The curtain may rise on the actors, but the story of the fall play runs deeper than what the audience sees. From the performer memorizing lines and creating characters to the tech crew designing sets, managing lights, and building the world behind the scenes, the production of The Play That Goes Wrong is a true team effort. For many students, this play is more than just a performance- it’s a chance to serve their talent and hard work on stage. And though the tech crew’s dedication often goes unnoticed, their behind-the-scenes service ensures the show shines for everyone. Together, they create more than just a play; they build an experience that unites cast, crew, and audience alike.
For senior Molly Rynne, ’26, who plays Sandra, the challenge of the role has pushed her to grow as a performer. “Being in the play has challenged me as a performer by Sandra being different from characters I have played before,” she said. While stepping into a new role can be difficult, Rynne enjoys the creative process. One of her favorite moments has been learning the blocking and seeing how the scenes fit together.
Junior Eric Rogers, ’27, who plays Max, says the play allows him to explore a fun and expressive side of acting. “I enjoy being able to act in an ‘over-the-top’ manner and present a variety of emotions and mannerisms,” he shared. For him, the stage is a place to be creative and not afraid to be silly.
Balancing school with rehearsals is another challenge cast members face. Rynne explained, “I balance my schoolwork by doing my best to finish it during school and before rehearsal or any other things I have to do.” Despite the busy schedule, she describes the play in three words: “funny, mysterious, and unexpected.”
But while the cast gets the spotlight, the tech crew works tirelessly to make the production possible. Annabelle Deang, ’26, who serves as assistant stage manager, explained her role: “During rehearsal, I’m taking notes on the movements of the actors and set pieces. During tech week, I’m assigning roles to stagehands and making sure everything runs smoothly.”
For the tech crew, their work is more than just backstage logistics-it’s a way of serving the community. “Tech crew is a form of service because you are focused on the details which can be tedious at times, but overall, a fun thing to do,” Annabelle said. “Being a part of tech crew also helps bring joy to the audience since you get to help others do what they’re passionate about.”
Beyond service, the tech team is building life skills that go far beyond the stage. “Problem-solving is the biggest skill I’ve learned in tech,” the assistant stage manager shared. “Many things go wrong during production, and you must be able to think quickly. It’s also helped me with communication because I work with the actors, tech crew, and the director.”
Both the cast and crew hope the audience notices the effort poured into this year’s play. As one tech crew member put it: “I would want people to notice that tech crew puts in a lot of effort to the productions, though it’s usually hard to tell.”
Together, the cast and crew bring laughter, surprises, and creativity to the stage. Their collaboration shows that a play is more than lines or light-it’s about service, teamwork, and creating a shared experience for the entire school community.
This fall, St. Edward High School Proudly presents The Play That Goes Wrong on the 17th, 18th and 19th of October in the school auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/st-edward-central-catholic-hs/68b86bd9cf3fd51011c8b6cb/tickets?ots-cmpgn-refer=SOCIAL3W&utm_source=OnTheStage&utm_medium=ayrshare&utm_campaign=SOCIAL3W or at the door. The cast and crew invite everyone to come out for a night of comedy, creativity, and fun- while supporting the hard work and dedication of their classmates who bring this chaotic and hilarious play to life.
