Exclusive: High Schoolers Unite for Roundabout's Student Production Workshop

Hello, I'm Richard Ridge for Broadway World

For the past few weeks, we have been following Education at Roundabout Student Production Workshop

which culminates with a full production of an original play, written, directed, produced

and starring students from all five boroughs in New York City, here at Roundabout Black Box Theatre

Enjoy. Throughout the month, we hired a playwright, a student playwright, and she gave us a play

so me and my team hire the actors the set designers the lighting the sound and now for the summer

they're creating it into a real a real awful Broadway play. So what have the last few weeks

been like here and now you just started tech here right? Tech is yes tech is starting up and it's

crazy being a production manager because everyone I take care of everything that happens in the black

box I make sure it's done done properly and done on time so I have to make sure like set is where

they need to be for tech. Everything where it's needs to be for tech. And I have to make sure they have

all the... I have to go shopping a lot, back and forth, make sure they have everything they need

And it's just a lot of running back and forth, honestly. Because I see you really hands

on out there. I mean, stapling out there. I mean, helping them with the sets. So everything's

on a time schedule here. Yeah, basically. So everything can be ready for next week. Because next week

is the start of tech week. So at the moment, they're finishing, I guess, the final touches

and I have to go get crop dressing and then we'll be ready for tech

Right now we're working up towards tech week. We're putting the final touches on all the lights for the show

and, you know, just circuiting it, putting all the lights up, yeah

How cool is that I mean you learned from the best during this program and now you in the black box designing lights hanging them Tell me what it means to you It really cool actually Yeah I been meaning to get into an actual theater production for a while now

My school doesn't have a theater program, so it's really cool being able to do this at the black box theater here, around the bell

This is the week leading up to Tech, so I know there's a lot of stuff going on in there

So what have you achieved already in there, and are you on time with the set

I think we've, I don't know, we've progressed pretty quickly this year

Seeing as a set is pretty simple. So there's been a lot of painting and plastering

I think I never want to touch plaster again. I'm so tired of plaster

It's amazing that everyone here is interested. They have a passion for what they're doing

whether it's costumes, sound, or lights. We all love what we're doing right now

And it's just awesome working in a group to solve the problems we have, come up with new ideas

Yeah, it's really awesome. I just want to oversee the whole thing. I was watching you in there, peeking through your window

talking, they all look very calm in there. Yeah, yes. Yeah, basically I do, I try to set it up in a way where I make it as hard as possible for them

And I give them as much work as I can possibly give them

So I try to put together the most complicated system and the most complicated sound design for them

And then I sort of let them just kind of digest it. And little by little I just let them work until they sort of hang themselves

And then I jump in and fix it. So, you know, so they're really, I always tell them that I work for them

They're the designers and I'm their advisor. Is it hard to sort of put the sound together

because it's all sound cues? So I'm sure during tech week, you know, you're going to have to know when to push the button

or when to do everything, right? Are you looking forward to that? No

But I mean we been practicing and learning stuff so I guess I prepared for it now It going to be easier than what it was when I first came in and started learning it

Tell me what's been happening the last two weeks. Well, we just got out of our tech week, right

So it's been a little hectic and a little crazy, but we ironed out all the wrinkles

and now made the show run more smoothly. I got to choose the sound for an off-Broadway show

And it's really amazing. All my ideas are on stage now. And not just my ideas, the whole cast's ideas

Because we sat down and everybody gave a share of what they wanted in the play

And we incorporated everybody's idea and made it into the play. So that's why we had the sound. That's awesome

The last two weeks have been a bit hectic. Trying to get in the technical aspects of the show with the actors and all that stuff

It's been a bit hectic, but we have an incredible team and it went really smoothly. Directing this show, what is meant to you

Directing this show has meant a lot to me because I feel like the message behind it is so powerful

And one of the reasons why I want to be the artist in the first place is to send out great messages to the audiences and inspire them and all that stuff

So I feel like this show does a great job with that and I'm really honored to be a part of it. For the past seven weeks, we've had 30 students from all around the boroughs come together and collaborate to create this amazing play

We've had an incredible amount of help from the teaching artists and they have become our mentors and taught us what it takes to make this production happen

So thank you so much to all the teaching artists that are in the audience. This would not have happened without you

On behalf of all the students from the Student Production Workshop we would just like to express a huge thanks to Rondwell Theatre Company for creating this incredible program As somebody that been here for the past four years I can honestly say that I would not be half the individual artist that I am today without this program so thank you And the donors thank you so much for keeping this program alive It really has changed

all of us immensely, so thank you so much. I think the best part of working with this cast

and the crew was really the collaboration. Everybody was so open to ideas and working

together to make this show possible. It was really a team effort and I'm really thankful

that we had such an incredible casting through this year because it really shows in the show. It means a lot to me because my school doesn't have a theater program at all. So just being

able to come here weekly and like doing hands-on theater stuff, like all sorts of theater stuff

light, acting, playwriting, it's really cool. I love being part of this organization and I

you know, I feel like it's sort of a nice little home and, you know, each, we all help each other

We all work back and forth over different disciplines to try and get the kids where they need to go and do what they need to do

It's really been a second home here. Everyone's really friendly and really nice

It's a really creative program. Everyone has open minds and they're all willing to help you

And what I took away from this, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up

and the opportunity that they gave me to shadow a stage manager

it helped me realize, and I think it set me on the right track, and for that I'm grateful

You meet people that you never expect to meet at such a young age

and you get to know a lot. So when I go to college, I would have a little bit of an advance than everyone else

when I start studying theater, so it's a good opportunity, it's a great opportunity that Roundabout is giving young kids

and I would suggest it to anybody