Tech class paves yellow brick road to musical production

This year the drama department will be performing The Wizard of Oz, the musical. And no show would be complete without lots of help behind the scenes.
Advanced tech teacher Mr.Tim Pistel has been working with students to use STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts, and mathematics) skills as they start building the sets. According to those involved in the play, Pistel will build sets that move and which are multi-dimensional in order to keep up with the constant need for set changes in the play.
Pistel stated that “the students have been working hard to complete the different pieces because the play will have a lot of set changes so more sets are needed.” He also explain that the play has so many “departments working together on one project to make it all go smoothly for show night.”
Drama teacher Mrs. Nancy Green said the students in tech are “getting an authentic learning experience because the products they’re building in tech are actually going to be used in a real production on stage.” She adds many colleges include courses that aid in the building of sets so it will give those students practice, however, adding STEAM into North Harford is “innovative and unique.”
The advanced tech students have been building fences, trees, a scarecrow, a cellar, a well, and a big stone wall with windows and that’s just the beginning of what they will create. Every scene in this production is a “different setting so there has to be a lot of moving pieces,’’ added Pistel.
When the building is done, the art department will be involved with set design. Art Guild, advised by Mr. Jason Blevins, will be painting all the sets. “The students will be creating the sets to really wow the audience” Blevins stated. Their goal will be to paint the sets to make the performance come alive. Senior Hayley Welzant said, “the group works well together preparing to paint we have just outlined the backdrop and will be painting soon” while Junior Sadie Niles said, “we have just started painting and it’s turning out well with everyone being involved and helping.”
Blevins has been painting the sets for plays for many years and said that the focal point is “typically the backdrop but for this musical, every piece on stage will play a part.”