by Glen Macnow
Head to the PCS workshop most Saturdays, and you’ll see cast and crew for the next upcoming show sawing, hammering and painting. When you’re part of a show, it’s expected you help create the set.
These days, you’ll find a bit of a youth movement in the shop. Along with the usual gang of actors, directors, producers and the like, four 10th graders from Strath Haven High School have been volunteering since the summer.
The four boys – Adam Neikam, Michael Noon, Markus Johnson and Carson Keller – are all National Honor Society members who are fulfilling that organization’s volunteering requirement by learning under the tutelage of tech director Ed Robins.
It all started in July when Michael, 15, was looking for volunteering opportunities and discovered this website. “I thought that working here seemed like it could be more fun and rewarding than . . . well, a lot of other things,” he says. “So I reached out.”
Three of the four boys are cross country runners at Strath Haven, and they kicked around the idea while on a long afternoon run. Soon enough, they committed to the project.
“I thought community service would be boring,” says Carson. “But I get to build things here and be with my friends. It’s been great.”
Their first show was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where they learned to create paper mache objects. They’ve since been a part each ensuing show, including The Wizard of Oz, which opens on the Main Stage on Dec. 20.
“They’re great kids,” says Ed. “They’re nice boys and fun to be around. When you look at who’s here every weekend, it’s George Mulford, Alan Stanford, Jimmy Psitos and me – a bunch of senior citizens. So they add terrific energy to the building.”
Markus, 15, says that, “Learning from Ed has been great. He’s a patient, good teacher. He’s taught me a lot about woodworking. I respect him a lot.”
That respect is mutual. Ed reports that while the quartet had no particular shop skills at the start, all have been quick and enthusiastic learners.
“They’ve reached the point now that I can give them assignments and don’t have to stand over them, which frees me up to do other things,” Ed says. “They now know how to use a drill screw gun, how to square up a flat using the Luan and they’re comfortable with the chop saw.”
Ed says that some volunteers (like the author of this story) are intimidated by electric saws or power tools. Not these four. Others in the shop – particular teens – might get cavalier about safety. Again, not this quartet.
And, even as they’re learning the challenging jobs, they don’t complain about the small tasks. “If I tell them to sweep and empty the trash, they’re eager to do it,” Ed says. “I trust them. And I genuinely like them.”
Indeed, back in October, Ed – who’s a marathoner – attended the Central League cross country championships just to root on his protégés. “We talk a lot about running,” he says.
One recent Saturday morning, as the boys helped build walls, Adam, 15, noted that Wizard of Oz is the favorite movie of his grandmother, Carole Erbe.
“Maybe I’ll have to see this show with her,” he said. “And I can show her what I do every weekend.”