While watching the actors on the stage, it is easy to forget about the people behind the scenes. A show would be completely lost without the tech crews and their crucial jobs. Tech crews are vital for a theatrical performance from everything to sound, lighting, atmosphere, costumes, and direction.

     The stage manager has an important role in the theatrical world, possibly the most important role in the bunch. Often additionally acting as an assistant director, the stage manager works on everything the director does not have time for while also putting in their own personal input. The stage manager for Olathe South’s production of Les Mis is junior Jack McCurdy.

     “I was an actor before I was a stage manager,” McCurdy said. “It was very interesting to watch Hastings work with the stage and I wanted to try it out, and that’s kinda why I did it.”

     McCurdy also has a feeling of input on the production he never had before, as well as a sense of being equals with the director David Hastings and the vocal director Elise Peterson.

     “As an actor, you’re just like, ‘Yes, yes,’” McCurdy said. “And, as an assistant director and stage manager for them, they all ask for your opinion.”

     On top of that feeling of equality with the shows’ higher ups, McCurdy has developed a sense of input on the production he never had before.

     “I love being able to give notes,” McCurdy said. “To contribute more than just being an actor to the show.

     The regulations and precautions taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 have made the job slightly more difficult, especially for creating visually interesting blocking, the staging of actors’ movements.

     “Due to COVID-19 policies we can’t have blocking, so we really just have, ‘Go to a mic,’” McCurdy said. “A welcome challenge, for sure.”

     Come see Jack McCurdy’s hard work on Les Mis this week on March 4-6 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.

     “It’s an amazing thing to be able to do,” McCurdy said. “I’m glad I was able to be the assistant director/stage manager for it.”