Saws, screw guns, and staples: these are tools used every Tuesday and Thursday night by 5 to 10 MICDS high school students. Seldom Scene, the set construction club run by Upper School Teacher Brian Purlee, is hard at work preparing for the production of How the Other Half Loves, an upbeat, silly, even raunchy show about class and dinner parties.

Across from Orthwein Theater, the scene shop is the birthplace of all stage sets in the upper school. Seldom Scene participants work hard carrying out set designs for the upcoming productions, or striking the sets once a show has closed. While prior experience in architecture, engineering, or carpentry are not necessary, all members of the Seldom Scene community come away with these skills and more, as they are trained in basic carpentry and using all of the necessary tools, as well as lighting skills and design, all on the job.

A normal day in the shop could look like this:

First, the more experienced members split the newer ones up into groups. Some may work in the shop, creating flats and platforms (walls and floors of the set) or smaller things such as tables, chairs, and other furniture. Another group would work in the theater, putting up the already constructed pieces. More specialized, Raina Compton ‘23, the master electrician, leads a team of 2-4 lighting designers and interns to hang or take down lights. 

How the Other Half Loves requires many doors, a raised platform, and a very versatile table that two very different families both use. One team worked in Orthwein, installing doors and securing them to the stage floor so they would be secure for rehearsals. Some Seldom members were on ladders, securing things higher up, while others were attaching vertical flats. They all worked  as a team to complete the goal of getting the set pieces installed.

While the sets were being installed in Orthwein, the lighting team worked in the Vincent Price black box to take down lighting from the previous show, Eurydice, and move it to the mainstage. 

Participants generally enjoy getting to work together and feel a sense of accomplishment when the final product is finally up on the stage. Laurion Nicholson ‘26 said, “I found joy in the friends and bonds you build” in the shop.

When it’s time to clean up, the whole team works together to clean the shop, sweeping, mopping, or putting screw guns away. Eventually the shop returns to its former orderliness and everyone gathers around to talk about progress.

With the show quickly approaching, many Seldom Scene members choose to include themselves in the production of How the Other Half Loves. Sahar Bhutto ‘24 is the lighting designer, AJ Turnell ‘23 is the Technical Director, Greysen Brown ‘24 and Natalie Benoist ‘25 are in charge of props, Ash Aranha ‘23 is the sound designer, and Laurion Nicholson ‘26 is the sound operator. In addition to those, Virginia Portell ‘24 has taken on the role of stage manager.

Tickets are on sale now, so make sure to buy a ticket to see the show, as well as all of the cast and crew who made it happen.

Friday, November 18, 2022 @ 7pm

Saturday, November 19, 2022 @ 7pm

Sunday, November 20, 2022 @ 2pm