As the curtain closes for intermission, spectators file out of the theater, processing the scene they just witnessed; behind the curtain, staff rushes to get actors prepped for the next half of the show. As the lights team finds the perfect position for the spotlights, and the costumes team helps each actor look and feel their best, the crew rolls out the next set. Between the hustle and bustle of each show, the crew finds time to work together to perfect the art of cultivating a production.

Currently the theater department is working on two fall shows — Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!,” which premieres on Nov. 9, and Game of Tiaras, which premieres on Nov 8. Both shows have approximately the same run time, with Elephant & Piggie running on Nov. 9, 10, 16, and 17, at 2 p.m. and Game of Tiaras on Nov. 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m..

For the crew, this has been quite an adjustment. With an assortment of commitments from school, clubs and homework, two shows have proven to be a challenge, though not necessarily one that won’t pay off. “It’s been a lot, and it’s also been a great challenge but it’s also been really fun seeing different ways that we can incorporate both shows and make dynamic pieces for the set. I’ve enjoyed it and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” junior and paint department head Sol Berellez said.

The juxtaposition between both shows also creates a dynamic for the crew that allows for more expression and exploration of themes. Being able to explore the two subject matters deeply livens up the environment for the crew when they work long hours. “The two shows are really different. For Game of Tiaras, it’s much more dramatic than Elephant and Piggie’s, so we get to be a lot more creative and do more cool lighting stuff, but it’s also stressful and scary because it’s in a smaller period of time. Watching the show like 75 times, which I have to do for both my jobs, gets boring, but now I get to watch two shows,” junior and stage manager Natalie Chen said.

Each department is under different pressures when it comes to producing two shows. The lights department’s job is constant, but in other departments, such as costumes, the show’s circumstances allow for a more manageable workload. “It’s harder because there’s a larger number of people we have to dress, so that just automatically increases the workload, but I would say overall it’s manageable because we’re able to work together really cooperatively. There have been times when there are bigger and smaller shows; for example, Elephant & Piggie’s doesn’t require that many costumes, so it’s not unbearable,” junior and costume designer Nasrin Sari said.

Producing two fall shows this year has proven to be difficult, but students are confident that their hard work will pay off. While the chaos of being a crew member during two shows is plentiful, there is much to enjoy behind the scenes.