Steps To The Stage
Steps To The Stage
Chino Hills HS Theatre: STTS Drama Department
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Courage looks different under stage lights. We sit down at Chino Hills High School’s theater to unpack how a training-first program turns nervous auditions into confident performances, and how a tight-knit ensemble carries each other through missed cues, costume malfunctions, and the rush of opening night. With director Kerry Rupe at the helm and students Anthony, Drake, Angie, and Shelby sharing the mic, we trace real journeys from backstage to center stage—and the life skills that stick long after the curtain falls.
We dive into the choices that built a powerhouse program: closing some productions to class members to strengthen commitment and shared vocabulary, then keeping the spring musical open to discover hidden talent school-wide. The team breaks down how ambitious titles like Little Shop of Horrors, Newsies, Puffs, and Legally Blonde come to life with serious sets, lighting, sound, and costumes. You’ll hear why tech isn’t background—it’s a character with its own voice—and how stage management and design develop leadership, empathy, and precision. Along the way, students explain how theater became their community, contrasting the scoreboard pressure of sports with the ensemble mindset that meets people where they are and grows them.
We also explore how the program reaches beyond the stage. From the Princess Tea fundraiser that doubles as long-form improv training to PR crews mixing hallway posters with TikTok and Instagram, this group treats outreach like part of the craft. Cross-school partnerships boost attendance and celebrate a bigger truth: there’s room for everyone when the goal is great theater. As Little Shop heads into tech week, energy runs high, ticket sales climb, and students reflect on dancing, timing, and playing iconic roles with fresh choices. It’s a portrait of arts education at its best—bold shows, steady mentorship, and a culture that turns fear into fuel.
If you care about student creativity, community theater, or the behind-the-scenes alchemy that makes a musical sing, hit play and share this one with a friend. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell us: what moment first made you fall in love with the stage?
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Welcome And Theme Of Resilience
SPEAKER_01Failure happens, right? Sometimes you don't get the part that you're looking for, sometimes that costume unbutton, or the mic falls right in the middle of the interview. Welcome to Steps to the Stage Drama Department, a 7th Street Theater podcast featuring local area Inland Empire School's Drama Department. Welcome everyone, far and wide to Steps to the Stage Drama Department. My name's Kirk. I'm gonna be your host today. We are so excited to do another episode of Drama Department. It's been a little bit, and we get to showcase and highlight this amazing theater troupe in Chino Hills at Chino Hills High School. And it's the Chino Hills Theater Department. Yes. Can I say that? And we have the director Carrie here, and we also have Anthony, Drake, Angie, and Shelby who are part of this theater troupe, and we're going to learn more about them. But before we get started, I came in today and I see this. Well, first beautiful theater. Secondly, this stage that's got all this activity with you know everyone running around in the booth on stage getting ready. I get a feeling like something's about to happen. Am I am I off base here?
SPEAKER_06No, you're picking up on it.
SPEAKER_01I'm picking up on it. Okay, cool. Well, we're gonna start off here with Carrie. Um, Carrie, is it Rup? Rup. Roop, sorry, that's why I asked. And Carrie has been the director here for on the website it says 12 years. Is that accurate?
SPEAKER_06Oh, well, no, now math 2013.
SPEAKER_01So longer than 12 years. Any of you math and people, just do the math and 13.
SPEAKER_00Thank you.
SPEAKER_01And has been teaching for then what would be 18 years. And and um with a theater degree from Cal State University Fullerton, Go Titans. And um, and has also your master's degree as well. Yes. So someone who has experience directly in the theater world world and got her education, I love hearing that because I have kids that are getting their theater education as well. Um, so uh tell me a little bit about your time here and tell me about this theater company and your experience, Carrie.
Carrie’s Path From English To Theater
SPEAKER_06Okay. Um my time here. Well, I started out as an English teacher here, and um, I came in uh really just as a choreographer. I had going back, I had spent 20, 30 years actually as a performer in um community theater and civic light operas around Southern California, and considered myself mainly a dancer. So at my former school, I was the choreographer there, and they had asked me to take over the theater program, and my kids were babies, and I said, No, I don't, I don't think so. That's a lot of work. And then um, I ended up, we moved out here. I came out here, I was teaching English. They asked me to take over the program. I said, No, I don't think I can, it'll take up a lot of time. And then they asked me again, and by the third time, I'm like, okay, this is chasing me.
SPEAKER_01That was the charm.
SPEAKER_06Uh-huh. I thought, okay, the universe is telling me that this is what I need to be doing. And why am I lugging English essays home every day for them to sit in the backseat of my car and not get graded? And so I took it over. And for a while I was directing and choreographing. Um, and it's just been, I don't know, it's been a process. I've just to try to make it, I don't want to say my own because it's not mine, but just to has you have a little bit of a stamp of your personality.
A Vibrant Program And Big Shows
SPEAKER_01And, you know, you've mentioned you have quite a bit of experience, you have an education. I think that's fantastic for those that are with us, right? To see someone that can get an education in theater and can make a career of it. And while you're making the career, you're also putting on art for a community, right? Right. And you're planting the seeds of theater love with these wonderful people. So I mean that's fantastic. And then as I did my research, I was just blown away, you guys. So you have a uh PP production and performance, you have advanced theater, you have improv and sketch. Did I get that correct? Am I missing anything?
SPEAKER_06Um P Advanced. I mean, we have an intro to theater. Long form is our sketch.
SPEAKER_01Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_06Stagecraft. Stagecraft.
Student Spotlights: Anthony’s First Year
SPEAKER_01Okay. So a vibrant theater department. And and I just want our listeners, these are um outside of this little shop of horrors, if we haven't said it, is the next production that's coming up. You guys on this stage have done Legally Blonde, you've done Puffs, you've done Newsies, you've done Aladdin Jr., and that's just in the last year. So, you know, for those of you that are out there, you know, these aren't just small productions that you just kind of figure out. Like you have massive sets, you have costuming, you have, well, the rights alone because of the names cost money. So you're taking on what I I see as adventurous productions, and I love that. So I want to move over and I want to learn who you guys are and your history journey and um, you know, a little bit about your place in the department. So, Anthony.
SPEAKER_04Hi.
SPEAKER_01Hi. Tell me how long have you been in theater? Uh, I've been in theater for only one year. This is my first year. I love that. I love that when we get to interview people and it's their first year, and you could just see that look in their eye, like, okay, we got them. So sorry, I sorry to interrupt. So you've been been in for a year. Yeah. Okay. And do you have like a specific role? Are you part is there a leadership team, or is there some departments have, you know, tell me more about yourself.
SPEAKER_04Well, in terms of production, I just tag along with the uh set crew and try and build, help out as much I can.
SPEAKER_01So you're doing a lot of backstage stuff.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, but for this production, I'm playing Mr. Mushnick.
SPEAKER_01Oh, okay, wonderful.
SPEAKER_04And is that been your first role on stage or uh well I was in Puffs as like kind of an extra in the song? I got to play Emmett Forrest, which is pretty fun.
SPEAKER_01All right. And then yeah. So exciting getting used to learning your lines and understanding who your character is and that development.
SPEAKER_04So exciting. It's the most fun I think I've had in so long.
SPEAKER_01And I have to imagine you've made some pretty good friends here at your time here in the in the troop in the department. Yeah. Yeah. This is an audio only podcast, but I always have to comment sometimes with the reaction of our guests and and people that, you know, we're in this theater and we've got a few people that are kindly allowing us to record while you're knee deep in your preparation. But I love the the iConnects and and everything that goes on beyond that. Anthony, uh, um so are you a senior, junior? What what year are you?
SPEAKER_04I'm a junior.
SPEAKER_01Junior. So you get one more year. Get one more year and then maybe look into college or or yeah, it and it's that made that type of an impact for you. I think so. Did you join just because you had to fill in an elective? Or did you have a you can be honest?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Please, we we want that. We really do because people come from all walks of life. I I've interviewed just recently with our other podcasts gentlemen that hadn't been on stage for 20 and 30 years, and they're just getting back into it. So it's one of those things that you can walk away from a while and come back, but go ahead, sorry.
SPEAKER_04Uh well, I've been actually wanting to join for like a really long time. I was even asking people like Shelby about it, like sophomore freshman year about how to join. And it was just a lot of terminology and stuff I didn't I wasn't familiar with, so I was just a little shy to join. And I didn't realize how good we are. Like our program is really, really good, and we put on amazing shows. Yes, you do. So once you get to be a part of it and see all the behind, like how much work it takes just to get like a couple weeks of shows, but it's still like the best shows that isn't it amazing. It's so good.
Finding Belonging And Confidence
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I I always make the analogy for those that have been involved in sports because I was involved involved in the sports. Each production is like a season, right? You do all that prep work leading up to it. And then you do however many performances would be like the games, but like when you're done, it's just like you are in sports, you'll be connected to that group forever. So thank you so much, Drake. Let's hear a little bit about you and your journey into theater and and and here specifically at Chino House.
SPEAKER_03Okay, so originally I actually did not want to do theater at all. I was very good to be honest, very, very against it. And going into high school, my brothers both did theater and they both really wanted me to do it. They're like, it's gonna be so much fun, and it's a lot, but you're gonna have so much fun. And I was just like, I don't think it's for me. So I started out in one of the stage tech classes here because I was like, okay, backstage is something I can do because memorizing lines and singing that sounds like a much. Yeah, but it's not me. And luckily, I got put in the fifth period, which was the P class, which is the highest level class. So I got to like witness all of them working and like doing their things, and eventually I started to like talk to all these people and just get along with them. And eventually I learned that maybe I do want to do performing. And so near the end of the year, I did the I think it was Beauty and the Beast.
SPEAKER_06Was it? Yeah, it was our this time of year.
SPEAKER_03Yes. That was the third show, and I was like, wow, I have made so many more friends just by being here. Like my high school career so far, even though it was only a few months, was boring up until I joined theater.
SPEAKER_01Do you hear that, everyone? It was boring until theater. I like that. Well, that's fantastic. And are you what particular role in your upcoming production are you on a role? Are you with the the tech side or um for this production? I'm playing the dentist, Orn Scribello. Oh, goodness gracious me.
SPEAKER_05Have you got your hands full?
SPEAKER_01Have you got your hands full? Well, that's exciting. So thank you so much. Well, Shelby, uh, I have a little history with, right?
SPEAKER_05Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_01And um, she's been very involved in in uh some of the other theaters that that I've been involved with and and and my kids. So I'm gonna shut up and I'm gonna let you tell your story because you tell it much better than I do.
SPEAKER_02Well, thanks. Um, so I'm a junior here this year, and this is my I think it's my 18th show overall, and my probably like fifth or sixth show here. And so yeah, it's pretty fun. My brother did theater here too. So then I was like, I might as well, you know? Yeah. And it's really fun. And so for this show, we are having six urchins instead of three. Okay. And so me and Angie are both um three urchins, or we're both urchins, so that's really fun. And I love that. So we get to sing all the songs and do all the dances, and it's a lot of work, but it's definitely worth it, you know.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Okay, Angie, you're next.
SPEAKER_00Hello.
SPEAKER_01Hello, everyone, and here we are with Angie.
SPEAKER_00Hi, everyone. Um, my name is Angie. Um I'm a senior uh at Chino Hells High School Theater. I am, well, if we get into it, I am theater club president. Um and so it's just like I don't know, like this program has brought so much life like into my life, like so much light and love. I've made like so many good friendships here. And it just like the bond that you have with your friends in theater, it's not anything like like anything I've done before. I've done sports before. I was involved in volleyball my freshman year, and then I like came into theater. I went from volleyball to theater, and then making me cry.
SPEAKER_06I mean that's not hard to do.
SPEAKER_01That's a good no, that's a great.
Program Structure And Training Philosophy
SPEAKER_00Sorry, go ahead, Angie. Yeah. Um, but I just like the difference I felt like in volleyball, I was like, yeah, this is fun, but like I don't feel like there's any like lasting impact on me. Like I feel a little left out sometimes. It's like depending on how good I am at the sport, it felt like my um my friendships depended on my performance. But here it's like we get to work on it together, we get to like fine-tune our like um skills, and it's just like they meet you where you're at. And even if you're like, Oh, I'm like not talented, like I don't know, I'm so nervous. Like, it's like you get to work that out with also like close friends and just you're surrounded by love, and you're also when you go on stage, it's just like so different. Like the first um like roar of the audience, like the first time I heard the applause, it was insane. And it's just like I never wanted to like leave.
SPEAKER_01That's fantastic. And I love that um description that you made, you know, in regards to your volleyball career in sports, and you know, so much of it is dependent on wins and losses, right? And and those types of stats. And that's the beauty of theater, right? The wins are that you put on a production, that you had the courage to audition, that you had the guidance, that you had the support from friends and family, um, and that you got on stage, that you did all the things, right? Because your costume is no different than putting a glove on or you know, tying your your your cleats up. It's the same thing, right? You're blocking are your plays, your dialogue. That's that's your skills out there. So just a wonderful and beautiful description, and thank you so much. And I don't question for a second why you're the president. And uh I'm I'm glad that this troop has the leadership that I'm hearing and witnessing um on all levels from the director on down. So thank you so much, everyone, for introducing yourselves. Um, I think it's important, right? Because our our listeners and our audience need to know that sometimes you just don't quite have that courage yet, and you just got to take that step. And you know what? Failure happens, right? Sometimes you don't get the part that you're looking for, sometimes that costume unbuttons, or the mic falls right in the middle of the interview, or the wig falls off right on the stage, right, Angela? Right. So that all happens and it's real life, and and you just deal with it and you make it a win. The show must go on. The show must go on. Listen to this. So um, I want to hear more about um the program itself and kind of your approach. How many people give us some more insight into the program?
SPEAKER_06Oh, as far as how many people, I don't know. I it's hard to say because we have well, okay. We have about 60 give or take students who are in the I I would call them the higher level classes that do most of the shows.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_06But some of the shows are open to anyone in the theater department, and the spring show is usually open, the spring musical is open to anyone in the school. And it's, you know, it was hard when I first came in, everything was open to everybody. And I do see the value in that because there are a lot of people out there that can't fit in their schedule and they're talented. And but I also witnessed, like I said, I came in as a choreographer first, but I would witness this, there wasn't the buy-in because they didn't have to. And when they were faced with having to make decisions with electives, there was, oh, well, I'll just take this and just be in the theater shows. And that was difficult because then there was there wasn't the commitment, there wasn't the allegiance to the program, there wasn't the investment. And so I had to do a really at the time kind of tough thing and say, hey, we're closed to the class.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
Fundraisers, Outreach, And Social Media
SPEAKER_06And I was really strict about like it for a little bit because I just had to build that group of committed people who thought, okay, it's worth it to me. I understand the need to be in the class and learn the skill. Cause I do believe you can learn a lot through performance, but it's hard to work with performers who don't, like you said, the terminology, you know, they don't know what upstage and downstage is. And when I say, okay, commit and lean into the risk, and they're just looking at me blank, you know, I don't know what any of this means. So I did think that there was more of a value in getting them in the class and training and building skills. And then I thought, okay, well, the spring musical musical can stay open to everybody, and that way we can find those hidden gems out there and maybe you know, hook them, get them to like how many productions a year do you put on? Oh wow, probably too many, no. Um we put on uh a play, a full-length play, a one act, and what it had been was two musicals and and a cabaret. Okay, and then it became two musicals and a junior musical, and somehow this year it became three musicals. I don't know how that happened, but it happened in the world.
SPEAKER_01Well, I'm sure you guys are pretty excited about that. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And then and then I also, as I was doing a little research, I see you do some other like fundraising events, I would guess. Like the T is Princess T, yes. Yeah. Angie Shelby, you want to tell us a little bit about that?
SPEAKER_00So Princess T is basically um like a meet and greet almost for like princesses and like fairy tale characters for like the younger children of the community. Um and like I it's just like activities for the little children, but like as performers, we also get to um like hone in on our improv skills and just like just committing like an hour of just like improv, like long, long form improv kind of. Yeah, like I don't know how to do that.
SPEAKER_02I don't think people some like people realize how hard it is to stay committed to that character for such a long time, and you know, like ask the little kids asking so many random questions, and you know, you have to think off off on the top of your head, you know.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's great. That's what it sounds like. And and how long has the tea been going on?
SPEAKER_06Is that something new or is that no, that went was going on before I took over, and there may have been years here and there where we didn't do it.
SPEAKER_01Got it.
SPEAKER_06In fact, you know, COVID, I think it we stopped it for a few years and just brought it back maybe three years ago. Something like that.
SPEAKER_01And are there other fundraising events that you put on throughout the year?
SPEAKER_06We used to do haunted theater. Okay, which then we would transform this whole space into a haunted maze type of thing. Um, but it it gets it's a lot.
SPEAKER_01It you it commands Well, it sounds like you're also doing more than the average drama department, theater drama department. So which is fine, and that's fundraising unto itself, right? And do you feel like you have pretty good uh commitment from the community and and yeah?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, definitely.
SPEAKER_01Cool. Yeah. What are some of the outreach things that you guys are doing to to get people to come and see? Is there Anthony or Drake any any input on that outside of word of mouth? Do you guys did you go out into the school? Is there things you can um you know put up a table and say, hey, come see our play? or I don't think we've done anything like that.
Skills Theater Teaches Students
SPEAKER_03No, but some things we do do is we reach out through Instagram and TikTok, like our choreography choreographer, Maddie. Miss Maddie. Miss Maddie.
SPEAKER_01Hello, Miss Maddie. She has helped us. Miss Maddie is off to our left and she's making sure that we are on cue and that we are doing our our our proper performance. Go ahead. Sorry to interrupt.
SPEAKER_03It's all right. Um, I think she's really helped reach our program out to people in the area. Okay, especially with TikTok and how it is with reaching out to people.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, your social media presence is great, you know.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, it kind of blew up at one point.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I think that's so important, right? Because I I understand, like I do my very best, obviously, to try and keep up with it. And and and it's difficult, but it is important. I think it's necessary. And especially since the people that are gonna come, that's kind of their way to consume. Right, right, and get give them an idea of what they want to do. So kudos. And and is there someone in that's oversees it or is there a committee, or tell us about your approach to social media?
SPEAKER_00Well, it's well, I um I'm part of the PR crew, which we do like two forms of advertising. We also have we have social media, like we are talking about, and then we also have like school approach. Um like we make big posters, we make little posters around school to promote to the students because honestly, like it's um easiest to promote to the students because they're just they live around the area, so it's easiest for them to just come out after school um at like 7 p.m. to come watch our shows. And it's like that. And we also have the social media presence where we just we're like, okay, so does anyone want to make a TikTok video? Like, anyone have ideas?
SPEAKER_01And we're just like, yeah.
SPEAKER_06And we're like, let's vlog today, you know? You know what's cool about the social media. What happened with that is we ended up making friends with other theater department high school theater departments, and so now we have they're awesome. Like we all advertise for them and they'll advertise for us. Like there are a couple of schools in particular that now come to Every one of our shows, and we go to theirs. So that's been fun because we've got to meet other.
Little Shop Of Horrors Prep And Hype
SPEAKER_01Taking on this project, and again, it was just focused on one theater and then expanded into a couple theaters and then expanded into, you know, the the high school departments. And I'm blown away by our area in the inland empire and the amount of theaters for both young and old, right, to be able to come and and and and ply their craft, right? It's it's it's so important. And like I'd mentioned before, you know, a couple of actors that had been 20 years, 30 years since they've been on stage, you know, but they they get that, and and I love that that it's there. And I also like now I mentioned this quite a bit on on on our on our episodes, is that there's an audience now, right? Theater growing up for me, being an older guy, like it was the oh no, the theater kids, right? The theater kids. Well, now people want to be a theater kid, and that's a good thing, and they should. And it's just such a great way to express yourself. And I love that they're um, you know, everyone's heard of Hamilton, everyone's heard of these big productions that are going on. Um, and and so you have that in the zeitgeist, as it were, and it and I would imagine it helps to to grow your program, right? Is because there's an acceptance to it and there's an understanding of it, and that's the biggest thing. So um, so I love that. And I love hearing that that you are working with other theater departments as well, because I think that is we should not be competing.
SPEAKER_06Right.
SPEAKER_01Right? It is not one school versus another, it's both schools having their theater filled, selling tickets so that they could put on more productions, and that and that's it, and supporting each other. I love that. And I love seeing the post too, right? Because I follow it all and see, oh hey, you know, this school is at this school. And and I that's just that's just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant thing that's going on here. Uh, I seem excited because I'm very excited.
SPEAKER_06I I agree with you. It's nice because there's just there's so much room for good theater and you just it's inspiring too. My my younger daughter's in a show right now, and I just went to see her show, and it's like, oh, it just kind of energizes you to go back to your own show and go, okay, it just re-energizes you, especially because it's so tiring and exhausting. Sometimes it's just fun to see good theater.
SPEAKER_01Anthony, I'd like to hear from you. It's just been a year, but you know, what are some of those skills that theater has you you think you've improved upon or learned or that theater has provided for you?
SPEAKER_04Uh well, this show I'm getting used to dancing and moving my body a little bit more than the last one because Emmett Forrest doesn't dance at all, but Mr. Mushnick whips out a couple moves here. Oh mush. So, yeah, it's definitely that's definitely where I'm trying trying to put uh a lot of like attention towards because I know it's like a really it's the one of the biggest aspects of like musical theater to be able to do that and just whip out moves.
SPEAKER_01Your next spotlights on you. Give it give us some insight into the theater and how that's impacted you as a person.
SPEAKER_03I think theater has impacted me as a person because honestly, just the people around me have taught me to be a better person. I feel like maybe I wasn't the best person before sometimes.
SPEAKER_05Thank you for your honesty.
SPEAKER_03But I think a lot of people around me have showed me how like it is to work as a team and to bond with other people for a long, long time.
Tech Crew Shoutouts And Leadership
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's great. I I mean, theater, it it I don't think people really stop and think about the life skills that it can give you, right? Just memorizing your lines, getting prepared for if you do public speaking or if you have to do something in front of a crowd, the um, the improv nature of things, as you guys had mentioned, the coordination in life, right? Just walking, putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes can be difficult, but right, theater gives you those those insights. Um, and and and I especially love to hear, especially when I talk to directors that see students that have graduated, right, been a part of your program, come back and you know, just to visit or to come and see a production and just go, thank you. Yeah, right. And they show you and tell you about where their life is. And it it's it's just magical, I think. So um, so let's talk a little bit about the upcoming production. So we've got Little Shop of Horrors, it is uh opening night is the 18th of February, and we have performances on the 20th and the 21st as well. And um, if you're listening and you want to come and you're in the area, visit their socials, the Chino Hills High School Theater socials. You've got a link in there where you can buy tickets. Um, but follow them anyway just so that you can support them. But I want to hear a little bit about this production and where you're at, and you you're opening up pretty quick.
SPEAKER_06We are, it's really quick. So we're starting tech week. We're starting actually today we tech watch run through where our all our kids who haven't been around with the backstage, they're gonna look at it and start taking their notes and see what they're going to be working on for the next week and a half. So that's where we are with it. And um, I don't know, the show has just a lot of energy. It's a it's a fun show. I've said probably five times, ten times, why have I waited so long to do this show?
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_06But sometimes it's just, you know, timing. Um I don't know. It's we're in a I'm scared to say we're in a good spot, you know. Knock on one. I'm sure I'll have a meltdown in a couple days.
SPEAKER_01But that's part of being in a good spot, right? Right. And that meltdown is going to push you to the next level. Absolutely. Any had you are you familiar with Little Shop of Hoarders? Has anyone here seen or the movie or seen another production of it? The movie, yeah.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, the movie.
SPEAKER_01Okay. And your impressions?
SPEAKER_03Uh I think the musical is definitely like I was originally thinking it was gonna be like the same exact thing as the movie, but it's honestly it has its own twist. Like at the end, different things happen. I don't want to spoil it.
SPEAKER_00Spoil it. I actually had no idea what Little Shop of Horrors was, except for the songs. I've just heard it here and there because the songs are so good. But I I was like a little reluctant, but I was like, I I think I can give this a try, you know. And it was honestly like best investment, you know. Like, I think it's such a great show. We have such good synergy too. The cast, the bond is amazing.
SPEAKER_01I really love being a person of an older generation that these are classics that are being introduced to this generation that may not have the experience with it. And what I really like is yes, you can watch uh, you know, the movie or other production, but you can put your own energy into it, right? And and make it your own. And and I think that's a great beautiful thing about theater as well, is it's how it's happening that night, right? And as you and and I've only been in a couple of productions, right? I'm I'm a performer, I'm a musician, and I've only been in a couple of productions, but it was amazing to me with each production that confidence that I got in the lines, in the blocking, and my interacting, you know, with with fellow actors. And just all of a sudden, when it's right there, it's closing night. I know. But uh, it's still just an amazing experience. So, well, that's good to hear that you have a little bit of background behind it, but that you are giving it your own personal touch. I think that's really important. And does it feel like you're gett getting some ticket sales? We feel like we're doing okay.
Closing Gratitude And Community Support
SPEAKER_06Yes, actually, I I feel like we don't do a lot of pre-sale, or at least it's not, yeah. Yeah. And the other day I just happened to hop onto the website and it was already kind of wow, it's taken off already. I love it. It was already maybe two and a half, three weeks from opening. So I was kind of surprised at that. I'm sad it's only a weekend.
SPEAKER_01We really wanted to try to put two weekends in there, but and and does that happen on other productions that you get two weekends in, or is it two?
SPEAKER_06Normally we are two weekends. The this used to be where the junior show goes, and that was always a weekend. So that's really why it was, but yeah, that's yeah, just happened.
SPEAKER_01That's all good. Anything else that we are maybe some of the other people that are involved um we can give a shout out to or that you're working with? Stage manager, and just yeah. Let's talk about the rest of the program, right? I mean, you're the lucky ones that get to talk, but you need to represent the rest of these wonderful people that are around us.
SPEAKER_02Definitely. Everyone who works in the booth, they are so hardworking. And if you are any type of tech person, sitting in the audience, watching the lights, listening to the sound, it's so great. It's just beautiful.
SPEAKER_01It's a character.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Right. We talk about that on so many episodes. That that the sound, the lighting, the set, the costumes, it's so important. It's it's a character.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, they're right back there still working. I just love that our lighting, the the student that's working on right now, Josh. Shout out to Josh. I mean, he sat down in the audience and watched us do a couple numbers or run through stuff, and he's like, I could see him doing this with his hands, and he's like already in his mind thinking, lighting how I'm gonna make this look really good. And I love that they all just well, we say this in improv make each other look good, make your partner look good. And I love that they do it across the board. They just want to help make each other look good.
SPEAKER_01That's fantastic, Anthony. I need a call out because someone that's really impacted you, that's not on the at the table right now in your department, in this department. Well, shout out Kyle Baja.
SPEAKER_04He's playing RC Moore, and he's he's just he's so good. That's great. I know he's he uh auditioned for newsies, right? He just out of nowhere. I know his sister's been involved in the program, but he's getting involved and just seeing him like break out of his like shell and just getting so like into it, like it just That's great.
SPEAKER_02And he's only a sophomore, and he's got the most incredible voice you've ever heard. He's phenomenal.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01It's it is great to see as you know, with a high school program, right? You have the students that have to go through, right? And you get these talents that come along, and sometimes only for a year, but sometimes all four years. And uh, it's just it's gotta be great to see that development. Um well, is there anyone else you want to talk about or anything we should know about your program be um before we wrap up here?
SPEAKER_06I feel like we should shout out Alana Stage. She's been stage manager or assistant stage manager for a lot of productions. She just works really hard behind the scenes, really hard. She just, I don't even know how to describe it, but just doesn't feel like I sometimes forget, oh, you're a kid. Like, you know, you just has it together and and has the ability to work well with everybody and can be a leader, but not, you know, it's hard at this age. Sometimes they think leading means being bossy.
SPEAKER_01And yeah, I mean, sometimes it's the example that you have, so that's the only way you you would know how to lead, right? Right. So that makes sense.
SPEAKER_06And then they don't understand when they don't reach people and people don't want to listen to them. And she's just from day one, everybody's had the utmost respect for her, and she's been great, just learning on the job too, always wanting to know different aspects. She also helps build sets. She has designed, she designed our puff set. I mean, it's just she's great too. And I think she deserves a shout out because she's always back there. We don't get to see her.
SPEAKER_01I love it. I love it. Well, everyone, this has been a fantastic discussion. I really appreciate you giving us some of your time and giving us some of your insights. I know it's going to be a fabulous production. I'm going to do my very best to come out and and check it out. Um, thank you so much for your dedication to your not only your theater troupe, but to your school and to drama in general. Um, and we ask everyone out there, please support your local community theaters, your local school, schools that are putting on productions. It's so important for you to go out there, um, like, subscribe to all the socials from the from the theater programs that are in your area, like and subscribe for us. We appreciate that. That gives us a big outreach. We want to say hello to all of our listeners that are across the pond and and all around the world, and especially all the ones that are here nearby. Please come and get your tickets and support this fabulous, amazing program. You are all amazing individuals. And um, I gotta say, as uh in a couple of recent um a couple of recent episodes, we had some smaller kids that were on, right? And and I was blown away by the response, and I had to stop myself and say, you know, as an adult, you think of a kid, right? So we'll say anyone 18 and below, and there's automatically just this thought of they can't do certain things. And they're doing things that we couldn't even think of. And they are saying and feeling and experiencing things that we couldn't think of. And I'm so glad that along with this particular episode and and being able to talk with you individuals that are in front of me and your cohorts that are around us watching, um, you're doing amazing things. Keep it up, overcome those fears, embrace those fears, let them become part of your joy inside, and just keep doing this as long as you can and spreading it out to the world. So, my diatribe is done. Thank you, everyone. We really appreciate you being here and giving us your time, and best of luck on Little Shop of Horrors and all of your productions moving forward.
SPEAKER_05Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01Thanks for listening to Steps to the Stage, a 7 Street Community Theater podcast. Follow us on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review and a five-star rating. It really helps. You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Special thanks to Chino Community Theater and Chino Community Children's Theater for their generous support. And very special thank you to the listeners. Steps to the Stage was created by Joey Rice and Kirk Lane. Logo created by Marley Lane. Original music by Joey Rice. Your host, Kirk Lane. Engineer and producer, Joey Rice. Engineer and executive producer, Kirk Lane.
