MTC Plans for New Stage
Media by Tiona Merritte
Cast of Pippin as they practice on the current stage.
After years and years of trying to get a new stage built for the school, Rebecca Blindauer, Theater teacher, finally got her wishes granted.
“We had been talking about this since before COVID. And then just things got pushed to the back burner and never really got pursued any further,” Blinduaer said. “Then this year, it seemed as if all the right things aligned and there was money available for it to happen.”
Starting June 1, a new stage is planned to be rebuilt for the first time in 20-plus years. It will be an estimated $40,000 while the bids are still being worked out. The stage will be mainly sponsored by the parent organization.
“There’s a lot of wear and tear that happens on the stage,” Blindauer said.
The stage’s frequent use has deteriorated the surface, so Blinaduer hopes the new stage will cause fewer complications in the future.
Aria Garrett, junior, has a lot of experience dealing with the stage as she’s been a part of the show choir, Center Stage, for three years and the theater program for two years.
“I have always just really loved performing and I love the directors. They’re very welcoming,” Garrett said. “It’s a positive environment. We celebrate uniqueness and individuality and it’s an opportunity to perform in front of an audience, which is my biggest passion.”
The current stage has some damage in the sense that there are paint marks all over and chipped wood that people have tripped over.
“The new stage will definitely feel safer because right now people are more careful since it’s kind of always falling apart,” Garret said. “So I think people will feel more like they can focus on their own performance rather than focusing on not breaking the stage when we’re performing.”
Sophomore Drew Mathers echoes the excitement for the new stage.
“The stage is falling apart, and when you screw stuff in the sets that we build for shows, it just wears it down more,” Mathers said.
Mathers said the new stage will make show production smoother and that it will look better when the lights are on the set.
“I’m just really glad that Rockwood put in a little bit of money down to help us out,” Mathers said.
Your donation will support the student journalists of Marquette High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs. You may become a PATRON by making a donation at one of these levels: White/$30, Green/$50, Blue/$100. Patron names will be published in the print newsmagazine, on the website and once per quarter on our social media accounts.
Prashu Sidella, senior, is the Online Editor for the Marquette Messenger. This will be her third year on staff. She is the president of Key Club, plays...
Emma Tyulyayev is an Illustrator for the Marquette Messenger. This is her second year on staff. After school, she enjoys driving around and going on frequent...
Tiona Merritte, senior, is a returning staff reporter to the Marquette Messenger. In her free time she enjoys writing, reading, and going to Sonic with...