The excellent actors in “Annie” shouldn’t get all the credit. Some of it goes to the crew. The crew member’s jobs are to keep all of the props in their spot, to control the lights, to move the stage pieces, and so much more. This is one of the first plays BMS has done in the last few years. 7th and 8th graders are producing this play.

Nate Hammond, a student in the light crew expresses why he wanted to join. “I think it would be kind of sick. Because during intermission you can eat. I thought it would be super fun. And it’s living up to my expectations.”

Aside from eating during intermission, Tyler Little, another student working in the light crew, told me that some people are divided into the set and light crew. One of the main jobs of both crews is “learning how everything works and what it does.” Tyler also told me that people working the lights can get splinters, along with burns, and the lights are easy to break. Bedford’s director for “Annie,” Ryan Smith, explains more aspects of the crew. “These are some of the hardest working people on the entire production, and a lot falls on their shoulders. And the show doesn’t go on without the crew, without all the work they do behind the scenes to make the show happen, sets don’t go on stage, the lights don’t turn on, the microphones don’t go on. They’re involved with all of the elements that make a show come to life.” The light crew only has two people working in the catwalk. The light crew also tracks the actors. The light crew has to follow a specific script so that they can keep the spotlight on the actors talking or singing.

The set crew waits backstage. When the lights darken before or during the show, they move the stage pieces into their exact location. This process takes eight people to move all of the pieces. It is their job to move quickly along the stage so that everything is ready to go by the time the actors are prepared for action.

Another important behind-the-scenes aspect of the musical is the sound and music, which is managed by two adults. Finally, the last group is the props crew. Their job is along the lines of the set crew. They keep track of all the small items used on-set by the actors, such as a blanket, utensils, and more.

As you can see, there are multiple roles besides the actors you see on stage that make a production come to life. Maybe you don’t want to be in front of the spotlight, but you can still be a part of the cast by managing the spotlight. There really is a “role” for everyone.