Behind the curtain of Minnetonka Theatre, it’s all about the crew.

Minnetonka draws a large number of students who want to participate in the theater crew, allowing for over-the -top productions that most high schools wouldn’t and couldn’t attempt. One of the reasons crew is so popular is because of the strong sense of community among its members. Everyone knows everyone else and has the same goal: put on the perfect show, whatever it takes. When problems arise during a performance it is their job to fix it and to make it easy for the actors to perform. The crew is responsible for making the play come to life. Their hard work on costumes, hair/makeup, sound, set, lighting, and much more makes the magic happen. “We simply could not put productions on without our crew,” says Trent Boyum, the director of Evita. He continues to say that Matt Kudas, the crew director, is the mastermind behind creating the perfect set. Think about it this way, for every 1 person in front of the curtain, there are 3 behind it.

When talking with crew members, it is easy to tell they have fallen in love with the theater. “It is extremely hard to find a place you can call home in high school, and I have been lucky enough to find that place,” says Sophie Carlson, Evita’s student stage manager. Along with the sense of belonging, students acquire different skills which include teamwork and cooperation. cv “It is a very fulfilling experience and you learn skills that you can use in the real world. Getting to create the things we do is unimaginable.”

When it comes to school activities I don’t believe praise can get any higher than Mr. Boyum’s assertion: “This is one of the best programs you could ever want to be in. You work hard, have a great time, and really make friends for a lifetime.”