This year, Rancho Cucamonga High School drama department is performing the just-off-broadway play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” which means that everything will be new: new script, new characters, new story, and especially new props.

While many people solely focus on the stage, little thought sometimes goes into what happens behind the scenes. That is where the tech crew shines.

Senior Olivia Ervin, an actor, shared her love, excitement, and support for the tech and upcoming effects.

“I’m excited about the special effects and stuff because there’s a lot of spells, and because it’s Harry Potter,” Ervin said. “So, I’m excited to see how tech makes it look cool and magical from the stage.”

Behind the scenes, tech is working hard to make sure every detail is for the production is perfect.

Props Lead, Senior, Matthew Almancar, shared how they get prepared on the tech side of the theater, not just with this particular play, but with every play.

“We gotta go through the script the company gave us and write down all of the props that are used in the show and are used by the actors,” Almancar said.

Almancar shared the information about the storage of where they have props, and their selection of what they need and already have the play.

“So things like beds, couches, things like that. And then I have a closet where we store all our props. We got through there to select the ones that we already have and figure out what we need to buy or make,” Almancar said.

Almancar explained his excitement about doing the play for the first time.

“I’m excited. You know, I’ve run shows in the past. This is the first one I’m doing in an official capacity as props lead,” Almancar said.

While the cast and audience wait for the upcoming magic tricks such as the spells, potions, flying broomsticks, and lifting objects off the ground, the tech crew is hard at work to make sure the play runs smoothly.

Almancar shared some behind-the-scenes details on how they plan to make the Harry Potter wands.

“The wands, we haven’t made them yet, we’re gonna use little wooden sticks, then you use hot glue, and you use multiple layers of that, to get the texture of wood and then you paint over it,” Almancar said.

The play will debut on Thursday, Oct. 24 in the RCHS Auditorium, and it will continue with performances on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26.