The Technical Apprentice Program - M Borden
Hey readers of the Wolf Street Journal! My name is Miles, and I’m the props assistant for the shows currently going on at Wolf PAC. I’m working in the program known as the Technical Apprentice Program (TAP) and I wanted to talk to you all a bit about what I’m doing, and show you what goes on behind the scenes to make a Wolf PAC show a reality.
This is the props table for The Little Mermaid, currently being rehearsed for at Rosemont College’s Rotwitt Theater. These are all the props for each of the four casts, and it is my job to manage the table, and make sure everyone has all the props they need for all their scenes. I also have helped with making props, including this lovely telescope I made recently.
There are also a handful of other kids working on the shows. Each cast has their own Production Assistant, or PA. Cast A has Lucia, Cast B has Sammie, Cast C has Aries, and Cast D has Rylie. I have had the opportunity to talk to two of these wonderful people about what they do, so here’s what they have to say:
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Aries: My name is Aries, my pronouns are he/they, I’m 14, I joined Wolf PAC in second grade, and I’m in Something Rotten right now!
Lucia: Well, my name is Lucia, but most people just call me “Cia.” I’m 14 yearsold, and I love to read and watch action movies
What is your position in the Technical Apprentice Program?
Aries: I am the production assistant for cast C of The Little Mermaid.
Lucia: I’m the production assistant for cast A of The Little Mermaid.
What do you do for your cast?
Aries: I mainly help out the directors, doing things like going over dances with the kids, helping with set changes, and keeping things in order.
Lucia: Throughout this whole process, I have spent most of the time helpingMeredith with teaching dances, taking videos of the kids, showing them how to read lines of music, and encouraging them to make bigger choices and be confident because they are all so talented!
What’s the most fun part?
Aries: I love connecting with the kids. when I was younger I looked up to the PA’s so much and it’s really eye-opening to switch roles.
Lucia: The most fun part has definitely been being able to get to know the cast and watch them grow and put a show together throughout.
What’s the most difficult part?
Aries: I’ve never been the most organised person, so having to keep myself and all the others in check is very challenging.
Lucia: Since this is my first time as a PA, I started out as a little unsure of what exactly I should be doing and how I could contribute to the show as best as I could. However, I think I have gotten the hang of it a little more by now!
Do you have anything else you’d like to tell the readers of Wolf Street about what you do?
Aries: IT’S WORTH IT! If you’re considering applying for TAP, but you’re not sure if you’ll make it, or if you’ll regret it, just try. I haven’t had any experience with things like this but I tried, and I am so grateful that I did!
Lucia: TAP is so much fun! Getting to know the kids, helping them learn and grow, and getting more of a feel for all of the work that is put in backstage in order to make a show happen has been such a cool and fun experience that I 100% recommend!
I’d like to thank Lucia and Aries so much for their responses to these questions, and all the PAs for their work on the shows! Among the other people working in TAP this season that I couldn’t get in contact with in time are the PAs for the K-2nd grade show, Run, Stinky, Run! and the lighting assistant for Something Rotten! which will be performed at Harriton High School in just a few weeks. The Little Mermaid will be performed this coming week, from Wednesday June 1st to Sunday June 5th, and it’s going to be a great show! Expect to see lots of photos and news on it from Wolf PAC’s social media in the coming days, and for those of you coming, please enjoy!
M Borden