Port Chester High School’s spring musical production of “Legally Blonde” has been nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Stage Crew by the 2024 Metropolitan High School Theater Awards. Theater director Christina Baurle said the musical was challenging but crew members ensured the production ran smoothly.

“Legally Blonde” required hundreds of props and costume pieces to be used throughout the show, as well as nearly 30 scene shifts to be done by moving set pieces on and off the stage. In addition, the stage crew worked with minimal wing space, as well as nearly 50 people backstage between crew and cast members, to ensure all scene transitions were efficiently quick and smooth.

“The show required our actors to change into costumes rapidly and our crew members supported and organized it well,” Baurle said. “They did a fantastic job problem-solving and improving our show rehearsal after rehearsal.”

The Metro Awards shine a spotlight on exceptional musical theater productions, talented actors and actresses and devoted creative teams who take to the stage every spring in high schools in Bergen, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties, according to the awards website. Port Chester is one of 63 participating schools whose performances were evaluated by judges who attended performances and nominated schools in 36 different categories.

Baurle said she was grateful to her dedicated group of students and stage crew, as well as her assistant director Toni Ash and stage managers Kayla Castillo, Amelia Jimenez and Sophia Tellez who led the crew for performances.

“Crew, although extremely important to the success of a production, are often overlooked because they are behind the scenes and not in the spotlight,” Baurle said. “It is great that our crew gets a chance to shine with this Metro nomination and to celebrate their hard work.”

The Metro awards ceremony will be held on June 10 at Purchase College.

Date Added: 5/16/2024