With PHUHS’s production of The Little Mermaid well underway, students are curious to hear more about the show’s preparation in anticipation for opening night: What really happens behind the scenes of PHUHS’s spectacles? 

Nick Silvestro (‘22): 

1. What is your favorite thing about being part of the drama program at PHUHS? 

“I would say my favorite part of the program is the people. In the last four years I have met some of the most amazing and talented people in the county and it has truly been a privilege to work and grow alongside them. I love working with the performers and technicians as they are all so hardworking and incredible.”

2. Is this your first production that you have participated in? 

“No, I have worked on every production possible since freshman year including Anne Frank, Mary Poppins, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Bright Star, and Almost Maine.”

3. What is it like to prepare for this production? What does the preparation entail?

“Preparing for the production is a long process filled with a multitude of design ideas, creating tech crews, and implementing the plans to make sure the show is completed on time.”

4. What’s your job title and what do you do? 

“My job title is the Troupe 5590 Technical Director, I am one of two with my co-Director being Erika Bruzual. Our jobs for a production are to create the crews for a show, approve the set design process, manage quotes for rental equipment, manage materials borrowed from other locations such as schools and local theaters for production elements needed, teach and guide crew members, facilitate the set construction and show designs for lighting sound and makeup, and to make sure that all the technical elements of the production are created and employed at the highest quality possible.”

5. What are you most excited for in this experience?

“I am always most excited for the end result of the show and seeing it all put together. I love seeing the crew’s hard work pay off to make a production beautiful, representing student creativity and imagination through the design process. I also love working with the team on our weekend work days because they are always filled with fun and exciting memories.”

6. How do you think this production relates to high schoolers in general?

“I think in the grand scheme of the show, The Little Mermaid relates to the growth through high school experience because just like Ariel, this is our time to break free of the restrictions of our past, to grow into a new world and see things from newer and more beautiful perspectives.”

Emrys Black (‘24): 

1 What is your favorite thing about being part of the drama program at PHUHS? 

“My favorite thing about being part of the drama program at PHUHS is definitely the people. My peers are some of the funniest and most talented people I know!”

2. What is it like to prepare for this production? What does the preparation entail?

“Preparation for a production as the stage manager consists of lots of spreadsheets! It’s my job to make sure everything is organized and the show runs smoothly.” 

3. What are you most excited for in this experience? 

“I am very excited to see all of our collective hard work pay off and come together during the show!”

If interested in how the hard work of our school’s crew and cast pays off, go see The Little Mermaid April 13-16, and follow @phutroupe5590 on Instagram for more updates about the show!