MacTheatre has been closely working on the fall musical Tuck Everlasting since Aug. 5, when the cast of 35 people leapt headfirst into vocal and choreography rehearsals. They spent hours rehearsing everything from waltzes to a 10-minute ballet sequence in the Dance Arts Building with dance director Natalie Uehara, and hours more practicing harmonies and solos in the choir room with Fine Arts Academy director and musical director Dr. Samuel Parrott. Students also contributed in leadership roles, from student choreographers Zalie Mann and Zoe Maxwell, to assistant directors Isadora Lang and Tessa Pillette. Sweet Charity’s student assistant music director Maggie Brown returned to serve in the same capacity in Tuck, and students Ronan Henson, Grace McCarty, and Samantha Panzer served as stage managers. Uehara selected Sofia Rayas, Sasha Grapko, and Aydan Courtney as co-dance captains for the production.

Crew soon followed, bringing the world of Tuck Everlasting to life with a set design spearheaded by technical director Kristin Vandenberg. They crafted a silo, a boat and blossoming tree branches attached to the theatre’s ceiling to immerse the audience. Costumes were both bought and mended, lighting designs were executed, and the show’s sound design was established. The entire ensemble will have microphones, with a sound board operated by senior Lucy Zanker. Scenic is under the oversight of Zwi Meza, lighting under Katie Wiseman, props under Crystal Patterson, hair and makeup under America Franken, and wardrobe under Robin O’Keeffe. The paint charge is Bella Robinson.

While all of this was transpiring, the MacTheatre marketing department was documenting the process alongside the Shield via photography, videography, social media posts and art, all under the creative direction of theatre/art major Mia Gonzales.

Currently, Tuck Everlasting has moved past costume parade and sitzprobe and is midway through its Tech Week, in which musical numbers are spaced, set changes are assigned, and the last loose ends are tied up. Tuck begins its run on Thursday, Sept. 19, in the McCallum Arts Center, and will conclude it on Sept. 29.

We are proud to share the behind the scenes of Tuck Everlasting as this week’s Tuesday Top 10.

A PROVOKING PERFORMANCE: Sofia Rayas, Pia Sosa and Sasha Grapko rehearse with the ensemble preparing for opening night, working rigorously as a part of the carnival ensemble and as an alternate for Constable Joe. The dance major cares for the beginning part of getting ready for productions, enjoying learning choreography and working alongside others for a greater goal.

“I want the audience to feel like they are at a pre-professional show, and to have them completely invested,” Sosa said.

According to Sosa, members should expect Tuck Everlasting to provoke a wide range of emotions.

“This show will have you cackle laughing at one moment and shedding a tear at the next,” she said.

To Sosa, hard work and high spirits of the people that make up the cast and crew is the driving force in executing this show.

“The community is very talented, and we push each other to try harder and to get better,” Sosa said. “Despite the competitive nature of theatre, the community remains a kind and supportive environment.”

Sosa enjoys getting to work with teachers and peers she greatly cares about every day.

“I love that I have the opportunity to do what I love with the people that I love,” she said.

Caption by Tallulah McAuliffe. Photo by Beatrix Lozach.

THE LIGHT BEHIND THE SPOTLIGHTS: Sophomore Katie Wiseman and junior Brendan Williams work behind the scenes on the lighting during rehearsal for Tuck Everlasting.

Wiseman is the master electrician and lighting board operator for the show and said she loves learning about lighting and how it all works.

Wiseman’s passion for theatre started in elementary school and worked its way through her middle school career where she discovered lighting. After working on two shows in middle school and McCallum’s performance of Rhinoceros and Seussical last year, Wiseman gained interest in being the lighting board operator for shows and is hoping to design more of the lighting in future shows.

“I’m mostly looking to get experience with the board so that I can do some designing in the future, plus it’s fun,” Wiseman said.

Caption by Adele Seeboth. Photo by Tegan Hahn.

Delilah Grad, a sophomore theater major, performs the number “Good Girl Winnie Foster” during rehearsal of the fall musical Tuck Everlasting.

Tuck Everlasting is a coming-of-age story revolving around the trials and tribulations of Winnie Foster played by Grad, a young girl growing up in the fictional town of Treegap who encounters the Tucks, a family who accidentally obtained immortality by drinking from a magical spring. From there, Winnie is forced to make a decision regarding her own fate: will she drink from the spring and live for all eternity or see the beauty in an ordinary life?

Grad believes the theme of the musical offers a profound life truth.

“Life is so valuable because of how short and rare it is, so you have to enjoy every minute of it,” Grad said. “If you lived forever, it wouldn’t be as special. A moment would just be another moment, and it wouldn’t mean as much.

“That’s so hard for people to understand because, why would you want to grieve? Why would you want to lose people?” Grad said. “But we all have to come to terms with our mortality, and the show helps reveal how beautiful life is as it is.”

Grad is optimistic about the show’s progress and is grateful for the opportunity to bring her character to life.

“I feel like I’ve grown so much as a performer and as a person,” Grad said. “ I’ve learned so much about myself, about life and about the world.”
Photo and caption by Beatrix Lozach.

AN EVERLASTING EXPERIENCE: After weeks and weeks of practice, junior Mia Gonzales perfects her dance in the carnival ensemble of McCallum Theater’s new production, Tuck Everlasting. A lot of behind-the-scenes work from everyone is important in bringing this show to life.

“During rehearsals, we all focused and worked on creating the best show we could,” Gonzales said. “I practiced outside of school as many others did, and spent many hours at home going over songs, dances, scenes, and trying to get the show to be the best it could be.”

Gonzales was cast in multiple roles including the fairy and carnival featured ensemble, but her hardest role to get was ballet Winnie, who is the older 17-year-old version of the lead of the show, Winnie Foster.

“Before the auditions, I practiced my dancing, and I had to prepare a song and a monologue,” Gonzales said. “Then after I found out what role I got in the ensemble, I practiced my technique and my skills at my summer programs and intensives.”

Gonzales is not only an actor, she is also on the marketing team and has done most of the social media advertising for the show.

“I get to lead all of the social media, and I have meetings with teachers about what we’re going to do next and other strategies we’re going to use,” Gonzales said. “I’m also the head of marketing chair of the art department’s marketing team for McCallum Theater’s RCP, which is our student-led leadership program.”

Overall, working on the play has been an amazing opportunity for Gonzales.

“It’s been really fun for me so far,” Gonzales said. “I’ve gotten to do a lot more dancing and be involved a lot more than I have in past shows. The show has been running more smoothly than others as well, and it’s just a really great group of people.”

Caption by Sophia Manos. Photo by Beatrix Lozach.

MOTHER  KNOWS BEST: Sophomore Fiona Kirsch, who portrays Mae Tuck in this fall’s Tuck Everlasting, prepares for opening night with co-star Joseph Blackwood. Kirsch said that after being cast for the role last spring, she quickly began memorizing her parts and was eager to meet the rest of the cast.

“By the time rehearsals came around, I was ready to meet everyone and get started,” Kirsch said. “I can’t even say how much I care for this cast. They work so hard, and from the very first day, the dedication was obvious.”

Kirsch explained all performances give her the space and opportunities to really express herself with people that have that same passion surrounding theater she does, but what has made Tuck Everlasting such a unique experience has been the constant growth the cast is making every day.

“For me, this production is different because we make progress every single day,” Kirsch said. “We are constantly learning, growing and changing to make the show its best.”

Caption by Nico Williamson. Photo by Beatrix Lozach.

FOSTER FOSTERS FUN: Sophomore Paityn Jones, sings the musical number “Good Girl Winnie Foster” during rehearsal on Aug. 28. Jones is playing the alternate for the lead character, Winnie Foster, as well as being in the ensemble. Jones said she has loved being able to play such a special and enthusiastic character.

“Winnie is a hopeful, curious and excited girl who sees the best in everything,” Jones said. “It’s so fun to play such a young character and to be able to play such a youthful and happy person.”

Jones will perform as Winnie Foster in the upcoming performance of Tuck Everlasting on Sept. 22, and said she is excited for the upcoming show.

“This show is so beautiful,” Jones said. “Musically, emotionally, and visually. It really makes you enjoy life and everything about it.”

Caption by Delaney Lavelle. Photo by Beatrix Lozach.

EVERLASTING REHEARSALS: Senior Austin Pain rehearses the final scene of Tuck Everlasting, which consists of a standoff between Pain’s character, Jesse, and the Man in the Yellow Suit. With the show premiere growing closer every day, the cast has been working vigorously to prepare, which has required a lot of endurance and time management from the cast.

“It definitely gets tough to maintain strong relationships with your friends and family members when you get home late every day,” Pain said. “You’re so mentally and physically drained by school and rehearsal.”

Despite the challenges of the busy schedule, Pain has managed to balance his life effectively.

“It’s tough figuring out how to balance everything and take good care of yourself in the process,” Pain said. “But I feel like the challenge forces us to grow.”

Caption by JoJo Barnard. Photo by Riley Pita.

TUCK-ED INTO CHARACTER: Sophomore Finley McBride stands on stage at the Tuck Everlasting costume parade, ready to show off her outfit. McBride said the costume parade is an annual rehearsal step where the designers can see their final product.

“We [the cast] all try on all of our costumes so the costume designers can see if their vision is coming to life the way they want it to,” McBride said.

McBride is in the ensemble cast and also the alternate for Mae Tuck, which means she gets to play the character for one performance. Overall, McBride is very excited to be a part of the Tuck Everlasting cast, and said she is looking forward to performing the choreography of her fellow students.

“I’m looking forward to showing off the dances our choreographer Ms. Nat and assistant choreographers Zalie Mann and Zoe Maxwell choreographed, and just making art with my friends in general,” McBride said.

Caption by Adele Seeboth. Photo by Tegan Hahn.

SEW CLOSE TO OPENING: Sophomore Violet Gill tightens sophomore Berit Ellwanger’s top. Gill is a member of the wardrobe crew for Tuck Everlasting, and since this last Saturday was the costume parade, the wardrobe team was hard at work putting all of the actors in their costumes and making sure everything fit right.

“There’s definitely some changes we need to make, but I think it went as long as it could have.” Gill said.

The costume parade is unique because it gives an opportunity for technicians who aren’t on show call to interact with the actors. Since the two groups are typically separated throughout the rehearsal and building process, Gill said she enjoys being able to see them.

“I love working with the actors, and it’s really interesting to get that kind of exposure,” Gill said.

Gill has been on wardrobe for past shows, and said she would like doing it again in the future, possibly as a designer next time.

“I just love wardrobe, I love sewing, I love doing costumes,” Gill said. “I love the kind of creativity you get with it, and I think it’s really fun to see costume visions come to life during shows.”

Caption and photo by Tegan Hahn.

EVERLASTING FIT CHECK: The cast of Tuck Everlasting, McCallum’s fall musical, try on their costumes for the opening of next week’s show. Senior Joe Colaleo gives his yellow suit a whirl as he readies for his role, Man in the Yellow Suit. During the costume parade, the wardrobe department makes final alterations as needed.

Sophomore Robin O’Keefe, has put in long, hard hours making the costumes functional and fashionable as costume head.

“Every costume is period accurate and has had thought behind it” O’Keefe said. “I would also like to thank our costume designer, Ms. V, [who] is absolutely wonderful at what she does.”

Caption and photo by Lilah Lavigne.

THE TALENT BEHIND THE SCENES: Sophomore performance theater major, Dahlia Carroll, helps to  build the set for Tuck Everlasting before opening night next Thursday. This is Carroll’s second time as part of the crew for a production. She explains that despite being more behind the scenes, the crew is an integral part of the large, musical productions.

“Without the crew, the show wouldn’t be a musical,” Carroll said. “It takes hard working people to build the sets, but also to play the music and make sure the actors can be seen using lighting. Every crew adds to the immersion of the show.”

Carroll said the scenery for Tuck Everlasting is especially detailed, and therefore requires much collaboration within the crew.

“The indoor scenery for the houses all are able to come in and out and have many props on them that make them feel real,” Carroll said. “That also means the scenic and props crew have to work with each other a lot.”

Carroll said she is excited to see the finished product of the crew and the actors’ hard work on opening night.

“I’m excited to see how everything fits together in the end when the show opens, and especially to see everyone in full costume,” Carroll said.

Caption by Josie Mullan. Photo by Avital Cuevas.

THE LAST(ING) REHEARSALS: Joseph Blackwood, Fiona Kirsch and Ivy Speight block a scene from the end of McCallum Theater’s upcoming musical, Tuck Everlasting. According to Sophomore Fiona Kirsch, the rehearsals have been going well.

“I feel like every rehearsal has been really productive,” Kirsch said. “And like, everybody is so nice and supportive all the time, which is something that you really need.”

In addition to the supportiveness, Kirsch also believes that they have been rehearsing at a good pace.

“I just think that we have a really good momentum going, and everyday we’re learning something new,” Kirsch said.

Kirsch describes her character, Mae Tuck, as loving and protective in the play.

“Mae Tuck is a mom,” Kirsch said. “I think at this point in time, she’s kind of down because she hasn’t been getting a lot of attention, but she just has a lot of love in her heart.”

In the next coming weeks, she’s excited to see the show come together with the sets and costume pieces during tech week next week, and is most looking forward to the musical number “My Most Beautiful Day.”

Caption and photo by Riley Pita.

LABOR OF LOVE: Sophomore Paityn Jones sings “Everlasting” from Tuck Everlasting in rehearsal on Saturday in the MAC. Jones is the alternate for Winnie Foster, the show’s lead. Jones will play Winnie on September 22, along with sophomore Finley McBride as Mae Tuck, junior Mailyn Gil as Nana Foster, and senior Robin Kulhanek as Man in the Yellow Hat.

Jones attests that the role provided an important acting challenge for her.

“The role has been such a great opportunity for me,” Jones said. “I’ve never been cast in a role that required me to act younger, so it’s definitely helped me grow in acting. Winnie is such a fun part to play, and I love everything about it.”

Jones explained the musical had a deep message behind it of appreciating life more.

“Although this show can be goofy at moments, it’s a really serious and sentimental production,” Jones said. “It opens up people’s eyes on how beautiful life is.”

Jones also believes that the show can help remind the audience of the blessings of getting older and living life in the moment.

“Oftentimes people, including myself, don’t take time to appreciate the good things about getting older,” Jones said. “The show also makes you realize that no matter how amazing life is to you in the moment, the future holds just as amazing things. You don’t have to live forever to finally enjoy living, you just need to learn to appreciate the small things in life.”

Caption and photo by Beatrix Lozach.

“TUCK” WEEK BEGINS: Director Robert Carrasco explains how tech week will play out to the cast of Tuck Everlasting. Tech week is the most intense part of all musical rehearsals due to it being so close to opening night, and is one of the main times the cast gets to work face-to-face with students in the crew to see the stage come to life.

Astrid Ramirez, who works in the crew with the costumes, talks about her experience with tech week in this production.

“The few weeks left of rehearsal will be packed with working with the technical crew to make the show perfect for everyone’s viewing,” Ramirez said. “Although these rehearsals are tedious, the end result is worth it. Cast members are thrilled to be working with their fellow crew members and seeing the directors’ ideas of the show play out.”

Caption and photo by Sunday Cardinal.

ALMOST ALL SET: Tech crew works towards getting the sets perfect for the actors to perform with. Grace McCarty, the assistant stage manager of Tuck Everlasting, said that the show is coming together amazingly.

“Having a vision for the show and seeing the crew members putting it together is such an incredible process,” McCarty said.

Although the stage isn’t show-ready just yet, the students and teachers in tech have been working to prepare for the upcoming shows.

Caption and photo by Sunday Cardinal.

This story was originally published on The Shield Online on September 10, 2024.