Run crew! Costumes! Props! These are just a few examples of the many departments within the RCHS drama program. Each member within the departments is greatly needed to bring a show to life, especially for Rancho’s latest musical, “Young Frankenstein.”

“Young Frankenstein” show dates are March 12, 13, and 14 inside the RCHS auditorium, with every show beginning at 7 p.m., except for Saturday’s matinee showing at 2 p.m. Tickets are sold for $15 to the public, while RCHS students only pay $12. To purchase tickets online, you can go to rchs-drama.com.

With the shows currently ongoing, different members from the RCHS tech crew gave insight to how they have been preparing for the shows.

“Well, first we had to build the set and build the costumes, and now that they’re all built, now we’re just maintaining them, helping the actors get into their costumes or getting their props,” junior costumes lead Danielle Palmer said. “Now we’re just kinda watching them being used and we’re just teaching them how to properly use their props or their costumes, and we’re just helping the actors.”

Senior head carpenter and set lead Aizia Goodman also gave insight into how tech has been preparing for the shows.

“We are doing any and everything, really,” Goodman said. “There’s lot of departments in tech, but for set, we are building the set, we are designing, we are executing, we are putting up and repurposing old set work and making it something new and bright.”

Though not acting onstage within the spotlight, working behind the scenes and on the sidelines is viewed as an honor by many people within tech.

“I feel honored to be a part of one of the greatest communities on campus, might I say,” Goodman said. “It’s really spectacular to be able to work on something and see it be physically there. It’s great to be a part of something even though I’m not acting with theatre, but to just like, help people experience what the actors put on in a better way, I guess.”

Sophomore carpenter and scenic Alexandria Olmsted also gave insight to how she feels working for the tech crew.

“I feel very good about it,” Olmsted said. “I love working, and it helps me not be as stressed; it calms me down, and I love being able to know I’m helping the production, even when I’m not acting.”

Seeing new crew members and actors is also another reason why some of the tech members love working in the program.

“I feel like it’s been such a great experience seeing new tech members as well as new actors performing onstage and getting to work with them,” senior lighting lead Brynn Williams said. “Watching their blocking and figuring out where exactly that they’re standing so I can light them; it’s really nice.”

Senior painter Harlow Williams also stated how she feels grateful to see new people within the program.

“I’m very proud and very grateful that I’m able to work with all these amazing people and seeing new people come in and be a part of our big family,” Harlow said.

Aside from feeling grateful to be working on the show, tech members shared what their favorite part about it is.

“My favorite part is the community that it builds,” Goodman said. “The people that it brings are all hard workers; all the people who want to be there, not because they have to for some grade, [but] because they want to give their time and help.”

Harlow also shared her favorite part about working the show.

“My favorite part is seeing how the designers first come out with their designs and then executing those designs, whether building the set, making the props, or painting it, and just watching it as it went from a white wall to like a painted scenery,” Harlow said.

Olmsted shared how her favorite part of working the show is her position within tech.

“My favorite part is probably run crew,” Olmsted said. “So, when we’re in between scenes and we’re running different props and set pieces on the stage, it makes me very happy and just makes me feel good.”

While the tech crew of “Young Frankenstein” favors many things about working the show, they also explained their favorite scenes and songs of the show.

“My favorite part is when Elizabeth turns into the monster’s bride,” Palmer said. “I specifically work with that quick change so I love meeting up with the actor and getting her into this white dress, and I get to put a little strand on her hair, and she sings while we’re doing it too, so I just love being serenaded while I’m working with her quick change so, that’s my favorite part, personally.”

Olmsted explained that she favors a specific song within the play.

“I love the song ‘The Happiest Town,” Olmsted said. “It’s just a good song and I love watching from the wings and how the actors act.”

Though the tech crew has expressed their excitement for the show, they also expressed what they’re nervous for when it comes to manning the show.

“I’m nervous for run crew; I’ve never led run crew before,” Goodman said. “Run crew is when people during the show, they put on and off set work and props, and set dressings. I’ve been a part of run crew, but never been the one to lead it; I have my own deck, and I’m a little nervous about that, but you know, with rehearsal and we’re practicing, we’re getting it going, and I think it’ll be okay.”Olmsted also claimed to be nervous for run crew.

“I’m very nervous, I’m gonna like, mess something up or miss a cue because run crew is fun but very, very stressful and like, if you don’t do a cue right, it can throw off the whole show,” Olmsted said.

While some members are nervous for run crew, others are nervous for specific scenes they help run.

“One specific part that I’m so nervous for, at any time someone mentions it, it’s the ‘Puttin On The Ritz’ quick change,” Palmer said. “We have no time; it’s the minute the actors get offstage, they need to immediately change into their next costume, and the minute the lights turn on, they need to be onstage in a new costume, and just thinking about it stresses me out because we need to get the actors completely changed; their shirt, their pants, they need their ties. So, that’s the part that stresses me out the most.”

Currently, the RCHS drama tech team continues to work to ensure a successful showing of “Young Frankenstein.”