. Pov to put together because there isn’t an official version of the show for people to rely on as support when they’re practicing. However, besides that, it’s been coming together really nicely. Everyone has been taking responsibility and putting in a lot of work. I think it’s going to be a great show.
How do you make sure the cast stays calm and collected under the pressure of an upcoming show?
[GB]: We have our pre-start-of-show traditions, which brings everyone together, and everyone just takes a minute to take a deep breath in to remember that we’ve put so much into the show, and we are there to show that to the audience. And I think doing that is a great reminder for everybody that, at the end of the day, it’s just a show, but there’s so much that they’ve done — and everyone’s so proud of them no matter what, so just to do their best and really don’t overthink it.
What skills do you think are crucial for your role?
[GB]: You definitely need to have time management skills because the amount of rehearsals is definitely a lot to manage with the balance between school and the shows. You need to be able to communicate with your teachers, stay on top of your assignments and just be proactive about what you have to do so that you don’t fall behind. You [also] need to take accountability, because everyone has a certain prop they’re supposed to put somewhere in a specific time or costume you’re supposed to bring down at a certain time. You need to be able to take accountability for your responsibilities and get them done. And then, for collaboration, there’s a lot of people in the cast, there’s a lot of different crew, and, at the end day, no one’s better than anyone. We need to be able to all work together, and we all have the same goal and hope. We’re all working for the same prize, so it’s important that everyone can just be able to collaborate and work together to make the show go as smoothly as it can.
What advice would you give someone who wants to be on the tech crew or be a stage manager?
[GB]: I would say just put yourself out there. I remember when I started in ninth grade, it was something my eighth grade mentor had told me about right before summer, and I did not want to do it. I was the most introverted person. I did not care at all about getting involved, but my parents pushed me to, and I ended up doing it, and I don’t think I could be more grateful. I immediately made friends with people in other grades. Some of my closest friends now are people who have graduated. There’s so much you get out of [being on tech], but you can’t realize that until you put yourself out there. So I’d say take that risk and really push yourself to do it because at the end of day, it’s so worth it.
